THE
TANDEM PROJECT
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
2010 – NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM PLENARY SPEAKERS
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg College 5-6 March
2010
Available in other languages: click here if the language box does not display.
The
Tandem Project Follow-up will seek
an exchange of information on approaches to freedom of religion or belief
with Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland and 2008 recipient of
the Nobel Peace Prize; Kjell Magne Bondevik, former prime
minister of Norway and president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights
and a Lutheran pastor; Congressman Keith Ellison, 5th
District Minnesota, United States of America.
Human
Rights are individual, universal and inviolable. Freedom of Religion or Belief
means freedom of choice and freedom of expression, without which the potential
of these Universal Periodic Reviews will never be fully realized. Governments
and religious beliefs have differences on the meaning of these principles and
dialogue must continue to achieve consensus. Tensions are reflected in
the Vote on Defamation of Religions and the three year mandate of the UN Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief over the right to join or leave
a religion or belief.
The Resolution (A/HRC/RES/6/37) with recorded votes
can be viewed by clicking on this link:
http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/HRC/resolutions/A_HRC_RES_6_37.pdf
Surely
one of the best hopes for humankind is to embrace a culture in which religions
and other beliefs accept one another, in which wars and violence are not
tolerated in the name of an exclusive right to truth, in which children are
raised to solve conflicts with mediation, compassion and
understanding.
Norway
voted with the European Union (EU) on the Vote on defamation of religions.
Norway was not a member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2007 at the 2007 vote
on the three year mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion
or Belief.
The
United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process launched in
2008 to review the human rights obligations and responsibilities of all 192 UN
Member States by 2011.
The
Norway Universal Periodic Review was held by the UN Human Rights Council
on Wednesday 2 December 2009 from 9.00-12.00. Open this link to access
reports for the Norway Universal Periodic Review: National Report; Compilation
prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue; Comments
& Answers; Final Remarks.
The
Finland Universal Periodic Review was held by the UN Human Rights
Council on Wednesday 9 April 2008. Click on the links below to access reports
for the Finland Universal Periodic Review: National Report;
Compilation prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue;
Comments & Answers; Final Remarks.
The
United States of America Universal Periodic Review will be held by the
UN Human Rights Council on Friday 26 November from 9:00 -12:00. Open this
link to access reports for the United States of America Universal Periodic
Review: National Report; Compilation prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared
by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue; Comments & Answers; Final Remarks.