From Religious Dialogue to Human Rights, Particularly Women’s and Children’s Rights

Universal Rights Group

Report of URG Policy Platform

Many of the most important and intractable human rights challenges facing the world today are closely interlinked with religion and belief. Failure to protect freedom of conscience, the enduring problem of religious intolerance and incitement to religious hatred, as well as widespread misunderstandings about the nature of the relationship between religion and universal freedoms, all act as a major break on achieving progress towards the full realization of human rights.

This project aims to generate awareness and challenge misconceptions as to the compatibility of the main monotheistic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) and international human rights norms/standards, and make recommendations to more permanently deal with such misconceptions. It will particularly focus on the relationship between religious law and practice, and the enjoyment of women’s and children’s rights.