Clinton Applauds U.N.'s Religious Freedom Resolution

By Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials praised a United Nations council for a new statement on religious freedom that sidestepped a divisive debate sponsored by Islamic countries over the "defamation of religions."

The U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday (March 24) approved a resolution voicing concern on "emerging obstacles" to religious freedom and growing "religious intolerance, discrimination and violence."

The United States supported the resolution, which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called a "significant step forward" in global efforts to combat "intolerance, discrimination and violence ... based upon religion or belief."

Annual U.N. resolutions sponsored by the Organization of the Islamic Conference against the "defamation of religions" have steadily lost support in recent years.

The issue gained greater scrutiny in Pakistan, which prohibits blasphemy against Islam, after two government officials who opposed the law were assassinated by Muslim radicals.

The independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which has helped marshal opposition to the blasphemy resolutions in the U.N., said Thursday's vote should prompt Pakistan to rescind its blasphemy law.

"The resolution properly focuses on protecting individuals from discrimination or violence, instead of protecting religions from criticism," the commission said in a statement.

Comments

[SoapboxKing]

04:51 PM on 03/27/2011

Thats great Ms Clinton. Now, only if the US could adopt a policy of religious tolerance and freedom.

[detroitblkmale30]

02:13 PM on 03/27/2011

"significant step forward" in global efforts to combat "intolerance, discrimination and violence ... based upon religion or belief."

Well said Hilary.

[American Air]

07:01 AM on 03/27/2011

How ab out this UN Charter.

All Gods are equal..no one religion's god is better than the others... Religious supremacy like Racial Supremacy is eviI!

[American Air]

07:00 AM on 03/27/2011

Countries should enact laws to severly punish evangelicals who use inducement and bribes to convert people.

[iridium53]

04:20 PM on 03/26/2011

Will those same controls be put in action against the Evangelical Christians in the United States that seek to establish a religious authoritarian tyranny here?

[dubbleplusgood]

10:26 PM on 03/26/2011

america already has it. it's called the 1st amendment. the problem americans are becoming more ignorant and proud of it and ignoring it.

[American Air]

06:59 AM on 03/27/2011

Everyman has a right to eat their own f eces. But its still disgus!ting. Thats how I see christian evangelism.

[xMoonWalkerx]

03:49 PM on 03/26/2011

The original resolution was pushed by a bunch of Islamic states where religious bigotry is the norm These states will take the top spots in a contest for the most religiously bigoted societies in the world. The resolution was changed by our intervention.

[Razorback3]

01:38 PM on 03/26/2011

They can write all the essays they want on this blog and pass all the UN resolutions they want. This a backdoor attempt to protect a certain religion I can't name from being questioned. If you can't endure the scrutiny ignore it and move on. I do when this site repeatedly attacks Christianity.

[dubbleplusgood]

10:28 PM on 03/26/2011

it's no backdoor attempt and you didn't state your case at all. the religion you can't name is called Islam and it's questioned here all the time. And rightly so.

[rgilley]

01:24 PM on 03/26/2011

Freedom of religion is good, And freedom From religion is better.

http://www.ffrf.org/

[A-Superstitionist]

12:29 PM on 03/26/2011

5 words: "Freedom OF and FROM superstition" should be a UN mandate for all countries.

[perplexed and annoyed]

10:35 AM on 03/26/2011

What good are UN resolutions? Some nations are expected to abide by them and others are not. Restricts nations who already try to abide by the concepts of the resolution, while the ones who don't continue with their practices of religious intolerance, etc. Resolutions are worthless if you are unable to enforce them.

[BDwyer]

01:32 PM on 03/26/2011

In this case, they help to build consensus, among leaders and those interested in the question, on key human rights issues. Without such a consensus, the pace of positive change slows even further; with them, it is possible that it speeds up.

