Freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed by article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
The work of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion or belief is also guided by the relevant articles of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
In addition, the mandate is guided by relevant resolutions of the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and other organs of the United Nations, as well as relevant jurisprudence of the treaty bodies and provisions of international humanitarian law. The Special Rapporteur also takes into account relevant human rights instruments and jurisprudence at the regional level.
Freedom of religion or belief has many dimensions and it intersects with other human rights. For specific provisions and relevant sources, please click on the links below to access specific sections of the Digest on freedom of religion , or download the PDF version (with references).