Facilitating freedom of religion or belief : a deskbook ; published by the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based

As the world enters the 21st Century, the challenges in implementing freedom of religion or belief grow more complex and more acute. How can the internationally recognized norms regarding freedom of religion or belief be meaningful for all - women and men, majorities and minorities, established religions and new religious movements, parents and children? How can tolerance, mutual respect and understanding be globally expanded? How does freedom of religion or belief relate to other human rights? Launched by the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief, this deskbook anthology is designed as a single-volume resource for all who are concerned with facilitating improved global compliance with international standards in this vital area. The varied and diverse topics addressed by over fifty global experts in the field provide a rich weave of many threads. The book addresses historical and philosophical background on religious human rights, applicable international norms and the international procedural mechanisms for safeguarding these norms. It surveys central areas of controversy, including registration of religious and belief organizations, emerging debates on religion and gender, parental and children’s rights, new religious movements, proselytism, and conscientious objection. Other chapters describe practical approaches to promoting tolerance and understanding through education, inter-religious dialogue, joint religious efforts addressing shared social problems, and conflict resolution initiatives. The volume also provides practical information regarding networking and other background issues that can help translate understanding of the applicable norms and procedures into action. Appendices provide texts of major international instruments on freedom of religion or belief. Front Matter....Pages i-lxxiv Front Matter....Pages lxxv-lxxv Historical Analysis of Freedom of Religion or Belief as a Technique for Resolving Religious Conflict....Pages 1-17 Philosophical and Religious Justifications of Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 19-61 Front Matter....Pages N3-N3 The Nature and Minimum Standards of Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 63-83 The Relationship of Freedom of Religion or Belief Norms to Other Human Rights....Pages 85-123 Freedom of Religion or Belief under International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law....Pages 125-146 Permissible Restrictions on Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 147-172 The United Nations Commission on Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 173-188 The Human Rights Committee and Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 189-202 UNESCO’s Facilitation of Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 203-208 The Protection of Religious Freedom in the System of the Council of Europe....Pages 209-238 Advancements in Standard Setting: Religious Liberty and OSCE Commitments....Pages 239-254 Implementing Freedom of Religion in the OSCE: Experiences from the Norwegian Chairmanship....Pages 255-271 Front Matter....Pages N5-N5 Conscientious Objection....Pages 273-289 The Right to Autonomy in Religious Affairs....Pages 291-319 Facilitating Freedom of Religion or Belief through Religious Association Laws....Pages 321-405 Protecting Freedom of Religion or Belief in Restricted or Institutional Settings....Pages 407-423 Freedom of Religion and Belief and Discretionary State Approval of Religious Activity....Pages 425-440 The Place of Religion in Public Life: The Lay Approach....Pages 441-453 Front Matter....Pages N7-N7 Dissenting Women, Religion or Belief, and the State: Contemporary Challenges that Require Attention....Pages 455-495 Between Laicist State Ideology and Modern Public Religion: The Head-Cover Controversy in Contemporary Turkey....Pages 497-511 Front Matter....Pages N7-N7 Burdens on the Right of Women to Assert Their Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 513-521 Hinduism and Women: Uses and Abuses of Religious Freedom....Pages 523-543 Religion Confronting Women’s Human Rights: The Case of Roman Catholicism....Pages 545-559 The Right to Be the Same, The Right to Be Different: Children and Religion....Pages 561-569 Front Matter....Pages N9-N9 Why the Cults? New Religious Movements and Freedom of Religion or Belief....Pages 571-593 The Sect Issue in the European Francophone Sphere....Pages 595-618 The Right to Engage in Religious Persuasion....Pages 619-649 Proselytism and Cultural Integrity....Pages 651-668 Apostasy and Freedom to Change Religion or Belief....Pages 669-688 Front Matter....Pages N11-N11 Developing Shared Values and Common Citizenship in a Secular and Pluralist Society: How Religious Communities Can Contribute....Pages 689-697 Humanism and Freedom from Religion....Pages 699-719 The United States and the Promotion of Freedom of Religion and Belief....Pages 721-746 The Role of Religion and Religious Freedom in Contemporary Conflict Situations....Pages 747-760 Freedom of Religion and Dialogue....Pages 761-776 The Emergence of Interfaith Dialogue: The Norwegian Experience....Pages 777-789 Promoting Tolerance through Religious Education....Pages 791-812 Religious Tolerance, Freedom of Religion or Belief, and Education: Results of the 2001 UN Conference....Pages 813-818 Facilitating Freedom of Religion or Belief Through NGOs....Pages 819-842 Conclusion and Agenda for the Future....Pages 843-851 Epilogue....Pages 853-854 Back Matter....Pages 855-1017 As the world enters the 21st Century, the challenges in implementing freedom of religion or belief grow more complex and more acute. How can the internationally recognized norms regarding freedom of religion or belief be meaningful for all - women and men, majorities and minorities, established religions and new religious movements, parents and children? How can tolerance, mutual respect and understanding be globally expanded? How does freedom of religion or belief relate to other human rights? Launched by the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief, this deskbook anthology is designed as a single-volume resource for all who are concerned with facilitating improved global compliance with international standards in this vital area. The varied and diverse topics addressed by over fifty global experts in the field provide a rich weave of many threads. The book addresses historical and philosophical background on religious human rights, applicable international norms and the international procedural mechanisms for safeguarding these norms. It surveys central areas of controversy, including registration of religious and belief organizations, emerging debates on religion and gender, parental and children's rights, new religious movements, proselytism, and conscientious objection. Other chapters describe practical approaches to promoting tolerance and understanding through education, inter-religious dialogue, joint religious efforts addressing shared social problems, and conflict resolution initiatives. The volume also provides practical information regarding networking and other background issues that can help translate understanding of the applicable norms and procedures into action. Appendices provide texts of major international instruments on freedom of religion or belief. "Published by the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief."