United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/19/60/Add.1 Distr.: General 26 January 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Nineteenth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt Addendum Mission to Paraguay Summary The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief visited Paraguay from 23 to 30 March 2011. In the present report, he gives an overview of the international human rights standards, the domestic legal framework on freedom of religion or belief and religious demography in Paraguay. He highlights mandate-related issues with regard to the human rights situation in Paraguay; normative guarantees and challenges of implementation of freedom of religion or belief; the elements of State religion in a secular State; freedom of religion or belief and the school system; the situation of indigenous peoples in Paraguay; and the right to conscientious objection. In his conclusions and recommendations, the Special Rapporteur appreciates the human rights commitment of the Government, including in the field of freedom of religion or belief, as well as the open, tolerant atmosphere in society at large. At the same time, he identifies existing implementation deficits which may negatively affect the actual enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief by people living in situations of particular vulnerability.  GE.12-10244 The summary is being circulated in all official languages. The report, which is annexed to the summary, is being circulated in Spanish and in the language of submission only.