The Tandem Project: a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1986 to build understanding and respect for diversity of religion or belief, and prevent discrimination in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief. The Tandem Project has sponsored multiple conferences, curricula, reference materials 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 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. The Tandem Project initiative was launched in 1986 as the result of a co-founder representing the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) at the 1984 United Nations Geneva Seminar, Encouragement of Understanding, Tolerance and Respect in Matters Relating to Freedom of Religion or Belief, called by the UN Secretariat on ways to implement the 1981 UN Declaration. In 1986, The Tandem Project organized the first NGO International Conference on the 1981 UN Declaration.

GOAL

To Eliminate all Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief

OBJECTIVES

1. Build understanding, respect and support for Article 18, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights –Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion - and the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.

2. Encourage the United Nations, Governments, Religions or Beliefs, Academia, NGOs, Media and Civil Society to use these international human rights standards as essential for long-term solutions to conflicts based on religion or belief.

3. Present the Concept: Separation of Religion or Belief and State – SOROBAS. States recalling their history, culture and constitution, provide equal protection by law against all forms of intolerance and discrimination in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief for theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief.

PROGRAMS

1. Introduction: The Tandem Project has an online Introduction program to build understanding and respect for diversity of religion or belief. It includes extracts and text including an essay on United Nations, Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief, a graph on World Religion or Belief, a chart of the United Nations Human Rights Organization, History, on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Issue Statements, multifaceted approaches to complex, substantive issues relating to religion or belief, Law, extracts on international, national and local laws relating to freedom of religion or belief, Concept, on Separation of Religion or Belief and State, Education, extracts from Article V of the 1981 UN Declaration, the Rights of Parents, Children, State and Dialogue, extracts for Dialogue on the root causes on intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. There is a Response box in each section for questions, discussion and critique. They are inter-active and can be used to submit a message. 

2. Issues: Issue Statements are published weekly on the value of Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – Everyone has a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, and the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.  They are a Call to the United Nations, Governments, Religions or Beliefs, Academia, NGOs, Media and Civil Society to use these international human rights standards as essential for long-term solutions to conflicts based on religion or belief. Issue Statements are archived on the home page.  Issue Statements are released by The Tandem Project to an International List Serve. Each Issue Statement is presented under the Eight Articles of the 1981 U.N. Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. .

3. Opinions: The Tandem Project Call for Opinions is a request for views on the value of Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – Everyone has a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, and the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.  The Call is to the United Nations, Governments, Religions or Beliefs, Academia, NGOs, Media and Civil Society to encourage use of these international human rights standards as essential for long-term solutions to conflicts based on religion or belief. Responses are sent to the United Nations to assess the value of international human rights standards on freedom of religion or belief for civil society.

4. Dialogue: The Tandem Project participates in inter-faith dialogue bringing to the discussion an understanding of international human rights law that protects persons of theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief.  In 1968 the United Nations postponed work on an International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Religious Intolerance because of its apparent complexity and sensitivity. In the twenty-first century, a dramatic increase of intolerance and discrimination on grounds of religion or belief is motivating worldwide dialogue to find solutions to these problems. The Tandem Project believes International Human Rights Standards on Freedom of Religion or Belief, are essential for long-term solutions to conflicts based on religion or belief.  

5. Concept: Separation of Religion or Belief and State – SOROBAS. This is an education concept to promote understanding and respect for diversity of religion or belief under the established principles of the United Nations. The Tandem Project believes such a concept is essential for long term solutions to conflicts based on religion or belief.  

• Principle: 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights - “Whereas 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,” – recognized as a “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”

• Concept: Separation of Religion or Belief and State – SOROBAS. States recalling their history, culture, constitution, provide equal protection by law against intolerance and discrimination in matters relating to religion or belief for theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief.

6. Education: The Tandem Project Education Manual on Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief is on the Eight Articles of the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. It is accessible on-line from The Tandem Project Home Page, http://www.tandemproject.com. The manual has an Introductory Lesson Plan, Study Topics, Related Examples and Questions. It is synchronized for collecting and dissemination information by the Community Database.

7. Database: The Country & Community Database is a system for the collection and dissemination of information/ research on the 1981 UN Declaration. Responses are placed under International Human Rights Standards on Freedom of Religion or Belief for use in Universal Periodic Reviews, Treaty-Bodies and Special Procedures reports. These extracts are for the Country Report cited above and may be used by others if documented and credited. United Nations, Governments, Religions or Beliefs, Academia, NGOs, Media, Civil Society and individuals are invited to submit material for Country Reports. Open the link to The Tandem Project Country & Community Database to read the introduction, review the 1981 UN Declaration Table of Contents and to submit a response:  

Communities within a Country are defined by civic and geographical locations or communities of interest such as a religion or belief or a community-at-large. The Eight Articles of the 1981 UN Declaration are sub-divided by paragraphs and terms of the 1981 UN Declaration. The Tandem Project Table of Contents that can be scrolled to an article, paragraph and term. There is a Response box for each article, paragraph and term to submit up to one page of information. Additional addendum information and research is sent in Microsoft Word document to mroan@tandemproject.com.

8. UN NGO Consultative Status: The Tandem Project is a UN NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Special Consultative Status granted by the United Nations allows The Tandem Project and WUNRN to have official accreditation to attend United Nations session and events as the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, CEDAW Committee and additional UN structures. UN Special Consultative Status of The Tandem Project/WUNRN additionally offers the important privilege of presenting Written and Oral Statements at the UN, and signature endorsement on NGO Resolutions/Statements.

The Tandem Project Executive Director: Michael M. Roan, mroan@tandemproject.com.

The Tandem Project is a UN NGO in Special Consultative Status with the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations