E/CN.4/1995/91
page 4
INTRODUCTION
1.
At its forty-second session, the Commission on Human Rights decided, in
resolution 1986/20 of 10 March 1986, to appoint for one year a special
rapporteur to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the
world inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination
of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,
and to recommend remedial measures for such situations.
2.
In accordance with the terms of that resolution, the Special Rapporteur
submitted his first report to the Commission at its forty-third session
(E/CN.4/1987/35). His mandate was extended for one year by resolution 1987/15
of 4 March 1987, at the same session of the Commission.
3.
From 1988 onwards, the Special Rapporteur has submitted yearly reports to
the Commission (E/CN.4/1988/45 and Add.1; E/CN.4/1989/44; E/CN.4/1990/46;
E/CN.4/1991/56; E/CN.4/1992/52; E/CN.4/1993/62 and Add.1 and Corr.1). In its
resolutions 1988/55, 1990/27 and 1992/17, the Commission twice decided to
extend the Special Rapporteur’s mandate for two years, and then for a further
three years, until 1995.
4.
After the resignation of Mr. d’Almeida Ribeiro, the Chairman of the
Commission appointed Mr. Abdelfattah Amor as Special Rapporteur. The latter
submitted his report (E/CN.4/1994/79) to the Commission on Human Rights at its
fiftieth session.
5.
In chapter I of this report, the Special Rapporteur recalls the terms of
his mandate and their interpretation and describes the working methods he
used.
6.
Chapter II contains allegations transmitted in 1994 to 49 Governments
regarding situations which in the Special Rapporteur’s view departed from the
provisions of the Declaration, as well as the observations formulated in that
respect by Governments.
7.
Chapter III contains the report of the Special Rapporteur’s visit to
China from 21 to 30 November 1994.
8.
Lastly, chapter IV contains conclusions and recommendations, based on an
analysis of the information available regarding the numerous infringements of
the rights set out in the Declaration during the period covered by this report
and on the study of measures which could contribute to preventing intolerance
and discrimination based on religion or belief.
I.
MANDATE AND WORKING METHODS OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
9.
The Special Rapporteur has followed his working method of transmitting to
Governments summaries of allegations sent to him and appearing, prima facie,
to represent infringements of or impediments to the exercise of the right to
freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
The Special Rapporteur noted that some of the allegations transmitted to
the Governments concerned mentioned various forms of harassment, arbitrary