A/52/477 English Page 19 thought, conscience, religion and belief, irrespective of the form in which this concept was expressed. 75. In its general comment No. 22 (48) on article 18 of the Covenant, adopted on 20 July 1993, the Human Rights Committee comes to the same conclusion. The Committee observes that the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or a belief necessarily entails the freedom to choose a religion or belief, including the right to replace one's current religion or belief with another or to adopt atheistic views, as well as the right to retain one's religion or belief. 76. The Special Rapporteur therefore wishes to stress, once again, that religious freedom includes the right to change one's religion, which is a legally necessary dimension of that freedom. 3. The right of conscientious objection 77. With regard to the third category of violations, the Special Rapporteur wishes to stress that the right of conscientious objection is a right which is closely linked with freedom of religion. 78. The Special Rapporteur considers it necessary to remind States of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1989/59, reaffirmed several times, which recognizes the right of everyone to have conscientious objections to military service as a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as laid down in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Commission therefore recommends to States with a system of compulsory military service, where such provision has not already been made, that they introduce for conscientious objectors various forms of alternative service which should be in principle of a non-combatant or civilian character, in the public interest and not of a punitive nature. In its resolution 1984/93 on conscientious objection to military service, the Commission on Human Rights also called for minimum guarantees to ensure that conscientious objection status can be applied for at any time. B. Protection and promotion of freedom of religion and belief 1. Legislation and freedom of religion and belief 79. With reference primarily to the first category of violations, and secondarily to the third and fourth categories of violations, the Special Rapporteur wishes to note the following. 80. Article 2 of the 1981 Declaration prohibits discrimination against anyone, by any State, institution, group of persons or person, on the grounds of religion or belief. Intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief are defined in the Declaration as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on religion or belief and having as its purpose or as its effect nullification or impairment of the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis. /...