E/CN.4/1987/35 page 3 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The question of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief has been given special attention within the United Nations for many years. However, despite the fact that the right to freedom of religion and of belief is recognized as one of the fundamental human rights in several international instruments, it has to be acknowledged that the phenomenon of intolerance in matters of conviction or belief continues to be a disturbing feature in many regions of the world. Admittedly, the phenomenon is an age-old one which has already caused the loss of many lives by bringing about many wars and savage repression throughout human history. Moreover, it is somewhat paradoxical that such manifestations of intolerance have occurred in the name of religions and convictions, most of which advocate first and foremost respect for human values and love of one's neighbour. In this connection, the fact cannot be disregarded that the followers of a particular religion or belief often tend to consider it to be the only valid manifestation of the truth. This characteristic, which amounts to a denial of the right of everyone to be different, is undoubtedly one of the root causes of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. A number of other causes have also been recorded, including prejudice, since socio-ethnic characteristics often make religion a vital identity factor, or the need to identify a scapegoat responsible for various social and economic evils. 2. Many studies have been conducted under the aegis of the United Nations to determine the factors conducive to religious intolerance. They include, inter alia, the Study of Discrimination in the Matter of Religious Rights and Practices submitted in 19 59 by Mr. Arcot Krishnaswami, Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities V , and the report undertaken by Mrs. Elizabeth Odio Benito (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1987/26), also mandated by the Sub-Commission, on the root causes and current dimensions of the problems of intolerance and of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief. Similarly, the United Nations Seminar on the Encouragement of Understanding, Tolerance and Respect in Matters Relating to Freedom of Religion or Belief, organized by the Centre for Human Rights at Geneva from 3 to 14 December 1974 (ST/HR/SER.A/16), also helped to determine the roots and nature of manifestations of intolerance in matters of religion or belief. The purpose of this report is not therefore to analyse the causes of religious intolerance, but rather to attempt to draw up a list, as it were, of the contradictions still in evidence between the legislative provisions at the international level in the area of protection and promotion of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the persistence in all areas of the world of incidents and governmental actions that are inconsistent with these provisions. 3. Since 1945, many United Nations agencies have attempted to elaborate international standards in order to encourage States to pursue one of the Organization's basic objectives, which, according to the Charter, is to promote and encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. This objective is also set forth in the Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "... the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people". Article 2 of the Universal Declaration in its turn rejects any discrimination on the basis of