A/60/399
Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human
Rights on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir
Summary
The Special Rapporteur submits the present report to the General Assembly
pursuant to its resolution 59/199.
In her report, the Special Rapporteur highlights certain specific aspects of her
mandate after one year of activity. She first highlights the evolution of the mandate
on freedom of religion or belief as it appears in the various resolutions of the
Commission on Human Rights and the Assembly and draws attention on the
importance of cooperation between the special procedures of the Commission and of
the preventive and early warning aspects of the mandate.
She also presents an update on the status of communications sent to
Governments and stresses a particular points of concern with regard to in situ visits
and the cooperation that is expected from States in this regard.
Finally, the Special Rapporteur makes preliminary observations on two issues
of concern to the mandate: the right to choose, to change or to maintain a religion,
and the freedom of religion or belief of persons deprived of their liberty.
2