A/75/385 I. Introduction 1. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its interdependent development goals (SDGs) make an explicit commitment to “leaving no one behind”.1 The Agenda makes clear that human rights, development, peace and security are mutually reinforcing and commits “to respect, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability or other status”. 2 2. The people most likely to be left behind by development are often those who endure discrimination and exclusion on the grounds of identity – often multiple identities – including religious or belief identity.3 Such discrimination can be particularly acute in situations where persons identify with a religion or belief group that is numerically inferior to the rest of the population and/or in a non-dominant position in a given society. In many parts of the world, such populations experience significant discrimination and social exclusion–– often entrenched over generations –– on the basis of, and in the name of, religion or belief. Such discrimination inhibits the fundamental freedoms of members of these religious or belief communities, perpetuates significant inequalities in numerous sectors and limits their ability to participate effectively in cultural, religious, social and public life. 3. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur, focuses on persons, who on account of their religion or belief, are at risk of ‘being left behind’, but have received less attention from policymakers in the field of sustainable development. 4 Equally, the mandate holder hopes that his analysis will encourage all stakeholders – States, civil society (including faith-based actors) and UN entities – to include action on sustainable development in their efforts to promote freedom of religion or belief, particularly in the context of religious or belief minorities who may experience unequal access to essential services such as health care, quality education, and housing, among many others. 4. The Special Rapporteur notes that “discrimination within the context of the right to freedom of religion or belief is not limited to members of religious minorities or nonbelievers and can also apply to members of religious majority groups.”5 For persons belonging to religious or belief minorities, however, their exclusion - where it exists - is often beset by systemic and systematic denial of both their existence and their identities. Their marginalization is reinforced by the resulting challenges in accessing essential services, resources and opportunities they face at the hands of majorities, official state structures and even from members in their own communities. Increasingly, evidence suggests that if left unchecked, such discrimination and inequality can precipitate poverty, conflict, violence and displacement.6 In the most egregious cases, the very survival of some minority religious or belief groups can be placed at risk. The consequences of leaving such populations behind are stark. 5. Several SDGs, including goals to end poverty (SDG-1), ensure food security (SDG2), education (SDG-4), health (SDG-3), gender equality (SDG-5), decent work and economic growth (SDG-8) reduced inequalities within countries (SDG-10), peaceful, just & inclusive societies (SDG-16) require the alleviation of the inequalities and discrimination suffered on the basis of religion or belief. To assist States in analysis and monitoring of inequalities and discrimination and their root causes, the Special Rapporteur encourages States to consider additional indicators to discern progress in protecting the right to freedom or religion or belief 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 A/RES/70/1, para 4. Id. para. 19. See, https://unsceb.org/sites/default/files/CEB_2016_6%20_Add.1%20%28inequalities%20framework%2 9.pdf. For more, see Marie Juul Petersen, Freedom of Religion or Belief, Gender Equality and the SDGs, Danish Institute for Human Rights (2020) at p 25; A/HRC/4/9. A/HRC/34/50, para 47. See https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/old-site-downloads/download-174-MinorityRights-The-Key-to-Conflict-Prevention.pdf.