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Inquiry Into the Status of the Human Right to Freedom of Religion Or Belief

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Inquiry Into the Status of the Human Right to Freedom of Religion Or Belief Submission by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade i CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION...................................................................................6 DFAT’s Submission .........................................................................................................................................7 Australia’s Approach to Human Rights ..........................................................................................................7 DFAT’s Approach to the Freedom of Religion or Belief .................................................................................8 International Human Rights Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief...............................................................9 The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) .................................................................9 Other Binding Obligations ..........................................................................................................................10 Non-binding Sources of the Freedom of Religion or Belief ........................................................................10 Implementation of Human Rights Law on Freedom of Religion and Belief................................................10 CHAPTER 2: MULTILATERAL ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT – THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM.......................................................................13 The Universal Periodic Review (UPR)...........................................................................................................13 Resolutions of the Human Rights Council and UNGA Third Committee ......................................................16 The Human Rights Council..........................................................................................................................16 The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Third Committee .............................................................16 The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Resolutions.............................................................................17 The European Union’s Resolution ..............................................................................................................18 Australia’s Position on the Freedom of Religion or Belief Resolutions ......................................................18 Other Resolutions.......................................................................................................................................19 Special Procedure Mandates of the Human Rights Council.........................................................................21 The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief .........................................................................21 Joint Statements at the HRC ........................................................................................................................23 Human Rights Treaty Body Reporting..........................................................................................................23 CHAPTER 3: MULTILATERAL ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT – BEYOND THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM ..........................................................25 UN Alliance of Civilizations...........................................................................................................................25 UNESCO........................................................................................................................................................26 International Contact Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief ...................................................................26 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance .........................................................................................27 Ad-Hoc Multilateral Engagement on Freedom of Religion or Belief............................................................27 CHAPTER 4: THE ENJOYMENT OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF GLOBALLY ...29 Page 2 of 143 Afghanistan ..................................................................................................................................................30 Bangladesh...................................................................................................................................................31 Bhutan..........................................................................................................................................................32 Bosnia and Herzegovina...............................................................................................................................33 Brunei Darussalam .......................................................................................................................................34 Cambodia .....................................................................................................................................................35 Canada .........................................................................................................................................................36 Central African Republic ..............................................................................................................................37 China ............................................................................................................................................................38 Hong Kong ..................................................................................................................................................39 Croatia..........................................................................................................................................................40 Cyprus ..........................................................................................................................................................41 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)...........................................................................................43 Djibouti ........................................................................................................................................................44 Egypt ............................................................................................................................................................45 Eritrea ..........................................................................................................................................................47 Ethiopia ........................................................................................................................................................48 Fiji………………. ...............................................................................................................................................49 France ..........................................................................................................................................................50 Greece..........................................................................................................................................................51 Hungary........................................................................................................................................................52 India………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53 Indonesia......................................................................................................................................................55 Israel and the Palestinian Territories ...........................................................................................................57 Israel ...........................................................................................................................................................57 Palestinian Territories ................................................................................................................................57 Iran……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 9 Iraq……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6 1 Kosovo..........................................................................................................................................................62 Kuwait ..........................................................................................................................................................63 Laos…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 64 Malaysia .......................................................................................................................................................66 Malta............................................................................................................................................................68 Morocco.......................................................................................................................................................69 Page 3 of 143 Myanmar......................................................................................................................................................70 Nepal............................................................................................................................................................73 Netherlands .................................................................................................................................................74
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