Prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities (1957)

Recognising that the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities is the only United Nations organ composed of experts to which it is proper and acceptable to submit data,

Responding to the request of the subcommission that organisations send it data for its studies,

Responding to the request of the Rapporteur of the Study on Religious Rights and Practices in paragraph 21 of his draft report that more organisations send data to him, and taking particular cognisance of the closing paragraph of his draft report –

In our generation respect for beliefs – theistic or agnostic – is not a mere matter for sufferance or toleration; in almost all countries the trend is in favour of recognising them as legal rights. This in itself is an indication of the manner in which opinion in different parts of the world views the co-existence of faiths and philosophies, and approach which has found expression in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Board of Directors of IHEU request member organisations:

1. To submit statements showing the de facto and de jure situation concerning their organisations in their respective countries to the Rapporteur of the UN Study on Religious Rights and Practices and to other members of the subcommission,
2. To submit studies on other substantive matter when they are discussed in the Subcommission, and
3. To attend the Conference of Representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations interested in the eradication of prejudice and discrimination whenever that conference is convened.

Board of Directors 1957

Suggested academic reference

'Prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities (1957)', Humanists International, Board of Directors, 1957