Safeguarding Freedom of Religion or Belief

Following widespread media coverage of spectacular cases of abuse within religious communities, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities initiated steps towards regulating the so-called ‘religious sector’. Their proposals need to be critically assessed not only with regard to their constitutional mandate, but also in light of international legal authorities on freedom of religion or belief and human rights standards. It is argued, that the proposals would impose an inappropriate limitation on freedom of religion or belief. On that basis, alternative recommendations are suggested.