A/75/385
initiatives in Poland,152 Greece,153 the UK,154 and Denmark155 are attempting to reduce stigma
and prejudice, with a focus on antisemitism, between people of different religions or beliefs.
The Special Rapporteur also welcomes the adoption by Sweden, Serbia and Greece of his
recommendation to States to endorse the IHRA Working Definition of antisemitism as a nonlegal educational tool to tackle the scourge of antisemitism.
60.
Religions for Peace provides trainings on human rights, gender and gendermainstreaming and leads dialogues with religious leaders on the rights of LGBT+ persons. 156
The Special Rapporteur also notes policy guidance on promoting tolerance and nondiscrimination developed by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. 157
Indicators of impact in reducing inequalities, combatting intolerance
and tackling discrimination against religious and belief minorities
61.
The 2030 Agenda offers a global indicator framework established by the UN Inter
Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals Indicators (IAEG-SDGs).158
Amongst the existing SDG indicators metrics to discern the level of protection for freedom
of religion or belief are absent. Recognizing that no one will be left behind only when
sustainable development efforts advance the political, social and economic inclusion of
persons belonging to religious or belief minorities, the Special Rapporteur encourages States
to employ specific indicators159 to identify the impact of interventions on reducing
inequalities involving religion or belief.
62.
Reinforcing States’ existing international human rights obligations, and the duty to
respect, protect and promote human rights, the Special Rapporteur’s proposed indicators
can assist States to (i) identify gaps in human rights protections in a State’s legislative and
institutional framework (ii) survey the State’s performance in practically implementing
existing human rights commitments, and (iii) measure the outcome and effectiveness of
relevant laws and practices on different segments of society.
63.
The indicator framework, which is a work-in-progress, is grounded in international
standards and jurisprudence on freedom of religion or belief and related international human
rights norms and principles and the mandate’s adaptation of international human rights
standards to specific contexts. Existing human rights indicators frameworks including from
OHCHR and the Organisation of American States have been reviewed and many indicators
aim to respond to communications from civil society relating to violations of freedom of
religion or belief received by the mandate.
64.
One of the first steps in developing human rights indicators is to identify the
‘normative essence’ or the ‘attributes’ of a given right.160 Close analysis of Article 18,
ICCPR, the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of
Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and cross-cutting human rights principles and
norms demonstrate that the normative essence of the right include non-coercion in the
exercise of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief; the right to manifest one’s
religion or belief; non-discrimination; and rule of law.
65.
The Special Rapporteur proposes structural, process and outcome indicators to
monitor freedom of religion or belief. Structural indicators appraise the extent to which the
power structures of the State - legal and institutional frameworks - incorporate international
human rights obligations and can be indicative of discrimination. Discrimination may be
direct, such as cases of categorical prohibitions on some or all religions or beliefs. Other
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
16
Submission by Poland.
Submission by Greece.
Submission by the UK; See Educate Against Hate.
Submission by European Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
https://rfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/STRATEGIC-PLAN-FINAL.pdf.
https://www.osce.org/odihr/66138.
E/CN.3/2020/2.
Proposed indicators at: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Religion/forb-indicators.docx.
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Human_rights_indicators_en.pdf at p 76.