Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of
Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
The General Assembly,
Considering that one of the basic principles of the Charter of
the United Nations is that of the dignity and equality inherent in
all human beings, and that all Member States have pledged themselves
to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the
Organization 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,
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
the International Covenants on Human Rights proclaim the principles
of non-discrimination and equality before the law and the right to
freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief,
Considering that the disregard and infringement of human rights
and fundamental freedoms, in particular of the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, religion or whatever belief, have brought,
directly or indirectly, wars and great suffering to mankind,
especially where they serve as a means of foreign interference in
the internal affairs of other States and amount to kindling hatred
between peoples and nations,
Considering that religion or belief, for anyone who professes
either, is one of the fundamental elements in his conception of life
and that freedom of religion or belief should be fully respected and
guaranteed,
Considering that it is essential to promote understanding,
tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion and
belief and to ensure that the use of religion or belief for ends
inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations, other relevant
instruments of the United Nations and the purposes and principles of
the present Declaration is inadmissible,
Convinced that freedom of religion and belief should also
contribute to the attainment of the goals of world peace, social
justice and friendship among peoples and to the elimination of
ideologies or practices of colonialism and racial discrimination,
Noting with satisfaction the adoption of several, and the
coming into force of some, conventions, under the aegis of the
United Nations and of the specialized agencies, for the elimination
of various forms of discrimination,
Concerned by manifestations of intolerance and by the existence
of discrimination in matters of religion or belief still in evidence
in some areas of the world,
Resolved to adopt all necessary measures for the speedy
elimination of such intolerance in all its forms and manifestations
and to prevent and combat discrimination on the ground of religion
or belief,
Proclaims this Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief:
Article 1
1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a
religion or whatever belief of his choice, and freedom, either
individually or in community with others and in public or private,
to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice
and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair
his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be
subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are
necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals or the
fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
Article 2
1. No one shall be subject to discrimination by any State,
institution, group of persons, or person on grounds of religion or
other beliefs.
2. For the purposes of the present Declaration, the
expression "intolerance and discrimination based on religion or
belief" means any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference
based on religion or belief and having as its purpose or as its
effect nullification or impairment of the recognition, enjoyment or
exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis.
Article 3
Discrimination between human beings on grounds of religion or
belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of
the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and shall be
condemned as a violation of the human rights and fundamental
freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
enunciated in detail in the International Covenants on Human Rights,
and as an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations between
nations.
Article 4
1. All States shall take effective measures to prevent and
eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in the
recognition, exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and
cultural life.
2. All States shall make all efforts to enact or rescind
legislation where necessary to prohibit any such discrimination, and
to take all appropriate measures to combat intolerance on the
grounds of religion or other beliefs in this matter.
Article 5
1. The parents or, as the case may be, the legal guardians
of the child have the right to organize the life within the family
in accordance with their religion or belief and bearing in mind the
moral education in which they believe the child should be brought up.
2. Every child shall enjoy the right to have access to
education in the matter of religion or belief in accordance with the
wishes of his parents or, as the case may be, legal guardians, and
shall not be compelled to receive teaching on religion or belief
against the wishes of his parents or legal guardians, the best
interests of the child being the guiding principle.
3. The child shall be protected from any form of
discrimination on the ground of religion or belief. He shall be
brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among
peoples, peace and universal brotherhood, respect for freedom of
religion or belief of others, and in full consciousness that his
energy and talents should be devoted to the service of his fellow
men.
4. In the case of a child who is not under the care either
of his parents or of legal guardians, due account shall be taken of
their expressed wishes or of any other proof of their wishes in the
matter of religion or belief, the best interests of the child being
the guiding principle.
5. Practices of a religion or beliefs in which a child is
brought up must not be injurious to his physical or mental health or
to his full development, taking into account article 1, paragraph 3,
of the present Declaration.
Article 6
In accordance with article 1 of the present Declaration, and
subject to the provisions of article 1, paragraph 3, the right to
freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief shall include,
inter alia, the following freedoms:
(a) To worship or assemble in connexion with a religion or
belief, and to establish and maintain places for these purposes;
(b) To establish and maintain appropriate charitable or
humanitarian institutions;
(c) To make, acquire and use to an adequate extent the
necessary articles and materials related to the rites or customs of
a religion or belief;
(d) To write, issue and disseminate relevant publications in
these areas;
(e) To teach a religion or belief in places suitable for
these purposes;
(f) To solicit and receive voluntary financial and other
contributions from individuals and institutions;
(g) To train, appoint, elect or designate by succession
appropriate leaders called for by the requirements and standards of
any religion or belief;
(h) To observe days of rest and to celebrate holidays and
ceremonies in accordance with the precepts of one's religion or
belief;
(i) To establish and maintain communications with
individuals and communities in matters of religion and belief at the
national and international levels.
Article 7
The rights and freedoms set forth in the present Declaration
shall be accorded in national legislation in such a manner that
everyone shall be able to avail himself of such rights and freedoms
in practice.
Article 8
Nothing in the present Declaration shall be construed as
restricting or derogating from any right defined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human
Rights.
