E/CN.4/2006/5
page 18
− The application of the ban does not reveal inconsistencies or biases vis-à-vis certain
religious or other minorities or vulnerable groups;
− As photographs on ID cards require by definition that the wearer might properly be
identified, proportionate restrictions on permitted headgear for ID photographs appear
to be legitimate, if reasonable accommodation of the individual’s religious
manifestation are foreseen by the State;
− The interference is crucial to protect the rights of women, religious minorities or
vulnerable groups;
− Accommodating different situations according to the perceived vulnerability of the
persons involved might in certain situations also be considered legitimate, e.g. in
order to protect underage schoolchildren and the liberty of parents or legal guardians
to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their
own convictions.
56.
In seeking to accommodate different categories of individuals details of permissible
limitations will be controversial. In general schoolchildren are generally considered vulnerable
in view of their age, immaturity and the compulsory nature of education. In addition, parental
rights are also put forward as justification for limiting teachers’ positive freedom to manifest
their religion or belief. In all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be
the primary consideration. University students, however, have normally reached the age of
majority and are generally considered to be less easily influenced than schoolchildren, and
parental rights are usually no longer involved.
57.
The above-mentioned controversy over the peculiarities of certain institutional settings
was already alluded to in 1959 by Arcot Krishnaswami, then Special Rapporteur of the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in his seminal
study of discrimination in the matter of religious rights and practices: “A prohibition of the
wearing of religious apparel in certain institutions, such as public schools, may be motivated by
the desire to preserve the non-denominational character of these institutions. It would therefore
be difficult to formulate a rule of general application as to the right to wear religious apparel,
even though it is desirable that persons whose faith prescribes such apparel should not be
unreasonably prevented from wearing it.”20
58.
Where a policy decision has been taken at the national level to interfere with the freedom
to manifest one’s religion or belief with regard to wearing religious symbols issues of
commensurability need to be thoroughly respected both by the administration and during
possible legal review. For this purpose, the following questions should be answered in the
affirmative:
− Was the interference, which must be capable of protecting the legitimate interest that
has been put at risk, appropriate?