U S Commission on International Religiou

Despite the normative integration between freedom of religion or belief (FORB) and women's equality, these synergies are difficult to discern and there is a common misperception that women's rights to equality and FORB are clashing rights. This is compounded by the extensive religiously phrased reservations by states upon ratification of international treaties that amplify this misperception that FORB serves to restrict women's rights to equality. The purpose of this publication is to seek to identify synergies as well as complexities between FORB and the right to women's equality through the analysis of various international human rights law documents impacting this topic. Discover more products here: Human Rights collection Religion & Faith-based Issues Women collection Minorities, Cultures & Languages collection

This report examines and compares the content of laws prohibiting blasphemy ("blasphemy laws") worldwide through the lens of international and human rights law principles. The laws examined in this study prohibit or criminalize the expression of opinions deemed "blasphemous," or counter to majority views or religious belief systems, and many impose serious, often criminal, penalties. Blasphemy laws are actively enforced in many states throughout the world. Many governments deem repeal not feasible or desirable and justify the prohibition and criminalization of blasphemy as necessary to promote religious harmony. This study seeks to evaluate the language and content of blasphemy laws to understand what aspects of these laws adhere to--or deviate from--international and human rights law principles. A better understanding of the laws' compliance with these principles may assist in the public policy community in developing clear, specifically-tailored recommendations for areas for reform. Related products: Explore our Faith-Based Education resources collection Discover our Human Rights collection