International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

International Freedom of Religion and Belief Day

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International Freedom of Religion and Belief Day

International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day occurs every 27 October and highlights that 83% of the world’s population live in countries where religious freedom is threatened.

International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day (October 27) promotes coexistence and respect between people of different cultures and religions, to foster stable and prosperous societies. It is a cause that has been taken up at the highest levels.

The US has an Ambassador-at-Large for Freedom of Religion and Belief, Sam Brownback. The United Kingdom has the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Rehman Chishti.

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Destruction of Cemeteries

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Destruction of CemeteriesCemeteries offer vital links between the living and the dead for religious community members. Cemeteries, as holy sites, are governed by religious laws and customs that dictate the location of, appearance of, and activities and behaviours allowed in the burial grounds, Additionally, country and international laws aim to protect such sites. Here, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) examines the rising pattern of defilement of cemeteries in several countries, and explains how different religions have rights to have their own cemeteries as a fundamental human right.

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Do we need new laws to protect religious freedom in Australia?

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Australia Coat of Arms

Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO – formerly a member of the Ruddock Religious Freedom Review – delivered the sixth annual Barry O’Keefe Memorial Lecture at the Australian Catholic University in North Sydney on Wednesday, 19 February 2020. This is an edited version of that lecture.

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