A/HRC/25/34
Italy
47.
On 20 June 2013, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had organized a conference
entitled, Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect: the United Nations Early
Warning Mechanism, in which the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the
Prevention of Genocide participated as keynote speaker. Italy was supporting the Office on
Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect in updating its framework of
analysis for genocide prevention, which had strengthened the relevance of sectarian
violence as an indicator of danger of genocide and mass atrocities.
48.
Italy reported that the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) was
undertaking a database project on country legislation on freedom of religion or belief,
designed to build high-quality, up-to-date empirical research and statistical analysis of
national restrictions on the practice of religion and an online legal database of existing
national legal frameworks on freedom of religion or belief worldwide. IDLO planned to
work in close cooperation with the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to
Protect, selected research institutes, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other actors.
49.
Italy stated that, in its view, there was a worldwide increase in acts of intolerance
and violent attacks against persons belonging to religious groups and minorities, while at
the same time, there was a rise in legal and de facto restrictions on religious freedom in
many countries. It added that, in many countries, intolerance and violence directed against
members of religious communities and minorities were increasingly inspired and executed
by terrorist groups. Those activities should be contained and defeated through international
cooperation, namely with the countries in which such events had occurred, as well as within
international organizations.
Lithuania
50.
Lithuania reported that it did not have a State religion and that Lithuanian legislation
guaranteed unrestricted freedom of thought, conscience and religion to all persons. Persons
belonging to national minorities had the right to profess any or no religion and perform
religious or national observances in their mother tongue.
51.
In Lithuania, the religious communities of the Orthodox, Old Believers, Sunni
Muslims (Tartars), Jews, Greek Catholics and Karaites were considered traditional religious
communities that formed part of the social, cultural and historical heritage of Lithuania, as
set out in article 5 of the Law on Religious Communities and Associations. Article 6 of that
Law stated that other religious associations may be granted State recognition as being a part
of Lithuania’s historical, spiritual and social heritage, provided that they enjoy support of
the general public and that their teaching and rites were not contrary to the law and
morality. To date, no ethnoconfessional community had approached the Seimas of the
Republic of Lithuania for the status of State-recognized religious association.
52.
Once registered, a religious association acquired legal personality; nevertheless,
religious associations did not necessarily need to register to operate in Lithuania. Religious
associations, both registered and non-registered, were not subject to any restrictions on their
right to practice their religion or faith.
53.
Lithuania highlighted a number of relevant training sessions and seminars held for
judges, lawyers and other law enforcement officials between 2009 and 2012.
10
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents