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

Separation of Religion or Belief and State

Understanding International Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief

This is a questionnaire on understanding international human rights and freedom of religion or belief.  2012 is the 50 year anniversary of the UN General Assembly request to ECOSOC to prepare a draft legally-based human rights treaty (Convention) on religious intolerance, rescinded in 1962 because of its complexity and sensitivity. We are using the questionnaire for reports on whether UN Resolution A/RES/66/167, a Culture of Tolerance and Peace Based on Religion or Belief, adopted by consensus by the General Assembly, will matter to promote and protect your freedom of religion or belief, cultural identity, principles and values at a local level. Human rights are individual rights. Do not check the boxes for organization. Check box 9, Individual and interpret all questions asked  to you.  Refer to Rights & Beliefs in the attachment. If you type your first name the questionnaire will be accepted. If you type your full name and e-mail address the survey will send you a copy of your answers. Results will be used for focus groups on A/RES/66/167 at a local level. Please answer the 40 yes/no questions now and hit submit. Thank you, The Tandem Project.   

Questionnaire on international human rights and freedom of religion or belief.

http://www.tandemproject.com/survey/

http://www.tandemproject.com/program/history.htm

Resolution A/RES/66/167 adopted by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly on 19 December 2011. “Recognizes that the open public debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue at the local, national and international levels can be among the best protections against religious intolerance, and can play a positive role in strengthening democracy and combating religious hatred, and convinced that a continuing dialogue on these issues can help overcome existing misperceptions.”

UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/66/167 adopted by consensus 19 December 2011.  United Nations Resolution – a Culture of Tolerance & Peace Based  on Religion or Belief

Question:  Will UN General Assembly A/RES/66/167 matter to promote and protect
your freedom of religion or belief, cultural identity, principles and values at a local level?

 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the UN General Assembly request to ECOSOC to prepare a draft convention on religious intolerance, later rescinded due to its complexity and sensitivity.

History: http://www.tandemproject.com/program/history.htm The Tandem Project Community Strategies proposed in 1986: http://www.tandemproject.com/tolerance.pdf

BACKGROUND :  HUMAN RIGHTS & FREEDOM OF 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 of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief http://www.tandemproject.com/program/81_dec.htm.

REFLECTIONS

The Tandem Project

The First Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads: Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

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.

There is an increase in dialogue today between religions and other beliefs to embrace diversity, but few persons, less than one percent of any population, ever participate. This is a challenge. The value of such dialogues is proportionate to the level of participation. For civil society increased participation would create opportunities for education on inclusive and genuine approaches to human rights and freedom of religion or belief. 

In 1968 the United Nations deferred passage of a legally-binding convention on religious intolerance saying it was too complicated and sensitive. Instead, they adopted a non-binding declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief. While very worthwhile, the declaration does not carry the force and commitment of a legally-binding international human rights convention on freedom of religion or belief.

Religions and other beliefs historically have been used to justify wars and settle disputes. This is more dangerous today as the possible use of nuclear and biological weapons of mass destruction increases. Governments need to consider whether religions and other beliefs trump human rights or human rights trump religions and other beliefs or neither trumps the other. Can international human rights law help to stop the advance and use of such weapons in the face of this historic truth?

• QUESTION: Weapons of mass destruction as history teaches are often legitimized for national security and justified by cultural, ethnic, religious or political ideology. The U.N. Review Conference on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and studies on biological and cyber weapons demonstrate advances in science and technology is being used to increase their potential for mass destruction. The question is whether an International Convention on Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief, elevated and supported equally by the U.N. Human Rights Council and U.N. Security Council, would help offset the risk of weapons of mass destruction. Recognition of the need for synergy to balance rights and security is a foundation for solving this issue.

“I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”

- Robert Oppenheimer, quote from the Bhagavad Gita after exploding the first atomic bomb, Trinity 1945.
The Tandem Project believes until a core legally-binding human rights Convention on Freedom of Religion or Belief  is adopted international human rights law will be incomplete. It may be time to begin to consider reinstating the 1968 Working Group to bring all matters relating to freedom of religion or belief under one banner, a core international human rights legally-binding treaty.

The Tandem Project a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1986 to build understanding, tolerance, and respect for diversity of religion or belief, and to prevent discrimination in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief. The Tandem Project has sponsored multiple conferences, curricula, reference material and programs on Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights- Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion – and the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.

Documents Attached: Focus Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief; Rights & Beliefs