The rights to freedom of religion or belief are protected as universal rights by several important international agreements. We invite you to familiarize yourselves with these documents linked below.
They were first recognized in 1948 in United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 of which states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
These rights were then given the force of international law in 1966 by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (see Article 18), and further detailed in the 1981 by the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
For a comprehensive list of international standards for freedom of religion or belief, click here.
“The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. The mandate holder has been invited to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles.”
On 1 August 2022, Ms. Nazila Ghanea assumed her mandate as Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. She is Professor of International Human Rights Law and Director of the MSc in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. Her academic work has often connected with multilateral practice in international human rights law.
Read the latest reports from the Special Rapporteur
To read more about the mandate, visit the United Nations website.
18 July 2024
A/79/182: Peace and freedom of religion or belief – Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.
08 January 2024
A/HRC/55/47: Hatred on the basis of religion or belief – Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.
19 July 2023
A/78/207: Interim report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea – Freedom of religion or belief, from the grass-roots level.
NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief 