A/68/268 variety of groups and values under a particular religion or belief “header” and their demographic profile needs to be challenged. 2. Equal citizenship 45. Certain religious minorities unfortunately experience denial or deprivation of citizenship as a policy of discrimination, partly or wholly on the grounds of their religion or belief, with severe implications for the enjoyment of all their human rights (see A/HRC/7/23, paras. 49-70, and A/63/161, paras. 25-78). Unless legitimate grounds exist, in line with international standards, non-discrimination obligations demand that citizenship be granted on an equal basis to all. 46. In Rakhine State in Myanmar, for example, an estimated 800,000 Rohingya Muslims are not recognized as citizens of the majority Buddhist State despite the community having been resident in the country for generations. Effectively stateless persons, they have faced systematic violation of their rights in all walks of life, including their participation in economic, political and social life. Violence between Buddhists and Rohingya in 2012 resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of Rohingya and some Buddhists to camps for internally displaced persons. Denial of full citizenship is considered a root cause of human rights violations against this religious minority community (see A/HRC/22/49). 47. The enjoyment of equal citizenship requires that religious minorities should enjoy all their rights in equality with other citizens, for example, to hold all posts within the jurisdiction of a State. This should include, for example, access to higher education and professional training as well as the highest posts within the State, the political leadership, educational institutions, the armed forces and in the media, and so on. Such equality may be in addition to the State having made the case for legitimate different treatment through quotas of seats or their representation at particular levels of Government. Quotas are not a concession or “privilege” that can absolve the State from issuing unequal citizenship to religious minorities. 3. Education 48. Religious minorities — like all minorities — should be able to educate their children about their beliefs, practices, history and culture. Positive practices result in educational environments that are welcoming and appropriate to those from diverse religious communities. However, the educational rights of religious minorities are routinely violated around the world. Minority children may be ridiculed and humiliated by school authorities. School texts may exclude reference to religious minorities or misrepresent historical facts about them. In extreme cases, such texts cruelly stereotype them, falsify their religious texts, or accuse them of being politically suspect. Religious minorities may be denied meaningful access to tertiary education owing to their religious affiliation, 9 thus denying them access to some professions. 49. The religion or belief of teachers, too, may have an impact on their employability and promotion. Pupils, teachers, parents and their respective __________________ 9 12/23 Communications reports of Special Procedures, A/HRC/22/67, p. 165, IRN8/2011, regarding alleged arrests and arbitrary detention, raids and search of households, arrests and interrogation as part of a continuous effort to deny access to education to members of the Baha’i religious minority. 13-41869

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