E/CN.4/1998/6/Add.2
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Church of Scientology is concerned, it must be clearly and precisely recalled
that the measures involved are for the purpose of observation and in no way
prejudge the organization's nature and activities, in respect of which the
evidence gathered by the authorities will be confirmed or invalidated or still
under examination at the end of the observation period. The measures will in
no way prejudge or replace the decisions taken by the courts. In any event,
the law must be enforced and enable conflicts to be resolved.
102. The Special Rapporteur also believes that the State, beyond day-to-day
management, must implement a strategy to prevent intolerance in the field of
religion and belief. He believes that sustained efforts are required to
promote and develop a culture of tolerance and human rights. The State must
play an active role in developing awareness of the values of tolerance and
non-discrimination in the field of religion and belief. Lasting progress may
be achieved, mainly through education and above all the school, by ensuring
that a human rights culture is imparted by school curricula and textbooks and
by properly trained teachers. This educational strategy must not only
propagate a culture of tolerance among the population, by inculcating values
underpinned by human rights, but also develop awareness and reasoned and
reasonable vigilance towards any form of abuse or threat in the field of
religion and belief. There is a fundamental and immediate need for analysis
and education to prepare young people to deal with questions of identity,
religion and belief and to provide them with points of reference, models
and reasons for living, so as to prevent them from falling victim to
manipulation, extremism and fanaticism and to enable them freely to assume
full responsibility for their lives. In this context, the Special Rapporteur
also calls for an examination and analysis of the human condition today, which
is frequently characterized by standardization, anonymity, depersonalization
or even a vacuum, which religions, whose very nature makes them vehicles for
human rights, have not always managed to fill. This phenomenon needs to be
studied in order to identify its origins and possible remedies; this requires
the involvement of all protagonists in the social, political and religious
fields.
103. The Special Rapporteur also recommends a campaign to develop awareness
among the media, and in particular the popular press, which all too often
portrays matters relating to religion and belief in a grotesque, not to say
totally distorted and harmful light. The recommendations made by the Special
Rapporteur under the programme of advisory services (E/CN.4/1995/91, p. 147)
should therefore be implemented, in particular training workshops for media
representatives to develop their awareness of the need to publish information
that respects the principles of tolerance and non-discrimination. These
measures would also make it possible to educate and shape public opinion in
accordance with these principles.
104. The views of Mr. Habib Hussain, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and
protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, regarding the
advisability of introducing legislation which makes punishable any writings
or statements fomenting hatred, particularly in the press, would also be
extremely valuable.