To establish and maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion or belief at the national and international levels.

Since this right was established, communications and the ability to communicate widely and instantly by the Internet has changed the way in which it is being monitored. For years it referred only to the right of religions or beliefs to confidentiality by mail and telephone contacts at the national and international levels. Now it includes websites, e-mail, DVD and CD ROM’s, teleconferencing and many other modern means of communications. There are examples where viruses and other means of disruption and surveillance by governments or even other religions or beliefs have occurred.

Related Examples

• Tibet : In the 1950’s the People’s Republic of China invaded Tibet and claimed it as a region of China . Since then, no open communications have been allowed between the Tibetan people and their exiled spiritual leader and political head of state, the Dalai Lama. During the 1960’s the People’s Republic of China established a military apparatus in Tibet to manage the affairs of monasteries and to control all religious expression. All communications with the Dalai Lama is by underground means. He is still revered by the Tibetan people and his picture is openly displayed in temples, schools and other public places in open defiance of a ban to do so. Since 1950 over 1 million Tibetans have died and over 6,000 monasteries destroyed. In 1989, a group of monks were sentenced to nineteen years in prison for producing a Tibetan language version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Learning Experiences

In interviews with leaders of religions or beliefs in your community, include a question or survey to see if they have had any problems or restrictions in communicating with the national and international offices of their organizations. Review your Community Resources database to make sure you have contacts to interview from the local newspaper and television outlets and Internet server companies. Interview as many of these contacts as possible to see what restrictions are place on a religion or belief for national and international communications. If there are egregious acts of discrimination limiting communications of a religion or belief with the outside world, document how and why and use it as a case study for your Community Report on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

TOPIC NOTES

Term 6.1.9: Establish and Maintain Communications

To establish and maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion or belief at the national and international levels;

Refer to the media section of your Community Resources list. Interview media and Internet providers on any restrictions placed on the communications of religions or beliefs at the national and international levels. Refer to Article 1, Paragraph 3 of the present Declaration. What limits are most often used by the State to restrict a religion or belief in your community from communications. Describe below.