VATICAN CITY, APR 5, 2004 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations offices in Geneva, has been participating in the 60th session of the Human Rights Commission which is taking place in that Swiss city March 15-April 23. On April 1 he addressed the assembly on the topics of civil and political rights and religious intolerance.
On the question of religious freedom and the place of religions in society, the nuncio pointed out that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights both articulates and promotes religious freedom. He cited, in part, Article 18: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion," adding that this right "includes both an individual and an institutional dimension. ... International juridical instruments ... have constantly affirmed the value and importance of religious freedom and also provided protection against discrimination for all religious believers."
"Unfortunately," said Archbishop Tomasi, "religious freedom continues to be violated in several places and there is an added dimension today of non-State groups taking upon themselves the initiative to discriminate and even use violence against religious minorities, in many cases with impunity. Places of worship and cemeteries are even burned down or vandalized or desecrated; believers are threatened, attacked and even killed, and their leaders are made a special target of discrimination."
He added that "an emerging subtle form of religious intolerance is opposing the right of religion to speak publicly on issues concerning forms of behavior that are measured against principles of a moral and religious nature. While respecting a healthy sense of the State's secular nature, the positive role of believers in public life should be recognized. This corresponds, among other things, to the demands of a healthy pluralism and contributes to the building up of authentic democracy."
DELSS/RELIGIOUS FREEDOM/GENEVA:UN:TOMASI VIS 20040405 (300)
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