Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Email: [email protected] 
Internet: www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/FaithForRights.aspx

In March 2017, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launched its initiative on “Faith for Rights” with an expert workshop in Beirut. This initiative provides space for a cross-disciplinary reflection on the deep, and mutually enriching, connections between religions and human rights. The objective is to foster the development of peaceful societies, which uphold human dignity and equality for all and where diversity is not just tolerated but fully respected and celebrated.
In his video message, the High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that religious leaders are potentially very important human rights actors in view of their considerable influence on the hearts and minds of millions of people. The 2012 Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence already laid out some of religious leaders’ core responsibilities against incitement to hatred. Expanding those responsibilities to the full spectrum of human rights, the faith-based and civil society actors participating at the OHCHR workshop in March 2017 adopted the Beirut Declaration and its 18 commitments on “Faith for Rights”.