A/55/280/Add.2 the human rights of minorities or rights that derive from citizenship and imply non-discrimination between citizens, based on, among other things, considerations of faith and belief. The question of the treatment accorded to minorities will be considered below. 89. With regard to other legal provisions, the penal code protects freedom of religion or belief and their manifestations. Penalties are notably provided in the case of all offences against religion, such as the destruction of places of worship and religious objects, disturbance of religious activities (for example, religious ceremonies), desecration, and defamation of religions. 90. With respect to religious personal laws, problems of compatibility arise, not only with regard to national legislation (the Constitution), but also with regard to international law. Religious personal laws do discriminate against women, and therefore undermine the constitutional principle of equality for all, regardless of gender or religious affiliation. Efforts certainly have been made in this regard, but they have been limited to certain areas and communities, such as the reform of 1974, which made it possible to guarantee certain rights under the law to Muslim women, in the area of divorce. These advances must be pursued, and extended to all problem communities and spheres (inheritance, marriage, childcare, etc.). For example, Hindu women must be given the legal right to divorce and inheritance. The Special Rapporteur noted with pleasure the initiatives undertaken in the realm of positive law, with a view to improving the protection of women, such as the adoption of laws on the registration of marriage and divorce, the minimum age for marriage, and the banning of the dowry system. These initiatives must be pursued, and efforts must be made to ensure their concrete implementation, especially in rural areas, in order to combat religious traditions or traditions attributed to religion, which perpetuate, among other practices, the illegal practice of forcing minors into marriage. Also in the context of these initiatives, it is imperative that a legal ban on polygamy be introduced. 91. Concerning the Vested Property Act, it is of urgent importance that the process of formulating and adopting new legislation in this area reach a successful conclusion. However, it is essential to ensure that the Hindu community and the Hurukh/Oroan tribes (who are the main victims of this law) be consulted, and included in this exercise, and that their right to 22 property be fully restored to them, notably through the return of stolen property and through compensation. In any event, and in a general sense, the Government must take the appropriate measures — including legal measures — to ensure that the right to property be protected and guaranteed for all, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation. This point is especially important due to the combination of Bangladesh’s difficult economic situation and its very high population density, as a result of which land is a rare and highly sought after resource, and hence a source of conflict. 92. With regard to the influence of the politic sphere on religion and belief, the Special Rapporteur considers that the State does, in general, respect freedom of religion and belief and their manifestations, in accordance with international human rights standards in this area. The authorities permit religious practice, the building of places of worship, religious instruction, journeys abroad by religious officials, the maintaining of contacts with adherents of the same religion living abroad, etc. Similarly, the State provides public funding to different religious communities, and recognizes religious festivals as national festivals that may have the status of holidays. Generally speaking, the State does not interfere in the religious affairs (in the strictest sense of the term) of religious communities. It should be stressed that no religious community is subject to a prohibition on the part of the authorities. The Ahmadis, who are not recognized as an Islamic religious community in many Muslim countries, are recognized as Muslims by the State of Bangladesh, and may exercise their religious activities in complete freedom (notably, they may build their mosques). Thus, from this point of view, the situation is in fact entirely satisfactory. 93. Furthermore, while recognizing Islam as the State religion, the State declares its commitment to secularism and religious harmony, whether with regard to the Muslim majority, religious minorities, or ethnic communities. 94. However, the situation of religious and ethnic communities is not without its problems. Nevertheless, it should first be noted that in Bangladesh, one cannot talk in terms of the repression of these communities. Another point that should be stressed is the complexity of the various situations. The obstacles, intolerance, and discrimination that can affect religious and ethnic communities are due to a combination of several factors: especially political and religious factors, but