2009 High School Conference Topic Guide
Southeast Missouri State University Model United Nations
Topic 3a | Religious Tolerance
The promotion of tolerance appears as part of the United Nations’ original agenda in the
charter of 1945. However, religious tolerance was not specifically addressed until 1948
when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified. This document set forth thirty
fundamental human rights applicable to everyone regardless of race, sex, language, or
religion. Furthermore, Article 18 addresses religious rights specifically by protecting rights of
choice and observance of one’s chosen religion.
In 1966 new progress for religious tolerance was achieved by the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights. Article II of the first covenant bans religious discrimination outright, while freedom
of religion and religious tolerance are part of the educational rights outlined in Article 13.
The latter covenant elaborates on universal rights in education, employment and living
conditions, cultural and social rights, plus minority group rights. and stresses equality for
all.
The General Assembly’s adoption of The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief was the next monumental step
in addressing the issue of religious intolerance. Further crystallizing previous religious rights
and setting a specific definition for freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, this
declaration was intended to help eliminate religious intolerance entirely. Henceforth religious
tolerance became an annual issue on the UN agenda.
The United Nations took further steps to attack religious intolerance with the Declaration on
the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities in
1996, and a resolution concerning Protection of Religious Sites in 2000. Other routine issues
include interreligious dialogues, freedom of speech as pertaining to religion, combating the
defamation of religions, and creating a general international arena of understanding,
harmony and cooperation through legislative, social, and educational policies. These issues
eventually prompted a World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna during 1993. The
Vienna conference was deemed hugely successful, ending with the adoption of a new
program of action agreed to by 171 member states.
Most recently the United Nations attempted to gain universal adoption of a new program
outlined during the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held at Durban. However, the conference failed to
achieve universal ratification for the resulting declaration and many States took little to no
measures to ensure greater tolerance within their country. As a result a Durban Review
Conference was held in April of 2009. However due to controversy over possible antiSemitic elements in the 2001 document nine countries initially boycotted the conference.
Offensive remarks about the Israelis made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad caused
delegates from another 23 countries to walk out during the conference. Thus, a universally
accepted plan for religious tolerance has yet to be achieved.
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2009 High School Conference Topic Guide
Southeast Missouri State University Model United Nations
Questions to consider from your government’s perspective on this issue include:
 How can the United Nations eliminate the problem of religious intolerance?
 What steps has your country taken to protect religious freedoms, especially those of
minority religious groups?
 How did your country react during the 2009 Durban Review Conference?
 What legislative and educational steps can be taken to guarantee the promotion of
tolerance and encourage respect for religious diversity?
Bibliography:
“Durban Review Conference 2009,” NGO Monitor, June 15, 2009. http://www.ngomonitor.org/article/durban_conference_0
NEIL MacFarquhar. “Iranian Calls Israel Racist at Meeting in Geneva” New York Times April
20, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/world/21geneva.html
“Resolutions / Regular Sessions,” UN General Assembly. Department of Public Information
United Nations, 2004. http://www.un.org/documents/resga.htm
“UN Documents Cooperation Circles Gathering a Body of Global Agreements: Human
Rights,” NGO Committee on Education. http://www.un-documents.net/k-001243.htm
–Universal Declaration of Human Rights
–International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
–International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
–The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination
Based on Religion or Belief
–Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
– Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and
Linguistic Minorities
– Protection of Religious Sites in 2000
“World Conference on Human Rights, 14-25 June 1993, Vienna, Austria,” Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, April 1995.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ABOUTUS/Pages/ViennaWC.aspx
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