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Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief

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Purpose of mandate

The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. The mandate holder has been invited to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles.

About the mandate

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights appointed further to resolution 1986/20 a “Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance”. In 2000, the Commission on Human Rights decided to change the mandate title to “Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief”, which was subsequently endorsed by ECOSOC decision 2000/261 and welcomed by General Assembly resolution 55/97. On 31 March 2022, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution A/HRC/RES/49/5, which included an extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further period of three years.

Learn more about the mandate

Current mandate holder

Ms. Nazila Ghanea

On 1 August 2022, Ms. Nazila Ghanea assumed her mandate as Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. She is Professor of International Human Rights Law and Director of the MSc in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. Her academic work has often connected with multilateral practice in international human rights law. She has contributed actively to networks interested in freedom of religion or belief and its interrelationship with other human rights and has advised states and other stakeholders. She has researched and published widely in international human rights law and served as consultant to numerous agencies.

Read Ms. Nazila Ghanea’s full biography and CV

Key documents


Rapporteur's Digest on freedom of religion or belief

This document compiles excerpts of the reports from 1986 to 2022 arranged by topics of the Special Rapporteur's framework for communications


Latest thematic reports

A/HRC/58/49: Freedom of religion or belief and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea, explores intersections between the right to freedom of religion or belief and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. While international standards providing for the protection of these rights are clear, and coercion can be identified as the key link between these rights, there is scant material directly related to the intersection of these rights. Given the lack of specific guidance in this area, in the report the Special Rapporteur will first explore the normative foundations of the rights in question and, based on this solid legal framework, investigate thematic issues that have been overlooked in theory and practice. This is not, however, a merely doctrinal work. It raises questions posed by victims, civil society organizations and experts who provided valuable input for the report. By comparing the information received in submissions and allegation letters with the material available on this topic, it became noticeable that States, courts and even those working directly with victims have not always adequately taken both rights into consideration in cases invoking overlapping concerns. The ultimate goal of the present report is to honour the victims of such violations by recommending a framework that will minimize the chances of repeated violations taking place again.
Contact Information

Ms. Nazila Ghanea
Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations at Geneva
8-14 avenue de la Paix
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Fax: (+41) 22 917 90 06
E-mail: [email protected] 

Official Twitter page of Special Procedures

Former mandate holders


Mr. Ahmed Shaheed (Maldives),
November 2016 - July 2022

Mr. Heiner Bielefeldt (Germany),
August 2010 - October 2016

Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan),
August 2004 - July 2010

Mr. Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia),
April 1993 - July 2004

Mr. Angelo d'Almeida Ribeiro (Portugal),
March 1986 - March 1993