E/CN.4/1987/35 page 4 religion when it stipulates that "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind ...". The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is proclaimed in article 18 of the Universal Declaration, which qualifies it as follows: "... this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance." 4. The International Covenants on Human Rights also contain provisions concerning freedom of conscience and religion. Reference may be made in this connection to article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which proclaims the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to article 4, paragraph 2 of the Covenant which makes this right a fundamental one by allowing no derogation from it, and to article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, paragraph 1 of which stipulates that "... education shall ... promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups ...", and, in paragraph 3 binds States parties to have respect for the liberty of parents "... to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions". 5. Other international human rights instruments also have provisions relating to the struggle against intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief, in particular the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the ILO Convention on Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, and the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education. 6. In 1962, the General Assembly endorsed for the first time the idea of a United Nations instrument specifically addressing the question of the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. At that time, two separate documents were envisaged, a declaration and an international convention. 7. In 1972, the General Assembly decided to accord priority to the completion of the Declaration before resuming consideration of the draft International Convention. From 1974, the Commission on Human Rights considered the question of the draft Declaration at each of its annual sessions until 1981 when it adopted the text of a draft Declaration submitted to the General Assembly the same year through the Economic and Social Council. 8. On 25 November 1981, the General Assembly proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, in which the Assembly, considering that it was essential "to promote understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion and belief", resolved to "adopt all necessary measures for the speedy elimination of such intolerance in all its forms and manifestations and to prevent and combat discrimination on the ground of religion or belief". 9. Although the 1981 Declaration is not binding at the strictly legal level, it may nevertheless be considered as a morally binding instrument for the States which have acceded to it. Moreover, the Declaration explains in detail what is meant by the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, a