A/79/182 against the emergence of grievances, and hence the possibility of such grievances leading to instability, or even violence, or being exploited in a conflict or in its escalation. 106 61. It is where freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is respected that alternative movements and pro-peace narratives are more likely to emerge and the public is less likely to be captured by the political instrumentalization of division, hatred and othering on the basis of religion or belief. Upholding freedom of religion or belief allows for independent thinking, which “may legitimize and preserve social order” or “challenge society and government”. 107 It is “a precious asset for atheists, agnostics, sceptics and the unconcerned”. 108 62. Research based on statistical analysis across 143 countries has highlighted a strong link between restrictions on religious freedom and social hostilities, and that “to the extent that governments and societies restrict religious freedoms, physical persecution and conflict increase”. 109 63. Freedom of religion or belief can also help bolster efforts to tackle environmental drivers of deprivation and grievance. Scarcity of and competition for natural resources are often among the key issues that may drive or aggravate conflicts, including along sectarian lines, and environmental degradation and climate change threaten to make this problem more acute. A freedom of religion or belief lens helps underscore both the need for adaptation plans that are sensitive to religion and conflict, and the potential of interfaith action on climate change to help address this issue. 110 64. Freedom of religion or belief facilitates the possibility of affiliating with a body of values held by a community, and doing so freely and without coercion. Such values 111 can help address the root causes of violence and conflict and harness a power to reach deep roots of motivation for upliftment and transformation. They can help instil, inspire, stimulate and sustain non-violence, forgiveness, hope, the overlooking of the faults of others, the holding of one’s own self to account, the countering of prejudice and intolerance, treatment of others as one wishes to be treated and independence of thought, thereby contributing to an appreciation of diversity and pluralism. The insights of religion provide a “toolbox” 112 in the search for peace. Freedom of religion or belief offers the key to this toolbox, protecting and encouraging access to it. 65. In light of the indivisibility of rights, projects based on freedom of religion or belief and aimed at conflict prevention and mitigation can also foster inclusivity of __________________ 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 16/22 See A/HRC/49/46. Elizabeth Clark, “The impact of religion and religious organizations”, Brigham Young University Law Review, vol. 49, No. 1 (2023), p. 44. European Court of Human Rights, Kokkinakis v. Greece, Application No. 14307/88, Judgment, 25 May 1993, para. 31. Roger Finke and Jaime Harris, “Wars and rumors of wars: explaining religiously motivated violence” in Religion, Politics, Society and the State, Jonathan Fox, ed. (New York, Oxford University Press, 2012). See also Roger Finke and Dane. R. Mataic, “Promises, practices and consequences of religious freedom: a global overview”, University of St. Thomas Law Journal, vol. 15, No. 3 (2019); and Nilay Saiya, Weapon of Peace: How Religious Liberty Combats Terrorism (Cambridge University Press, 2018). Elizabeth Nelson, with Daniel Ekomo-Soignet and Rachel Forster, “Climate change, conflict and freedom of religion or belief” (Search for Common Ground, June 2024). See, for example, www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-ofjustice/messages/19851001_001/19851001_001.pdf. Johan Galtung, speech dated 22 May 2012, sponsored by the World Council of Churches, Globethics and the Galtung Institute for Peace Theory and Peace Practice. Available at www.oikoumene.org/news/johan-galtung-religions-have-potential-for-peace. 24-13239