A/HRC/37/44
each citizen has rights and guarantees to freely manifest his or her faith without any
discrimination.
71.
Some of the responding States reported that they are reviewing and amending laws
to ensure greater equality between religious groups and communities in their societies.
Others reported that they are addressing the ability of minorities, including religious
minorities and adherents of Afrodescendent religions and beliefs, to manifest their religion
and contribute openly and on an equal footing to society, in a variety of ways relevant to
their domestic context.
72.
Australia and the United States also reported on an inquiry and a special legislative
hearing, respectively, being conducted with a view to fostering religious freedom and
pluralism.
73.
In Australia, the Human Rights Subcommittee of the Parliamentary Joint Standing
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has commenced an inquiry to examine
the status of the fundamental human right to freedom of religion or belief in Australia, other
nations of the region and across the globe.
74.
The United States Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on 2 May 2017,
entitled “Responses to the increase in religious hate crimes”. At the hearing, the Special
Counsel for Religious Discrimination testified before the Department of Justice Civil
Rights Division, emphasizing that combating religion-based hate crime is an enforcement
priority.
M.
Encouraging the representation and meaningful participation of
individuals, irrespective of their religion, in all sectors of society20
75.
In Australia, the Volunteer Grants Programme, through small grant funding,
encourages meaningful participation of individuals, irrespective of their cultural, linguistic
or religious background. Community consultations are regularly conducted on the
Government’s annual migration and humanitarian intake.
76.
Croatia reported cases of discrimination against individuals and religious groups.
The reported cases concern different treatment of smaller religious communities with
regard to taxation of immovable property transfer, different legal status and corresponding
rights of religious communities and religious associations, religious practice in schools,
baptism certificate requirements by employers and the competence to provide religious
teaching (catechism) in public kindergartens and schools. Reported cases of religious
discrimination indicate a need to make greater efforts towards finding a balance between
exercising religious practice in public and respecting the rights of members of different
religions, as well as raising the level of understanding of the customs and special
requirements of members of religious communities that do not have a long tradition in
Croatia.
III. Activities undertaken by the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights in support of
implementation of the action plan
77.
In addition to the actions reflected above, OHCHR works on the various dimensions
related to religious intolerance, including multiple discrimination, xenophobia, migration,
freedom of religion or belief, religious profiling and incitement to racial, national or
religious hatred.
78.
The High Commissioner has spoken out in various public forums, including the
Human Rights Council, and OHCHR has engaged in related issues with different
stakeholders, including from the private sector. Upon request, the Office reviews draft anti20
Paragraph 8 (c) of resolution 34/32.
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