A/70/286 right not to profess any religion or belief. The terms ‘belief’ and ‘religion’ are to be broadly construed”. That inclusive understanding of article 18 of the Covenant must also guide interpretation of article 14 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Accordingly, the status of the child as a rights holder in the area of freedom of religion or belief deserves respect across the whole range of diverse faith orientations. It furthermore covers followers of traditional religions or beliefs, as well as of newly established religious movements. 19. The Convention on the Rights of the Child also includes a provision on behalf of children who belong to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities. The wording of article 30 of the Convention resembles article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with the remarkable exception that the Convention includes “persons of indigenous origin”. With regard to a child from a religious minority or of indigenous origin, article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child confirms the child’s right to “profess and practise his or her religion” and to do so “in community with other members of his or her group ”. While the community dimension is clearly acknowledged, the immed iate rights holder remains the individual child who belongs to a religious minority or indigenous community. 2. The role of parents 20. While recognizing the status of the child as a rights holder, the Convention on the Rights of the Child also reflects the awareness that the child needs a supportive environment to realize his or her rights. That supportive environment is usually provided by the family. According to the preamble of the Convention, the child “should grow up in a family environment”, since the family provides “the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children”. 21. From that insight into the significance of the family, the Convention derives a number of rights, which protect the relationship between children and their parents or legal guardians. Article 7, paragraph 1, emphasizes that the child shall have “the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents”. Article 9, paragraph 1, obliges States to “ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will”, except in clearly defined exceptional situations, which furthermore must be carefully assessed under principles of due process and connected to effective remedies. Even in such exceptional situations, States “shall respect the right of the child who is separated from one or both parents to maintain personal relations ”, unless this would clearly go contrary to the child ’s best interests. Article 18, paragraph 1, furthermore provides that “States parties shall use their best efforts to ensure recognition of the principle that both parents have common responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child. Parents or, as the case may be, legal guardians, have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child. The best interests of the child will be their basic concern. ” While that is formulated from the perspective of the child, it necessarily also corroborates the specific rights and duties of parents. 22. Given the child’s dependency on an enabling family environment, albeit with recognition of the variety of family forms, parents have the primary responsibility for supporting the child in the exercise of his or her human rights. According to article 5 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, they should provide “appropriate guidance and direction” to the child in that regard. That specific 6/22 15-12514