United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/19/60/Add.2 Distr.: General 27 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 the Republic of Moldova* Summary The present report contains the findings and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief on his mission to the Republic of Moldova, from 1 to 8 September 2011. In the report, the Special Rapporteur gives an overview of the international human rights standards, the domestic legal framework on freedom of religion or belief and the religious demography in the Republic of Moldova. Subsequently, he addresses issues of concern for his mandate relating to the general situation of freedom of religion or belief in the country, including the privileged status of the Moldovan Orthodox Church; manifestations of intolerance; freedom of religion or belief in public school education and conscientious objection to military service. In his conclusions and recommendations, the Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation for the fact that the Moldovan society has been, and continues to be, in a process of rapid transformation, which includes, inter alia, the development of a sustainable human rights culture in the country. The implementation of human rights standards ranks high on the Government’s agenda, and significant progress has been made. This includes freedom of religion or belief, a human right by and large respected in the Republic of Moldova. Members of different orientations, including small minorities, can in general practice their religion or belief freely without undue interference from the State. At the * GE.12-10269 The summary of the present report is circulated in all official languages. The report itself, contained in the annex to the summary, is circulated in the language of submission only.