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First visit to Moldova by UN Expert on Religious Freedom
29 August 2011
GENEVA – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, will visit the Republic of Moldova from 1 to 8 September 2011, in what is the first mission to the country by a UN human rights expert on religious freedom.
“I will identify any existing or emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the freedom of religion or belief in the Republic of Moldova and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles”, said Mr. Bielefeldt, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Government.
The work of the Special Rapporteur, as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, also requires him to promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the advancement and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief.
During this eight-day mission, Mr. Bielefeldt intends to travel to Chiinãu, Orhei, Bãlþi and Tiraspol. He will meet with various officials and local authorities responsible for matters of religion or belief. His visit will also include meetings with representatives of religious or belief communities, civil society organisations and UN agencies.
A press conference to share his preliminary findings will be held on 8 September 2011 in Chiinãu. Following his visit, the Special Rapporteur will present a report containing his conclusions and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2012.
Heiner Bielefeldt assumed his mandate on 1
August 2010. As Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or
belief, he is independent from any government, and acts in
his individual capacity. Mr. Bielefeldt is Professor of
Human Rights and Human Rights Politics at the University of
Erlangen-Nürnberg. From 2003 to 2009, he was Director of
Germany’s National Human Rights Institution. The Special
Rapporteur’s research interests include various
interdisciplinary facets of human rights theory and
practice, with a focus on freedom of religion or
belief.
Learn more about the mandate and work of the
Special Rapporteur:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/FreedomReligionIndex.aspx
OHCHR
Country Page – Republic of Moldova:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/ENACARegion/Pages/MDIndex.aspx
An
e-Digest on Freedom of Religion or Belief – 25 years of
thought by four
UN Special Rapporteurs (download your
copy):
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Religion/RapporteursDigestFreedomReligionBelief.pdf
Check
the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and
of Discrimination Based on Religion or
Belief:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/religion.htm
ENDS
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