A/69/261 Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Summary In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, provides an overview of his mandate activities since the submission of the previous report to the General Assembly ( A/68/290), including his reports to the Human Rights Council and on country visits, as well as communications and highlights of presentations and consultations. The Special Rapporteur then focuses on means to eliminate religious intolerance and discrimination in the workplace, a theme which he thinks warrants more systematic attention. The sources of religious intolerance and discrimination in the workplace can be manifold and include prejudices existing among employers, employees or customers, restrictive interpretations of corporate identity or a general fear of religious diversity. After clarifying that the human right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief also relates to manifestations of religious diversity in the workplace, the Special Rapporteur particularly deals with measures of “reasonable accommodation” that may be needed to overcome discrimination. Drawing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which legally prescribes reasonable accommodation as an indispensable element of related anti-discrimination agendas, he argues that such measures should also be adopted to eliminate discrimination based on religion or belief in the workplace. Finally, the Special Rapporteur provides conclusions and recommendations addressed to State institutions, public and private employers as well as other stakeholders in this regard. 2/23 14-58756