A/HRC/13/40/Add.4
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
27 January 2010
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirteenth session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic,
social and cultural rights, including the right to development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or
belief, Asma Jahangir
Addendum
Mission to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic* **
Summary
The present report contains the findings and recommendations of the Special
Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief arising from her mission from 23 to 30
November 2009 to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The Special Rapporteur gives an
overview of the international human rights standards, domestic legal framework on
freedom of religion or belief and religious demography in the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic.
Subsequently, the Special Rapporteur highlights issues of concern related to her
mandate. These concerns relate to the text and implementation of Decree No. 92/PM for the
Management and Protection of Religious Activities; allegations of forced conversions and
evictions; the isolation of religious minorities; liberty of movement in the context of
religious activities; freedom of religion or belief of persons deprived of their liberty; and
some beliefs and customs of animists or ancestor worshippers.
The Special Rapporteur concludes that the people of the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic are generally very tolerant on religious matters; however, during the last 12 years
the mandate has also received a number of serious allegations of human rights violations by
the State, such as arrests on the basis of religion, or official campaigns aimed at forcing
* Due to the mission dates (23–30 November 2009), the present report was submitted beyond the
prescribed deadline.
** The summary of the present report is being circulated in all official languages. The report, which is
annexed to the summary, is circulated as received in the language of submission only.
GE.10-10542 (E)
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