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non-discrimination. The Special Rapporteur drew special attention to the indigenous
peoples’ long history of suffering from discrimination, neglect, harassment and
economic exploitation. While noting that the indigenous representatives he met
mostly agreed that the general attitude towards their traditional beliefs and practices
had become more respectful in recent years, he stressed that the imposition of
religious doctrines and practices, possibly against the indigenous peoples’ will, was
not a matter of the past only but persisted to a certain degree today. The Special
Rapporteur encouraged the Government of Paraguay to continue supporting the
interreligious forum initiated two years ago, while at the same time ensuring open
and transparent participation by all interested groups and sectors of society.
10. Continuing his predecessors’ follow-up procedure concerning country visit
reports, the Special Rapporteur on 5 November 2010 sent follow-up letters with
regard to those missions undertaken by the previous mandate holder in 2008; to
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, India and Turkmenistan. The Special
Rapporteur requested updated information on the consideration given to his
predecessor’s recommendations, the steps taken to implement them and any
constraints that may prevent their implementation. The follow-up tables containing
the conclusions and recommendations of the related mission report, and information
from the Government and relevant United Nations documents, including from the
universal periodic review, special procedures and treaty bodies, are available
online. 6
C.
Examination of incidents and governmental actions incompatible
with the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and
recommendation of remedial measures
11. The Special Rapporteur has continued to engage in constructive dialogue with
States by sending them allegation letters and urgent appeals for clarification of
credible allegations of incidents and governmental actions incompatible with the
provisions of the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance
and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Since the creation of the
mandate, the Special Rapporteur has sent some 1,250 allegation letters and urgent
appeals to a total of 130 States. The communications sent by the Special Rapporteur
between 1 December 2009 and 30 November 2010 and the replies received from
Governments are summarized in his latest communications report
(A/HRC/16/53/Add.1), which also includes recommendations of remedial measures.
12. The Special Rapporteur’s communications report provides evidence of
worrying allegations of the disappearance, torture, arrest and detention of
individuals belonging to religious minorities or belief communities. He is very much
concerned about intercommunal violence, which has resulted in the killing of
hundreds of persons, including many women and children. His communications also
relate to death threats and discrimination against converts, as well as statements
inciting violence directed against members of religious minorities. The Special
Rapporteur has also taken up allegations of public manifestations of religious
intolerance, stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief and public
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6
See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/Visits.aspx.
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