The letter from the 47 organizations urges representatives of HRC Member States to vote against any resolution which refers to “defamation of religions” or which endorses the development of draft norms to complement the ICERD to the same effect.

Draft resolutions may harm freedom of expression
It also asks them to insist that any reference to “defamation of religions” is replaced with language which properly recognises international human rights law, in particular Article 19 (on the right to freedom of expression) and Article 20 (on the prohibition of national, racial or religious incitement) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The letter reminds state representatives that the concept of “defamation of religions” is contrary to the right to freedom of expression, as protected by Article 19 of the ICCPR. It also stresses that the draft resolution on combating defamation of religions goes far beyond the permissible prohibitions on free expression – incitement to violence, discrimination and hatred on national, racial or religious grounds – allowed for in Article 20.

Codifying may have damaging implications
In the opinion of the organizations: “any attempt to codify defamation of religions in international law will have highly damaging and long-term implications for the international protection of the right to freedom of expression, as well as the international human rights system more generally.”

The organizations encourage the States to build on the emerging political consensus  demonstrated by the Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference of April 2009 and Human Rights Council Resolution 12/16 of 2 October 2009, both of which omit any reference at all to the concept of defamation of religions.

For the letter please see here.

Contacts:
For more information please contact: Sejal Parmar, Senior Legal Officer, sejal@article19.org +44 20 7324 2500 or Jeremie Smith, Director of Geneva Office of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies js.cihrs@gmail.com.

ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works around the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.