THE TANDEM PROJECT

http://www.tandemproject.com.

info@tandemproject.com

 

UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS,

FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

 

The Tandem Project is a UN NGO in Special Consultative Status with the

Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

 

2010 – NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM PLENARY SPEAKERS

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg College 5-6 March 2010

 

Available in other languages: click here if the language box does not display.

 

The Tandem Project Follow-up will seek an exchange of information on approaches to freedom of religion or belief with Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland and 2008 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize; Kjell Magne Bondevik, former prime minister of Norway and president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights and a Lutheran pastor; Congressman Keith Ellison, 5th District Minnesota, United States of America. 

 

Human Rights are individual, universal and inviolable. Freedom of Religion or Belief means freedom of choice and freedom of expression, without which the potential of these Universal Periodic Reviews will never be fully realized. Governments and religious beliefs have differences on the meaning of these principles and dialogue must continue to achieve consensus.  Tensions are reflected in the Vote on Defamation of Religions and the three year mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief over the right to join or leave a religion or belief.

 

The Resolution (A/HRC/RES/6/37) with recorded votes can be viewed by clicking on this link:

http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/HRC/resolutions/A_HRC_RES_6_37.pdf

 

Surely one of the best hopes for humankind is to embrace a culture in which religions and other beliefs accept one another, in which wars and violence are not tolerated in the name of an exclusive right to truth, in which children are raised to solve conflicts with mediation, compassion and understanding.  

 

Norway voted with the European Union (EU) on the Vote on defamation of religions. Norway was not a member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2007 at the 2007 vote on the three year mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

 

The United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process launched in 2008 to review the human rights obligations and responsibilities of all 192 UN Member States by 2011.

 

NORWAY

 

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW

 

The Norway Universal Periodic Review was held by the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday 2 December 2009 from 9.00-12.00.  Open this link to access reports for the Norway Universal Periodic Review: National Report; Compilation prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue; Comments & Answers; Final Remarks. 

 

FINLAND

 

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW

 

The Finland Universal Periodic Review was held by the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday 9 April 2008. Click on the links below to access reports for the Finland Universal Periodic Review: National Report; Compilation prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue; Comments & Answers; Final Remarks. 

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW

 

The United States of America Universal Periodic Review will be held by the UN Human Rights Council on Friday 26 November from 9:00 -12:00.  Open this link to access reports for the United States of America Universal Periodic Review: National Report; Compilation prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue; Comments & Answers; Final Remarks.