TNAG-2908-FCO40-4182-Detention-of-Hong-Kong-residents-in-China-1993 — Page 50

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This is the primary obligation of all UN members with respect to religious persecution. Obviously, States Parties to the relevant human rights instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, have additional obligations in this respect. UN members have also accepted the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, which was adopted in 1981 by consensus. This is the only UN human rights instrument which deals exclusively with religious intolerance. The UK has regularly criticised states for failing to enact legislation enforcing this Declaration, and we should take every opportunity, both bilaterally and at the UN, to urge governments to implement its standards.

6. Departments should take these general considerations into account when replying to charges of religious intolerance in a given country, whatever the particular circumstances. considering separately whether to issue more specific guidance on this question, but in the meantime could I ask you to remind all your desk officers of the need to clear human rights-related correspondence with us?

Socan fails

Sarah Foulds

Human Rights Policy Unit

K146

270 2505

19 March 1993

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