A/65/207
by law and must be necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the
fundamental rights and freedoms of others, for example in order to prevent such
institutions being misused to advance their cause through violence. In addition,
States must prohibit any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that
constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
J.
Awareness-raising, education or training for public officials and
civil servants
37. In resolution 64/164, the General Assembly urged States to ensure that all
public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies
and personnel of detention facilities, the military and educators, in the course of
fulfilling their official duties, respect freedom of religion or belief and do not
discriminate for reasons based on religion or belief, and that all necessary and
appropriate awareness-raising, education or training is provided. In this context, the
Special Rapporteur has noted the good practice of a reference guidebook to religious
diversity designed to provide members of the police force with information about
the different religions and beliefs in a given country and which explains in an
accurate and unbiased manner the diversity and specificities of the different
religious communities. 30
38. During her missions, the Special Rapporteur has often noticed problems with
regard to the freedom of religion or belief of persons deprived of their liberty. She
would like to reiterate that the State should provide personnel of detention facilities
with adequate training, raising their awareness of and enhancing their sensitivity to
their duty to promote and respect international human rights standards for the
treatment of prisoners. 31 In addition, special interrogation techniques that are
especially degrading for members of certain religions should be immediately
revoked. 32 In order to prevent any potential abuse, States should also ensure that
detention facilities are the object of intense public scrutiny, and put in place
effective complaints mechanisms.
39. In the context of counter-terrorism measures, the Special Rapporteur is
concerned about reports that Muslims are regularly subjected to screening of their
personal data, house searches, interrogation and arrest solely because of their
religious affiliation. 33 She would like to emphasize that profiling practices based on
ethnicity, national origin and/or religion regularly fail to meet the requirement to be
a proportionate means of countering terrorism and also entail considerable negative
consequences that may render these measures counterproductive in the fight against
terrorism. 34
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30
31
32
33
34
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A/64/159, para. 7.
See the Special Rapporteur’s report on her mission to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
(A/HRC/13/40/Add.4, para. 53).
See the joint report of five special procedures mandate holders on the situation of detainees at
Guantánamo Bay (E/CN.4/2006/120, paras. 60-62 and 96).
See the Special Rapporteur’s report on her mission to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland (A/HRC/7/10/Add.3, para. 67).
See the related analysis of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human
rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (A/HRC/4/26, paras. 32-62 and
83-89).
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