58th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Mr. President,

My Delegation welcomes the Report’s recognition of the need to guarantee the absolute prohibition of coercion in relation to religion or belief[1] since religious freedom is “the right to live in the truth of one’s faith and in conformity with one’s transcendent dignity as a person”.[2]

The violation of rights, occurring at the intersection between freedom of religion and belief and the prohibition of torture are a living reality for the 387 million Christians who live in countries where they experience physical and psychological harm on account of their beliefs, including extreme acts of violence, torture, forced conversions, imprisonment and death.[3]

However, more discreet forms of restrictions, which can sometimes amount to a subtle coercion, are also present in countries “where legal norms and administrative practices are growing and limit or in fact annul the rights of individual believers and religious groups”.[4]

Mr. President,

The right to religious freedom is essential to a dignified life. Therefore, My Delegation calls upon all States to protect the free exercise of this right and to ensure that each person, in a way compatible with the common good and immune from any external coercion, enjoys the opportunity to act in accordance with his or her own conscience, also in the public as well as the private sphere[5].

Thank you, Mr. President.