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Thank you, Mr. President. The Baha'i International Community welcomes the focus on school
education in the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.
It is our firm belief that education is one of the most meritorious acts of humankind,
the indispensable foundation of all human excellence,
it reveals the treasures of inestimable value latent in every child.
We agree with Professor Bielefeldt on the key role of the school environments not only
to promote understanding and tolerance,
but also to nurture and develop a sense of Commonality and belonging.
And we find his recommendations most pertinent to the creation of an environment where every
child can exercise his or her freedom to believe
including the manifestation of that belief.
But what happens when this freedom is denied?
When school becomes a place where a child is subject to coercion
which would impair his freedom of religion or belief?
Concretely, what happens when the teacher systematically ridicules and insults the religion of the
child?
When children are pressured to say things that are contrary to what they believe?
When the people who are supposed to protect children,
teachers and school administrators harass intimidate and expel them because of their
faith?
In some countries children faced this kind of discrimination
because they belonged to religious minorities,
because their faith is rejected and ostracized.
With this in mind we would like to ask the Special Rapporteur two questions:
What can be done when a state promotes curricula, textbooks and teaching methods that incite
intolerance and discrimination against certain religious groups?
Two: In some public school systems teacher training institutions provide material that clearly
intends to incite hatred and discriminates against religious minorities,
and teachers are pressured to promotes discriminatory practices against the young people they're
supposed to protect.
Would it not be appropriate to add to your list of recommendations a mechanism to address
these cases? So that children be longing to religious minorities have somewhere to turn
when their rights are grossly abused.
Thank you, Mr. President.