A/HRC/16/53/Add.1 the purpose of this summons was “to solve the issue of the Vang Chu religion”. The term “Vang Chu religion” in these documents was allegedly used by the officials to avoid the term “Protestantism”, which is recognized by Vietnamese national policy. 437. Article 1 of the Ordinance Regarding Religious Beliefs and Religious Organisations (21/2004/PL-UBTVQH11) guarantees the right to freedom of religion and religious belief, and its article 8(1) prohibits discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs. However, the Ordinance also sets out a series of limitations, for example by prohibiting the “abuse” of religion to undermine national unity, to “sow division among the people, ethnic groups and religions” or to “spread superstitious practices” (article 8(2) of the Ordinance). Its article 15 provides that religious activities will be suspended if they “negatively affect the unity of the people or the nation’s fine cultural traditions”. Article 16(1) of the Ordinance stipulates that no organization is permitted to be contrary to “the nation’s fine traditions”. 438. The Special Rapporteur appealed to the Government to ensure the right to freedom of religion or belief of the families of Mr. Sung Cua Po, Mr. Sung A Sinh and Mr. Hang A Xa in accordance with articles 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The latter provides that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion “includes freedom to change his religion or belief”. In addition, article 18(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights requires that “no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice”. 439. In addition, the Special Rapporteur referred to Human Rights Council resolution 6/37, in which the Council urges States “to ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, or the right to practise freely one’s religion, including the right to change one’s religion or belief, is violated”. 440. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur recalled that the General Assembly, in its resolution 63/181, urges States “to step up their efforts to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, and to this end: […] (b) To ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life, liberty or security of person because of religion or belief and that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or arbitrary arrest or detention on that account and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; […] (j) To ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of fulfilling their official duties, respect all religions or beliefs and do not discriminate for reasons based on religion or belief, and that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; […] (l) To take all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to religious minorities […]”. (b) Response from the Government of Viet Nam dated 17 June 2010 441. In its letter dated 17 June 2010, the Government of Viet Nam responded to the urgent appeal of 3 February 2010 regarding the case of some ethnic minority persons in the Dien Bien Province, Viet Nam. 442. According to the Government, the allegations that the three persons were fined, threatened and forced to renounce their Christian faith are totally untrue. In fact, after converting to Protestant Christianity, one person demolished the traditional places of 83