A/79/182 minorities, including funding from private enterprises. 81 More broadly, the emerging trend towards restrictive legal frameworks for the establishment of civic associations, and for their receipt of overseas funding, represents a deeply concerning threat to the right of religious or belief-based organizations to carry out charitable, humanitarian or human rights activities. 82 49. As noted in previous reports of the mandate, the armed forces of States are often found to be directly involved in the most violent acts of repression based on religion or belief, including acts of genocide, forced displacement, forced conversion, sexual and gender-based violence, enslavement, destruction and desecration of places of worship, destruction of homes and pillaging of the resources of religious minorities. 83 50. Situations of armed conflict can engender severe restrictions on the right of individuals to manifest their religion or belief, such as through the destruction of places of worship. 84 Religious or belief communities may also find themselves subjected to heightened scrutiny and suspicion of their allegiances, 85 including allegations of membership in, or sympathy with, terrorist organizations. Such presumptions of the collective guilt of religious and belief minorities lead to restrictions on their activities, including humanitarian activities in situations of conflict, 86 and attacks on their homes, property and places of worship by State and non-State actors. 87 The Special Rapporteur further reiterates that conscientious objection to military service falls within the scope of article 18, paragraph 1, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and underlines her concern at continued allegations of denial of this right in situations of armed conflict and beyond. 88 51. Country visits by the mandate have uncovered the tendency in several States to adopt an interventionist approach and attempt to “manage” religious communities for fear of religious “extremism” or terrorism. In a 2014 country visit, a fear of religious extremism and terrorism was given as justification for the highly intrusive “manag ing of religious pluralism” and the management of religious communities, which gave scant regard to freedom of religion or belief obligations. 89 This approach was described as offering “stability”, “tranquillity” and “harmony”. International law clearly sets out the strict parameters of the limitations that may legitimately be imposed on the right to manifest freedom of religion or belief. 90 However, authorities appeared to hold the view that State permission was required before manifestation could occur. 91 Similarly, in another country visit by the mandate, a pattern of frequent invocation of unspecified “majority interests” or interests of “national unity and __________________ 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 24-13239 OHCHR, communication sent to the Government of France ( OTH 132/2023). See, for example, CCPR/C/EGY/CO/5, para. 49; and OHCHR, “Georgia: United Nations experts condemn adoption of Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence”, 15 May 2024, available at www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/05/georgia-un-experts-condemn-adoption-lawtransparency-foreign-influence. A/78/207, para. 52. For further details, see A/HRC/49/44. OHCHR, communication sent to the Government of the Russian Federation (AL RUS 18/2022). OHCHR, communication sent to the Government of Ukraine ( AL UKR 1/2023 (government responses received 22 January and 20 June 2024)). OHCHR, communication sent to the Government of the Philippines ( AL PHL 4/2023 (government response received 29 December 2023)). OHCHR, communication sent to the Government of Ukraine ( AL UKR 1/2023 (government responses received 22 January and 20 June 2024)). OHCHR, communications sent to the following Governments: Ukraine ( AL UKR 1/2023 (government responses received 22 January and 20 June 2024)); and Turkmenistan (AL TKM 2/2020). The work of the Quaker United Nations Office was critical in this regard. A/HRC/28/66/Add.1 (mission to Kazakhstan), para. 16. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 18, para. 3. A/HRC/28/66/Add.1, para. 22. 13/22