E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.4 page 7 15. In Aix-en-Provence and Marseilles, the Special Rapporteur met with Bernard Panafieu, Archbishop of Marseilles, Bruno Etienne, Director of the Religious Observatory (Observatoire du religieux), the representatives and members of Hope of Marseilles (Marseille Espérance). In Marseilles, the Special Rapporteur also visited the Prison des Baumettes, where she met with prison personnel and detainees. 16. Finally, in Lyons, the Special Rapporteur was received by the prefect of the Rhône-Alpes region and the Rhône department for a meeting with representatives of religious communities and members of the préfecture. She also met with Kamel Kabtane of the Lyons Mosque, Richard Wertenschlag, Grand Rabbi of Lyons and the Rhône-Alpes region and representatives of Women’s Views (Regards de femmes). II. INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS 17. France 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, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 18. The Special Rapporteur would like to recall that, according to article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: 1. 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, practise and teaching. 2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice. 3. 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. 4. 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. 19. The Special Rapporteur would also like to emphasize that in her analysis of the situation in France, she mainly relies on the terms of the 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 (Freedom of thought, conscience or religion), as well as other relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and international standards.