A/HRC/19/60/Add.2
69.
The Special Rapporteur comes to similar conclusions regarding the situation of
freedom of religion or belief in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova,
with several noteworthy aspects of additional concern. He is particularly concerned at
the practice of detaining people who object to military service on the grounds of
religion or conscience. He is also very concerned at new rules barring religious
communities from communicating with the public for a period of 10 years after
official registration.
70.
In the light of the above conclusions, the Special Rapporteur makes the
recommendations below.
A.
Recommendations for the authorities of the Republic of Moldova
71.
With a view to create an inclusive society, the Government should take
leadership in the process of developing a culture of appreciating the country’s existing
and emerging diversity, including in questions of religion or belief. In this context, the
Special Rapporteur would like to encourage the Government to implement the related
recommendations addressed to it during its universal periodic review.
72.
The Government should ensure that the principles of equality and nondiscrimination, including in relation to the status and recognition of various religions
or beliefs present in the Republic of Moldova, are fully respected in law and in
practice.
73.
The Government should make clear that human rights standards, including
freedom of religion or belief and the principles of equality and non-discrimination,
have precedence over any invocation of national identity.
74.
The Government should adopt a robust and comprehensive anti-discrimination
legislation in accordance with international standards, with the purpose of providing
active protection against discrimination in all areas of society.
75.
As a related matter, provisions explicitly discriminating against non-citizens
with regard to religious matters should be removed from State law.
76.
Any discriminatory religious community property restitution practices should
be reversed. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to consider better
regulation of religious community property restitution with a view to achieve nondiscrimination in practice in this area.
77.
The Government should encourage a culture of interreligious communication,
for instance by inviting representatives of different denominations and non-believers
to joint consultations. The round-table discussions organized by the Ministry of
Justice may serve as a good example in this regard.
78.
Civic education in, inter alia, school curricula should acknowledge the value of
diversity and provide fair information about different religious or belief traditions. In
this regard, the Special Rapporteur recommends the study of the Toledo Guiding
Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools, prepared by the
Advisory Council of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE). The history curriculum should also be reviewed to ensure that all
children in the Republic of Moldova are provided with fair and precise information
about the diverse religious traditions in the country, past and present. This should
also include Holocaust education, as already pledged by the Government.
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