The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution examining religious freedom around the world. The resolution was sponsored by 8 countries and co-sponsored by 4 additional countries. The resolution recognizes religious freedom as a fundamental human right. It affirms that religion is a personal choice and no one should be coerced into a religion. The resolution condemns discrimination or legal actions against individuals based solely on their religious beliefs. It also condemns violence committed in the name of religion. The resolution calls on states and the international community to protect freedom of religion and belief for all.

1. Council: Human Rights Council Date: March 25th, 2011
HRC/Res/B/1
Topic: Examining the Situation of Religious Freedom
Sponsors: Federal Republic of Brazil, Republic of France,
Kingdom of Spain, Japan, The United Mexican
States, United States of America, United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic
of Angola, Republic of Korea
Co-Sponsors: Kingdom of Belgium, Republic of Poland, Swiss
Confederation, and Republic of Uganda
1 Recognizing the principles outlined in the Charter of the United Nations that underlines
2 the fundamental rights of every individual,
3 Emphasizing Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which reads as
4 follows: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this
5 right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in
6 community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in
7 teaching, practice, worship and observance”,
8 Noting Article 18 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which
9 states, “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
10 This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and
11 freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to
12 manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching”,
13 Stressing Article 9 (2) in the European Convention of Human Rights, which states that
14 “Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as
15 are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public
16 safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or the protection of the rights
17 and freedoms of other”,
18
19 Reaffirming Resolution 14/11 adopted by the Human Rights Council on the Freedom of
20 Religion or Belief: Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief,
21 Citing the outcome of the World Summit adopted by the General Assembly in Resolution
22 60 -1 of 24 October 2005 wherein the assembly acknowledged the responsibility of all
23 states to respect the fundamental freedoms without any discrimination,
24 Acknowledging Article 30 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states
25 that “Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or

2. 26 person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction
27 of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein”,
28 Respecting states built on a religious basis as long as they do not discriminate against
29 other religions,
30 The Human Rights Council hereby:
31 1. Reminds all member states that religious freedom is a fundamental right and that no
32 country shall discriminate against its citizens based on their religion;
33
34 2. Recognizes that all people have the right to freedom of belief or religion and
35 conscience as well as the right not to profess any of the aforementioned;
36
37 3. Affirms that religion is an individual’s personal choice and no individual shall be
38 subjected or coerced into a religion;
39
40 4. Declares that individuals are free to change their religion as long as other individuals,
41 groups or the state, have not enforced that change;
42
43 5. Condemns any legal action taken by states against its citizens or against foreign
44 nationals if those legal accusations depend solely on a certain religious belief;
45
46 6. Appeals to the international community to reinforce freedom of expression and
47 freedom of belief;
48
49 7. Urges the international community to take legal action against any person, group,
50 whether organized or not, that infringe on another individuals beliefs;
51
52 8. Endorses each individual’s right to practice his or her religion or belief system
53 accordingly;
54
55 9. Stresses that the state has the right to intervene on the matters of religious practice
56 only when national security, public order, public health, or other fundamental rights are
57 in breach;
58
59 10. Declares that it is at every state’s discretion to specify what is considered a breach of
60 the aforementioned points respectively;
61
62 11. Emphasizes that no individuals/groups will be persecuted or discriminated against for
63 following a certain religion;
64
65 12. Recommends the application of the ideals of secularism while recognizing the
66 freedom of states to have an official state religion, as long as no discrimination or
67 intolerance are exercised towards other religions;
68

3. 69 14. Condemns any act of violence established under the name of religion, or any kind of
70 religious affiliation;
71
72 15. Supports the International Law Concept of State Sovereignty stating that no
73 interference shall occur in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state;
74
75 16. Recognizes the integrated nature of all freedoms, with a special focus on the
76 overlapping freedom of expression and freedom of religion noting that the right to
77 exercise one should not constitute a violation of the other and vice versa.