E/CN.4/2000/65 page 32 (e) Orphanages: 8,246 (f) Nurseries: 11,911 (g) Marriage counsellors: 10,618 (h) Special education or social re-education centres: 10,726 (i) Other institutions: 37,403. B. Position with regard to international and national law in the area of religious freedom 124. As far as international law governing religious freedom is concerned, the Vatican’s position follows the provisions on religious liberty, its manifestations and its limitations contained in the United Nations Declaration of 1981 and in the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It may be noted that the Vatican took an active part in preparing and adopting the 1981 Declaration. 125. The Vatican’s International Theological Commission, in its document “Dignity and rights of the human person” (31 December 1983), referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 International Covenant, stresses that religious freedom is fundamental for the dignity of the person and as the foundation of all other rights. In its Declaration “Dignitatis Humanae” (7 December 1965), the Second Vatican Council defined the purpose and foundation of religious freedom as follows: “Freedom of this kind means that all men should be immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups and every human power so that, within due limits, nobody is forced to act against his convictions nor is anyone to be restrained from acting in accordance with his convictions in religious matters in private or in public, alone or in associations with others”. By virtue of this Declaration, freedom of religion is a fundamental right not only of the individual but also of religious communities. The Declaration states that: “Provided the just requirements of public order are not violated, these groups have a right to immunity so that they may organize themselves according to their own principles. They must be allowed to honour the supreme Godhead with public worship, help their members to practice their religion and strengthen them with religious instruction, and promote institutions in which members may work together to organize their own lives according to their religious principles”. It also mentions the principle of non-interference, particularly by legislative or administrative action, in the internal religious affairs of religious communities (including the selection, training, appointment and transfer of their own ministers, religious buildings and the acquisition and use of property) as well as in their teaching and all public manifestations of their faith. With regard to the latter, it is pointed out that any action which seems to suggest coercion or dishonest or unworthy persuasion must be considered an abuse of a person’s own right and an infringement of the rights of others. Lastly, it mentions the right to establish educational, cultural, charitable and social organizations. 126. The role of the State with respect to religious freedom may be defined in the light of the above-mentioned principle of non-interference by the State outside the limits prescribed by international law. According to the Vatican, the State has an obligation to guarantee personal