NationStates Jolt Archive

This proposal calls for the automatic recognition that all peoples of all United Nation member states are free to practice religion as they see fit.
This proposal allows for all faiths to have freedom of speech and practice of ritual, so long as no other person is physically harmed by them doing so. Also, any states currently persecuting those of minority faiths will be forced to pay reparation to the families of their victims.
Religious freedom is necessary for people of every race to live in harmony and understand, rather than vilify their neighbor.

Please support this United Nations Resolution. And please endorse Valorous Renegades. Thank you for your time.

While Rehochipe is a state built upon ideals of religious freedom, there is an issue of wording in this proposal that forfends us supporting it.

This proposal allows for all faiths to have freedom of speech and practice of ritual, so long as no other person is physically harmed by them doing so.

This would prevent nations from outlawing faiths such as Scientology which, while (arguably) causing no physical harm to their converts, are inclined to use brainwashing techniques in order to achieve ends profoundly inimical to the converts' well-being. While this is a debatable issue, Rehochipe feels that individual nations should retain the right to protect their citizens against such organisations. Similarly, the unbridled freedom of speech this proposal would allow to religions would contravene (for instance) laws passed by individual states to illegalise incitement to racial hatred. Legislation giving faiths rights stronger than those of the individual are, we feel, unacceptably strong for the field of UN legislation.

A second issue unaddressed is that of what exactly a religion is. Currently, a religion is an organisation recognised by an individual state as a religion. Unless your motion defines what constitutes a religion, persecution-happy nations will simply dodge the problem by declaring their victims' religion void.

Quagmire Corps would like to make some changes to a part of the "Support Religious Freedom" proposition to make it more agreeable to the nation of Quagmire Corps.

1a. "This proposal allows for all faiths to have freedom of speech and practice of ritual, so long as no other person is physically harmed by them doing so."

This should be changed to, "This proposal allows for all religious faiths to have freedom of speech and practice of ritual, so long as no other person is involuntarily physically harmed by them doing so."

This would provide for even more freedom of religious practices, because in some radical cases, a suicide or some other voluntary physical harm is created, but the consent of the person getting harmed would be required before any physical damage is done.

1b. Also, any states currently persecuting those of minority faiths will be forced to pay reparation to the families of their victims.

This motion has not passed as of now. Perhaps change it to, "Also, any nations prosecuting those of any faith will be forced to pay reparations to the families of their victims."

Because minority faiths are not the only ones being discriminated against. Being discriminatory towards the lesser-practiced faiths will result in a loss of civil rights.

Quagmire Corps would allow the motion to pass under these circumstances.

We've already dealt with Freedom of Religion, in this resolution:

The Universal Bill of Rights
A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights Strength: Strong Proposed by: Free Porcupines
Description: Recalling the many egregious infringements of human rights, Recognizing the need to protect basic human rights, Deploring any acts by government at the sake of human rights, Determined to put an end to the violation of human rights, The United Nations shall endorse what will be called the Universal Bill of Rights, the articles of which are as follows: Article 1 -- All human beings have the right to choose worship any faith, and to change their religious beliefs at any time without punishment on the part of the state. Article 2 -- All human beings have the right to express themselves through speech and through the media without any interference. Article 3 -- All human beings have the right to peacefully assemble. Article 4 -- All human beings have the right to be treated equally under the law of any member nation. Article 5 -- All human beings must not be subjected to torture or to cruel or inhuman treatment or punishment. Article 6 -- No human beings will be subjected to arrest or exile without an explicit list of their offenses. Article 7 -- Any arrested person must be assumed innocent until proven guilty. Article 8 -- A human beings family members cannot be held accountable for the crimes of their relative. Article 9 -- Any persons who violate any of these articles shall be held accountable by the law. Article 10 -- The Universal Bill of Rights does not override the existing Bill of Rights of United Nations members. If any of these stated rights do not exist in a member nation, they are herby protected. If any nation has rights that go beyond these universal rights, the Universal Bill of Rights will not remove those rights.

Votes For: 11169

Votes Against: 3649

Implemented: Fri Aug 8 2003