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UNITED NATIONS
 
 
 General Assembly
 Distr. GENERAL
 A/RES/53/140
 1 March 1999
 
 
Fifty-third session
Agenda item 110 (b)
 
 
 RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 
 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/53/625/Add.2)]
 
 
 53/140. Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance
 
 The General Assembly,
 
 Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the
Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal
respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental
freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or
religion,
 
 Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the
grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human
dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter,
 
 Recalling, in this fiftieth anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1/ article 18 of the Declaration,
 
 Reaffirming its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which
it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,
 
 Recalling article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, 2/
 
 Emphasizing that the right to freedom of thought, conscience,
religion and belief is far-reaching and profound and that it
encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal
conviction and the commitment to religion or belief, whether
manifested individually or in community with others,
 
 Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights,
held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, for all Governments to
take all appropriate measures in compliance with their
international obligations and with due regard to their respective
legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based
on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination
against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing
that every individual has the right to freedom of thought,
conscience, expression and religion, 3/
 
 Calling upon all Governments to cooperate with the Special
Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the elimination
of all forms of religious intolerance and of discrimination based
on religion or belief to enable him to carry out his mandate
fully,
 
 Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and
discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including
acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by
religious intolerance, occur in many parts of the world and
threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
 
 Deeply concerned that, as reported by the Special Rapporteur,
the rights violated on religious grounds include the right to
life, the right to physical integrity and to liberty and security
of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to
be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment and the right not to be arbitrarily
arrested or detained, 4/
 
 Believing that further efforts are therefore required to
promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience,
religion and belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred,
intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief,
 
 1. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and
belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the
human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination;
 
 2. Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal
systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought,
conscience, religion and belief, including the provision of
effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of
religion or belief is violated;
 
 3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one
within their jurisdiction is, because of his or her religion or
belief, deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and
security of person or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or
detention;
 
 4. Further urges States, in conformity with international
standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to
prevent such instances, to take all appropriate measures to
combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and
coercion motivated by religious intolerance and to encourage,
through the educational system and by other means, understanding,
tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion
or belief;
 
 5. Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent
violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of
religion or belief;
 
 6. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights
Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or
belief are permitted only if limitations are prescribed by law,
are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals
or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others and are applied
in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion;
 
 7. Urges States to ensure that, in the course of their
official duties, members of law enforcement bodies, civil
servants, educators and other public officials respect different
religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons
professing other religions or beliefs;
 
 8. Calls upon all States to recognize, as provided for in the
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of
Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the right of all
persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or
belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes;
 
 9. Expresses its grave concern at any attack upon religious
places, sites and shrines, and calls upon all States, in
accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with
international human rights standards, to exert the utmost efforts
to ensure that such places, sites and shrines are fully respected
and protected;
 
 10. Recognizes that the exercise of tolerance and
non-discrimination by persons and groups is necessary for the
full realization of the aims of the Declaration;
 
 11. Encourages the continued efforts on the part of the
Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the
elimination of all forms of religious intolerance and of
discrimination based on religion or belief appointed to examine
incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that
are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration and to
recommend remedial measures as appropriate;
 
 12. Encourages Governments to give serious consideration to
inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to
enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively;
 
 13. Also encourages Governments, when seeking the assistance
of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and
Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, to consider,
where appropriate, including requests for assistance in the field
of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion;
 
 14. Welcomes and encourages the efforts of non-governmental
organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the
implementation of the Declaration, and invites them to consider
what further contribution they could make to its implementation
and dissemination in all parts of the world;
 
 15. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its
consideration of measures to implement the Declaration;
 
 16. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim
report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session;
 
 17. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the
Special Rapporteur receives the necessary staffing, financial and
material resources to enable him to discharge his mandate in full
and on time;
 
 18. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of
all forms of religious intolerance at its fifty-fourth session
under the item entitled "Human rights questions".
 
 
 85th plenary meeting
  9 December 1998
 
 
 Notes
 
1/ Resolution 217 A (III).
 
2/ See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
 
3/ A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22.
 
4/ E/CN.4/1994/79, para. 103.
 
 
 
 
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