UN Human Rights Council Adopts By Consensus 2 Religious Liberty Resolutions

Last week, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted two resolutions on religious liberty. (UN Watch list of resolutions.) Both were adopted without a formal vote.  The first (press release 3/22) was a resolution introduced by Denmark on behalf of the European Union titled Freedom of religion or belief.  The second (3/23) was a resolution submitted by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, titled Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief. In a press release, Human Rights Watch applauded the fact that again this year, like last year, the resolution omits any reference to the controversial concept of "defamation of religion."