Poland in the UN

I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the following members of the Group of Friends of Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief: Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States and my own country. The full version of this statement will be available online.

Ms. President, Mr. Special Rapporteur,

Protection and promotion of freedom of religion or belief, based on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, remains to be a cornerstone of universally valid human rights. Operating on this principle, we actively propose and engage in multilateral initiatives that seek to advance freedom of religion or belief for everyone, including the freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching, as well as to eliminate intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. The most recent example of initiatives is the third annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom or Belief, which Poland will host in mid-November. We hope for a broad participation of both high-level government representatives as well as members of civil society and religious organizations.  

Mr. Special Rapporteur,

Your annual report highlights that many states still have on their books laws and policies that discriminate against persons belonging to religious or belief minorities. We would like to thank you for your report bringing attention to this issue, especially in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Regrettably, the pandemic has prompted some decision makers to institute policies and practices, which are seemingly designed to fight the spread of the disease, but in effect repress human rights and proliferate discrimination against persons belonging to minority groups, including through deliberate stigmatization of groups and individuals based on religion or belief. These new alarming developments, combined with acts of violence based on religion or belief, including the most serious crimes, which had already been on the rise in the world, leave persons belonging to religious or belief minorities in an exceptionally precarious situation. We support UN Secretary-General’s appeal for an immediate global ceasefire and his Special Appeal to Religious Leaders to join forces, work for peace, and focus on the world’s common battle to defeat COVID-19. Violations and abuses of the human right to freedom of religion or belief by state and non-state actors are intolerable. It is the responsibility of states to create legal frameworks that protect these freedoms and guarantee the full enjoyment of human rights, including for persons belonging to religious minorities and non-religious persons. This includes the freedom to practice a religion or belief privately or publicly, alone or in community with others, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief. It is also indispensable for peaceful and inclusive societies to foster strong interfaith dialogue and understanding between religious communities.

Mr. Special Rapporteur,

The Group welcomes your report that underlines the importance of safeguarding the right to freedom of religion or belief for all for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We share your conviction that the 2030 Agenda’s commitment to "leave no one behind“ cannot be achieved without addressing discrimination and exclusion based on religion or belief. We welcome the proposed set of indicators to operationalise international standards on freedom of religion or belief as a useful tool to identify protection gaps and formulate steps to close such gaps. As you note, in order to combat discrimination it is essential to collect and disaggregate data.

The Group of Friends believes that strong, independent and impartial institutions established on the basis of the core values of good governance by upholding human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, will adequately protect persons belonging to religious or belief minorities against discrimination and violence. Therefore, it is vital to maintain strong, independent and impartial institutions that enable inclusive societies, so that no person is left behind on account of their religion or belief. Such protection, if achieved, is or will be an exemplification of practicing good governance. My own country, as well as a good number of other states, share this view and regularly sponsor a resolution on good governance in the Human Rights Council.

Mr. Special Rapporteur,

The Group of Friends remains concern that the COVID-19 pandemic and some national responses to it posed new challenges and exacerbated the existing ones for persons belonging to religious or belief minorities. Thus, I would like to conclude with the following question: what particular measures can be taken on the national level to specifically address this very current problem and effectively protect persons belonging to religious or belief minorities in the pandemic reality? 

I thank you.