E/CN.4/1992/52
page 3
13. The Special Rapporteur welcomed the decision of the Commission in
resolution 1990/27 to extend his mandate for a further two years. He
considers that the decision has enabled him to develop further his dialogue
with Governments, both generally and specifically, and to offer them
additional opportunities of providing their comments on issues raised or on
particular allegations transmitted to them. This has enabled him to present
a more comprehensive analysis to the Commission at the end of the two-year
period of his mandate.
14. As in his previous reports, the Special Rapporteur has endeavoured, as
the terms of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1991/48 require, to respond
effectively to credible and reliable information coming before him, and to
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.
15. As regards the interpretation and scope of his duties, the Special
Rapporteur wishes to reflect here, as in his previous report (E/CN.4/1991/56,
paras. 14 and 1 5 ) , some comments and observations arising out of his mandate.
Some of these comments concerned the determination of causes and
responsibilities in the field of intolerance based on religion or belief.
Although the Special Rapporteur deemed it advisable to stress the
responsibility which might devolve on Governments in respect of religious
restrictions or repression, it cannot be denied, as he stated in his initial
report (E/CN.4/1987/35, paras. 29-45), that the factors hampering the
implementation of the Declaration are extremely complex. While intolerance
may in some cases be the result of a deliberate policy on the part of
Governments, it may also frequently derive from economic, social or cultural
tensions, and take the form of acts of hostility or conflicts between
different groups. Behind phenomena of intolerance may also be found certain
dogmatic interpretations which stir up misunderstandings or hatred between
different religious communities or encourage dissension within them.
16. 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.