E/CN.4/1992/52 page 157 (a) Distinction between religion, religious sects and religious associations in national legislation 95. The Governments which replied to the questionnaire addressed a wide variety of matters in their response to this question. Countries generally did not provide a clear definition of religion or of religious entities; the question cannot therefore be answered conclusively. In practice, the differences between religious entities seem to be manifested mainly in matters concerning their recognition, legal personality and registration. 96. In its response to the questionnaire, the Government of Switzerland stated that belief was "any relationship between man and the deity. Religion is viewed in a broad sense. It includes the right to believe in.-a,-god», to believe in more than one god s to believe in none s to-believe in nature or in man in general." It also encompassed the freedom to express and to disseminate one's religious beliefs and that criticism of the religious opinions or beliefs of others must therefore be tolerated, provided the limits of public order were respected. 97. The Government of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic defined a religious community as "a local religious association of. believers of one religion, denomination, sect or doctrine, who are over 18 years of age and have willingly come together in order to jointly manifest their religion or belief, worship and perform religious rites and ceremonies". 98. Only the Government of Guinea provided a definition of what constitutes a religious sect: "A religious sect, as distinguished from a religious association is a group of individuals initiated into a certain religious practice and usually bound to each other by a secret act of solidarity." However, in its answer the Government of Guinea also indicated that it "does not encourage the existence of religious sects, which are often a source of intolerance, fanaticism and practices prejudicial to the preservation of man's life and physical integrity". 99. A number of States pointed out that secrecy of religious rites and doctrine is not desirable. The Government of Yugoslavia stated in its answer that "the term religious sect, which members of the largest, traditional religious communities sometimes use in referring to smaller religious communities only recently active in the country, is considered derogatory or insulting". 100. The experience he has acquired over the years has led the Special Rapporteur to conclude that the difference in the treatment accorded to religious entities stems from their historical presence in a given country, their origin and the type of activity they engage in. In a number of countries, even recognized religions have encountered difficulties, including censorship and intimidation, in exercising their activities. This has been the case with respect to the social work carried out among the underprivileged classes of society performed by members of churches whose followers constitute a majority in several Central and Latin American countries.