A/HRC/19/60 48. It may be even more difficult to establish institutions of higher education, including theological training institutes, which are vital to intellectually further develop and convey the tenets of a faith to the next generation. This may seriously hamper the freedom to teach a religion or belief in places suitable for these purposes and the freedom to train appropriate leaders called for by the requirements and standards of any religion or belief.15 In some situations, the denial of legal personality status might jeopardize the long-term survival chances of a religious or belief community. 49. In addition, if communities do not enjoy legal personality status, their members may encounter administrative problems with regard to making, acquiring and using to an adequate extent the necessary articles and materials related to the rites or customs of their religion or belief.16 This may also negatively affect their opportunities of celebrating holidays and ceremonies in accordance with the precepts of their religion or belief. 17 50. Moreover, religious or belief communities lacking legal personality status are barred from employing staff in an official manner. People serving for the community either have to do this on a purely voluntary basis or conclude working contracts with a private employer, which again is a situation detrimental to any long-term planning. Yet, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief includes, inter alia, freedom to establish and maintain appropriate charitable or humanitarian institutions.18 51. Another problem concerns the establishment of radio stations or other media. In the absence of the status of a legal personality, it would again require individual members of the community to take all the financial responsibilities and risks in their private capacities. It seems clear that media work is extremely complicated under such conditions. This, however, will most likely have negative effects on the possibilities to reach out to parts of the community living in remote areas or in other countries and to participate in public debates. However, international human rights law also protects the freedom to write, issue and disseminate relevant publications and the freedom to establish and maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion and belief at the national and international levels.19 3. Provision of fair and non-discriminatory registration procedures 52. The above-mentioned practical problems and their human rights implications show that a lack of legal personality status may adversely affect virtually the whole catalogue of manifestations protected under the non-exhaustive list in article 6 of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Furthermore, the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly have repeatedly urged States to step up their efforts to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief and, to this end “to review, whenever relevant, existing registration practices in order to ensure that such practices do not limit the right of all persons to manifest their religion or belief, either alone or in community with others and in public or private”.20 15 16 17 18 19 20 14 Art. 6 (e) and (g) of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. Ibid., art. 6 (c). Ibid., art. 6 (h). Ibid., art. 6 (b). Ibid., art. 6 (d) and (i). Human Rights Council resolution 16/13 and General Assembly resolutions 63/181, 64/164 and 65/211. See also Human Rights Council resolution 6/37 and General Assembly resolutions 60/166 and 61/161.

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