IMPORTANT: The subtitle of this review is from the U.S. State Department 2009 International Religious Freedom Report and is not in the official title of the United Nations – Israel Universal Periodic Review.  It is important to read the full U.S. State Department report (attached) to get the context of Israel – Universal Periodic Review & Freedom of Religion or Belief.


 

 

THE TANDEM PROJECT

http://www.tandemproject.com.

 

UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS,

FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

 

The Tandem Project is a UN NGO in Special Consultative Status with the

Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

 

ISRAEL

 

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

(Title as Appended to U.S. State Department Report)

 

Third Session U.N. Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (1-12 December, 2008)

 

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW

 

Available in other languages: click here if the language box does not display.

 

The Israel Universal Periodic Review was held by the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday 4 December 2008 from 2:30-5:30.  Open this link to access reports for the Israel Universal Periodic Review: National Report; Compilation prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue; Comments & Answers; Final Remarks. 

 

Webcast:  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/ILSession3.aspx

Archive:  http://www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/archive.asp?go=081204

 

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process launched by the UN Human Rights Council in 2008 to review the human rights obligations and responsibilities of all UN Member States by 2011. Click for an Introduction to the Universal Periodic Review, Process and News:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/BasicFacts.aspx

 

The primary international human rights instruments on freedom of religion or belief are:

 

Article 18 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.

 

General Comment 22 on Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/9a30112c27d1167cc12563ed004d8f15?Opendocument

 

The 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief: http://www.tandemproject.com/program/81_dec.htm.

 

THE TANDEM PROJECT FOLLOW-UP

 

The Tandem Project Follow-up builds on twenty-seven Community Strategies, action proposals by organizations in 1986 to implement Article 18 of the CCPR and the 1981 UN Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief: http://www.tandemproject.com/tolerance.pdf

 

These Community Strategies are consolidated for The Tandem Project Follow-up into three generic proposals on integration, dialogue and education for Universal Periodic Reviews and exchange of information worldwide with organizations on international, national and local levels. 

 

1. Develop model integrated approaches to International Human Rights Standards on Freedom of Religion or Belief at national and local levels to test the reality of implementation as appropriate to the constitutions, legal systems and cultures of each country.

 

2. Use International Human Rights Standards on Freedom of Religion or Belief as appropriate to each culture and venue for inclusive and genuine dialogue on freedom of religion or belief.   

 

3. Apply International Human Rights Standards on Freedom of Religion or Belief in education curricula as appropriate in all grade levels, teaching children, from the very beginning, that their own religion is one out of many and it is a personal choice for everyone to adhere to the religion or belief by which he or she feels most inspired, or to adhere to no religion or belief at all.  

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Compilation of UN Information:

http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session3/IL/A_HRC_WG6_3_ISR_2_Israel_E.pdf

 

“This report is a compilation of the information contained in the reports of treaty bodies, special procedures, including observations and comments by the State concerned, and other relevant official United Nations documents. It does not contain any opinions, views or suggestions on the part of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), other than those contained in public reports issued by OHCHR.”

 

Conclusions and Recommendations of the Working Group:

http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session3/IL/A_HRC_10_76_Israel_E.pdf

 

UPR Stakeholder Submissions: 

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRILStakeholdersInfoS3.aspx

 

The Tandem Project Follow-up Recommendations will be expanded after the United States of America Universal Periodic Review 26 November 2010.

 

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION 

 

The Tandem Project Follow-up seeks an exchange of information for the Israel Universal Periodic Review on approaches to human rights and freedom of religion or belief to bridge treaties at the international level with the reality of implementation at a national and local level.

 

FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

 

Source: U.S. State Department 2009 International Religious Freedom Report, Israel & Occupied Territories: International Religious Freedom Report 2009

 

Attachments: Israel – Universal Periodic Review & Freedom of Religion or Belief; USA – Universal Periodic Review & Freedom of Religion or Belief; Who is a Jew?: Court Case in Britain Raises Questions.