A/67/303 IV. Conclusions and recommendations 62. The General Assembly has repeatedly and by consensus urged States to ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by providing access to justice and effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief or the right to freely practise one’s religion, including the right to change one’s religion or belief, is violated (see General Assembly resolutions 60/166, 61/161, 62/157, 63/181, 64/164, 65/211 and 66/168). 63. In his daily work, however, the Special Rapporteur receives numerous reports of grave violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief in the broad area of conversion. In the present report, he has discussed this topic, distinguishing four subcategories that deserve systematic attention: (a) the right to conversion (in the sense of changing one’s own religion or belief); (b) the right not to be forced to convert; (c) the right to try to convert others by means of non-coercive persuasion; and (d) the rights of the child and of his or her parents in this context. A. Right to conversion 64. In addition to being exposed to manifestations of social pressure, public contempt and systematic discrimination, converts often face insurmountable administrative obstacles when trying to live in conformity with their convictions. Moreover, in a number of countries, they run the risk of losing jobs and educational opportunities, having their marriage nullified, being excluded from the right to inheritance or even losing custody of their children. In some States, converts may also face criminal prosecution, at times even including the death penalty, for such offences as “apostasy”, “heresy”, “blasphemy” or “insult” in respect of a religion or the country’s dominant tradition and values. When seeking asylum, they may find that the genuineness of their conversion is questioned and may be deported back to their countries of origin where they may be confronted with aggravated risks to their life, freedom, well-being and security. B. Right not to be forced to convert 65. Serious violations also occur in respect of the right not to be forced to convert against one’s will. While some members of religious or belief minorities experience pressure to join a religion or belief deemed more “acceptable” in society, converts are often exposed to pressure to reconverting to their previous religion. Such pressure can be undertaken both by Government agencies and by non-State actors, including by directly linking humanitarian aid to expectation of conversion. The Special Rapporteur is particularly concerned about pressure or threats experienced by women, sometimes in the context of marriage or marriage negotiations, to convert to the religion of their (prospective) husband. 20 12-46130

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