[Freia]

10:06 AM on 03/26/2011

Suggested rules for tolerance within religion:
1. There is freedom of religion or lack thereof
2. Laws of the land surpass the laws of religion. Human rights surpass religious instructions
3. There is freedom of thought, speech, expression, even if infringes on religious concepts
4. Religious societies should forward tolerance and respect for other religions and for people without belief
5. Man and woman have equal rights. So have old vs. young, different ethnic groups, people with different sexual orientation, with different believes or no belief
6. Parents should not make decisions on behalf of their children in relation to religion, particularly those that cannot be revoked. Circumcision is such an example.
7. Each person has the right to choose his/her own partner in life. Legal marriage age is the age of majority. In interfaith marriages, each party has the right to retain their religion/lack thereof. The laws of the land apply for marriage/divorce. Children of interfaith marriages should be free to decide religious affiliation (if any) at age of majority.
8. Religious societies must accept that people leave their faith, and show compassion in the process
9. Religious societies can advise but not force guidelines upon their followers or others. Official government recommendations to promote health, nutrition and animal welfare should be made available within the religious community
10. All religious societies should promote integration of their people (children, women, men, elderly) in the society in terms of language, education, friendships, work, sports, community and politics

[rgilley]

01:24 PM on 03/26/2011

http://www.ffrf.org/

[Razorback3]

01:30 PM on 03/26/2011

Freia, your alleged religion is a joke. What use is salt if it no longer has its saltiness? This already sounds like humanist drivel.

[dubbleplusgood]

10:29 PM on 03/26/2011

down with humanists, up with fairytaleists.

[rtgmath]

09:31 PM on 03/28/2011

Let me note that if Christianity were truly effective, such tolerances as given could be had AND people would still stay in the faith. IF.

On the other hand, the reason Christians so often try to keep other faiths or nonfaiths out is because they can't compete with reasonable people who think differently. If you have to argue carte-blanche against all of her points, then let me ask:

1. You are against freedom of religion? Who gets to choose your faith?
2. Do you think religious law should supercede the Constitution?
3. Do you support heresy laws punishing speech against Christianity?
4. Do you believe you have the right to be intolerant toward others? Do you think others have the right to be intolerant toward you?
5. Do you believe women have equal rights with men? Do you believe women *should have* equal rights with men? Do you believe a person of a different religion should have the same rights as you have?
7. Do you believe you have the right to choose your child's partner for marriage? To what degree?
8. So, what would you do to keep someone from leaving the faith? The death penalty?
9. Do you think that religion should have the right to dictate to others what they shall or shall not do or think?
10. Do you think that creating a separate Christian enclave makes you a better witness than being integrated with your non-Christian neighbors?

[Freia]

09:41 AM on 03/26/2011

I try to get 10 suggestions for religious freedom and tolerance in. I cannot fit it, because of space restriction. But. anyway: All of you can contribute to this. So why don't all of you you start now: How can we get 10 or 20 commandments for religious freedom and tolerance!

[Razorback3]

01:32 PM on 03/26/2011

You don't want religion anyway. Your description is socialism which if you can believe it is your religion.

[dubbleplusgood]

10:30 PM on 03/26/2011

zzz you haven't even read what Freia wrote. tr0ll elsewhere plz.

[GustavoRejivik]

02:29 AM on 03/26/2011

Hillary looks beautiful in this picture ... I never thought I'd say it ... but she'd of made a far better President than Obama....

At least Hillary cares about America .. or at least how she'd be viewed in the History books were she President of the USA. Plus she's got a birth certificate.

[rgilley]

01:32 PM on 03/26/2011

So does Obama, and you can see it here:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertificate.asp

and here:
http://factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

and here:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/06/obama-birth.html

and here:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/27/obamas-birth-certificate-part-ii/

and here:
Doctor Who Verified Obama Birth Certificate a GOP Contributor
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2009/05/14/doctor-who-verified-obama-birth-certificate-a-gop-contributor/

What does it take to convince a birther of the presidents birthplace?

[Razorback3]

01:33 PM on 03/26/2011

I didn't think being the PUSA is a beauty contest.

[GustavoRejivik]

02:26 AM on 03/26/2011

There is Religious Freedom everywhere .. but Islamic States and China .. where you can get jailed for life or stoned to death for being the 'wrong' religion....

Got Tolerance??

[Friendly]

12:20 AM on 03/26/2011

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion for all must come first. Anyone who does not accept this must have his mouth shut for ever until he sees the nonsense in his doctrine.

[dubbleplusgood]

10:33 PM on 03/26/2011

Freedom speech and freedom of religion and freedom from religion is the 1st amendment.

[Friendly]

10:54 AM on 03/27/2011

As long as freedom from religion is not practiced a la Stalin and Mao, I am with you. No belief system should be imposed on anyone.

[freedom1947]

10:34 AM on 03/27/2011

Freedom of speach, freedom not to have religious doctrine imposed on them.

[Friendly]

10:51 AM on 03/27/2011

Sure!