A/HRC/4/21/Add.2
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10.
Lastly, she would like to thank the United Nations Development Programme in Baku,
which assisted in organizing all practical aspects and logistics related to the present visit in a
highly professional way.
11.
During her visit and in this report, the Special Rapporteur concentrated on the situation of
freedom of religion or belief in Azerbaijan in the light of, inter alia, reports about the control
exerted by the authorities over religious activities and reports about the persecution of certain
religious minorities.
I. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS
12.
Azerbaijan is a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and
its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
13.
Before the visit of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons visited the country in
May 1998 and the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture in May 2000.
14.
The Special Rapporteur would like to recall that, according to article 18 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):
Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right
shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom,
either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his
religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a
religion or belief of his choice.
Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as
are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals
or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
The States parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of
parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education
of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
15.
She would also like to emphasize that, in her analysis of the situation in Azerbaijan, she
relies on the terms of the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of
Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, general comment No. 22 (1993) of the Human
Rights Committee on article 18 and other relevant provisions of ICCPR and other international
conventions.