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Press releases Special Procedures


STATES SHOULD NOT USE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS TO JUSTIFY WOMEN AND LGBT+ RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS – UN EXPERT

02 March 2020


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GENEVA (2 March 2020) – States should repeal gender discriminatory laws grounded
on religious beliefs and must address gender-based violence carried out in the
name of religion by non-State actors, said a UN expert in a report presented to
the Human Rights Council today.

“I firmly reject any claim that religious beliefs can be invoked as a legitimate
‘justification’ for violence or discrimination against women, girls or LGBT+
people. The right to freedom of religion protects individuals and not religions
as such,” said Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or
belief.

In his report, the UN expert urges States to repeal gender-based discrimination
laws, including those enacted with reference to religious considerations that
criminalize adultery; criminalize persons on the basis of their actual or
perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; criminalize abortion in all
cases; and facilitate religious practices that violate human rights.

“Women and LGBT+ people experience discrimination and violence inflicted in the
name of religion by State and non-State actors that impedes their ability to
fully enjoy their human rights, including their right to freedom of religion or
belief,” Shaheed said.

The Special Rapporteur also expressed deep concern at the rise in political and
religious campaigns, which invoke religious freedom to seek to rollback human
rights that are fundamental to gender equality, at both national and
international levels.

“Religious communities are not monolithic. In many religions, a plurality of
self-understandings exists, some of which may be more committed than others to
advancing gender equality and non-discrimination,” the UN expert said.

“While religious organizations are entitled to autonomy in the administration of
their affairs, such deference should be extended within a holistic conception of
rights grounded in the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and
inalienability of all human rights.

“States have an obligation to guarantee to everyone, including women, girls and
LGBT+ people, an equal right to freedom of religion or belief, including by
creating an enabling environment where pluralist and progressive
self-understandings can manifest,” Shaheed said.

The Special Rapporteur also presented reports on his recent country visits to
the Netherlands and Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council.

ENDS

Mr. Ahmed Shaheed (the Maldives) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on freedom
of religion or belief by the UN Human Rights Council in 2016. Mr. Shaheed is
Deputy Director of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, UK and
Senior Fellow of the Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Centre in Canada. He was
Foreign Minister of the Maldives from 2005 to 2007 and from 2008 to 2010. He led
the country’s efforts to sign and ratify all nine international human rights
Conventions and to implement them in law and practice. Mr. Shaheed is the former
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of
the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent
experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s
independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific
country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special
Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not
receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or
organization and serve in their individual capacity.

For inquiries and media requests, please contact: Chian Yew Lim (+41 22 917 9938
/ clim@ohchr.org)
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact the
Media Section (+ 41 22 928 9855 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter
@UN_SPExperts.
Concerned about the world we live in?
Then STAND UP for someone’s rights today.
#Standup4humanrights
and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org


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www.ohchr.org Open in urlscan Pro 2606:4700:10::ac43:2411 Public Scan

Form analysis 3 forms found in the DOM

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POST /en/press-releases/2020/03/states-should-not-use-religious-beliefs-justify-women-and-lgbt-rights?LangID=E&NewsID=25644

POST /en/press-releases/2020/03/states-should-not-use-religious-beliefs-justify-women-and-lgbt-rights?LangID=E&NewsID=25644

Text Content

www.ohchr.org Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700:10::ac43:2411 Public Scan

Form analysis
3 forms found in the DOM