E/CN.4/1993/62
page 3
carry out his work with discretion and independence. In order to do so, he
has drawn on a very broad range of governmental and non-governmental sources,
of very varied geographical origins, stemming both from organizations and from
individuals. Among such sources, the Special Rapporteur has endeavoured to
take due account of information from religious groups and denominational
communities. He has given priority to the use of recent information for the
period since the submission of his previous report to the Commission; however,
particularly in the case of situations mentioned for the first time, or in
order to take account of problems the origins or at least the manifestations
of which go back a number of years, he has sometimes made use of earlier
information and referred to it.
14.
Given this multiplicity of responsibilities, the dialogue established
with Governments by the Special Rapporteur and the transmission of allegations
concerning their countries in no way implies any kind of accusation or value
judgement on the part of the Special Rapporteur, but rather a request for
clarification with a view to trying to find, along with the Government
concerned, a solution to a problem which goes to the heart of human rights and
fundamental freedoms.
II.
SPECIFIC INCIDENTS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES
EXAMINED BY THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
15.
The Special Rapporteur addressed specific requests to a number of
Governments, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 11 of Commission
on Human Rights resolution 1992/17 which invites the Special Rapporteur "to
seek the views and comments of the Government concerned on any information
which he intends to include in his report," and with the provisions of
paragraph 12 which calls upon Governments "to cooperate with the Special
Rapporteur, inter alia, by responding expeditiously to requests for such views
and comments". In these specific communications the Special Rapporteur
requested any comments concerning information on situations which seemed to
involve a departure from the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination
of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,
particularly those dealing with the enjoyment of the right of freedom of
thought, conscience and religion (arts. 1 and 6); the prevention, elimination
and prohibition of discrimination and intolerance on the grounds of religion
or belief in the recognition, exercise and enjoyment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms (arts. 2-4); and the right of parents to organize the
life within the family in accordance with their religious beliefs and the
right of children to have access to a religious education in accordance with
the wishes of their parents, as well as the right of children to be protected
from any form of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief (art. 5).
16.
As of 15 December 1992, the following Governments had replied to the
specific communications transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur
during 1992: Iraq, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan.