The Proposed Treaty

Preamble

The State Parties,

Determined to put an end to all political uses of religion that violate equality, fundamental justice values and human rights, 

Committed to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to face the challenge of ending the use of any religion to foster intolerance, division and discrimination in pursuit of any political agenda,

Obliged to reform domestic laws and regulations to eliminate all existing and potential discrimination on religious bases between people under their jurisdiction,

Recognising that the enlistment of religion to serve political agendas is a major contributor to many of the most brutal local, regional and international conflicts,

Acknowledging that previous attempts to prevent the abusive mixing of religious belief with the responsibilities of states and governments have been divisive and confrontational, have often caused more harm than good, and have failed to build any global consensus,

Realising the need for clear global standards to prevent international political actors from fomenting inter-faith strife or giving rise to sectarian grievances  when dealing with religious sensitivities, actions that can play into the hands of sectarian and extremist parties, 

Understanding that the dangers come not only from religious extremists, but also from violent retaliation against minorities and innocent people from the same religion as the extremists,

Recognising that the absence of a clear international standard is allowing some political and economic interests to manipulate religious teachings to serve their gains and agendas,

Realising that all existing international conventions related to human rights’ principles and values are still being sidelined by national legislation in many countries,

Believing that those conventions need crucially to be reaffirmed by a more focused and more effective new international treaty to combat specifically all forms of religious oppression without compromise and without offending any religious group or giving ammunition to the extremists,

Affirming that the need is urgent to adopt international standards to ban religious discrimination, religious exclusion, all political uses of religion that undermine equality, and all restriction of freedom of religion or belief, 

Believing that the aforementioned standards can build global consensus, without any interference in religious teachings,

Confident that all responsible governments should wish to endorse these fundamental principles as obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Emphasising the utmost respect for all religions in order to deny extremists any claim that they are defending their religion, thus removing a key recruitment tool by which the weak or vulnerable are attracted to terrorism,

Confident that a non-confrontational approach will encourage many countries, entangled with religious discrimination, to join the world consensus on justice and equality for all,

Believing that a clear, universal norm standard will encourage more moderate, tolerant political ideals and represent a major step towards greater respect for human rights and relief for those who suffer from religious oppression,

Intending to make concerted efforts to obtain the formal adoption of this Treaty by all states, and determined to work unwaveringly towards the promotion of its universalisation,

Committed to support the establishment of a global monitor to report on all political abuses of religion by providing verified data that would empower governments, organisations and individuals to apply political pressure on those who continue to commit such abuses,

Welcoming the support of international organisations and influential individuals from the spheres of religion, politics, business and the arts to promote this Treaty,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

Equality in Respect and Dignity 

Each State Party undertakes to ban all uses of religion that: 

1. Undermine equal respect and dignity for all people under the jurisdiction of the State. 

2. Prevent certain individuals or groups of people from engaging in lawful activities.

3. Put social pressures on any individual or group of people on religious grounds.

4. Force individuals or groups of people to take any involuntary action not required legally of all people under the jurisdiction of the State.

Article 2

Discrimination in Rights 

Each State Party undertakes to ban all religious discrimination that:

1. Excludes individuals or groups of people from holding any positions in the public and private sector.

2. Deprives individuals or groups of people from exercising any legal rights.

3. Prevents individuals or groups of people from having equal access to judicial and administrative procedures.

4. Excludes individuals or groups of people from privileges or financial or social security benefits provided by the State to its population.

5. Restricts any legitimate economic or business activities on religious grounds.

6. Prevents individuals or groups of people from entering any public places, online communities and virtual spaces or taking part in any public activities.

7. Rejects any legal testimonies or contributions of individuals or groups of people.

Article 3

Discrimination in Duties 

Each State Party undertakes to prohibit all religious discrimination that uses the authority of the State to:

1. Impose additional taxes and fees on certain individuals or groups of people based on religious doctrines.

2. Enforce any services or duties on individuals or groups of people based on their beliefs.

3. Impose any additional requirements on individuals or groups of people based on their beliefs.

Article 4

Religious Exclusion 

Each State Party undertakes to prohibit all exclusions in public political parties, movements and any membership activities based on the religious orientation of individuals and groups of people. 

Article 5

Freedom of Belief and Practice 

Each State Party undertakes to prohibit all:

1. Restrictions to freedom of belief and freedom of worship.

2. Restrictions to practise any religion or belief by individuals or groups of people.

3. Religious practices that violate the rights of other individuals or groups of people.

4. Forced conversion.

5. Harmful religious practices enforced on individuals, genders or groups of people.

Article 6

Ratification and Depositary

1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the designated Depositary of this Treaty.

2. Each state ratification shall be deposited to the United Nations Depositary.

3. The Articles of this Treaty shall not be subject to reservations.

4. All State Parties undertake to exert utmost diplomatic effort at persuading non-party states to add their signatures to this Treaty and to work strenuously towards its universalisation.

Article 7

Implementation and Compliance

1. State Parties undertake to enact all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures to prevent any violation to this Treaty by governmental institutions, individuals or groups of people under its jurisdiction or control.

2. Each State Party shall report to the United Nations Depositary their national implementation measures within 90 days of ratification.

3. State Parties shall update their national compliance and submit it annually to the United Nations Depositary within 60 days after the end of each calendar year on 31 December.

4. State Parties undertake to establish or assign their cyber authorities to monitor the internet, consistent with their privacy laws, in order to prevent any online violations to this Treaty.

5. State Parties agree to consult and cooperate with each other regarding the implementation of the terms of this Treaty. 

6. State Parties undertake to join international actions to stop any violation to this Treaty in any country.

7. Each State Party may request clarification or investigation into any suspected violation to this Treaty.

8. The Secretary-General of the United Nation can establish a fact-finding mission to investigate any credibly suspected but unconfirmed violation to this Treaty.

Article 8

International Cooperation and Assistance

1. In fulfilling its obligations under this Treaty, each State Party is committed to provide and seek assistance from other State Parties.

2. All State Parties undertake to provide information to the United Nations Depositary on any local laws, regulations and practices in any country that violate this Treaty. 

3. Each State Party may request the Secretary-General of the United Nations and other State Parties for advisory services and technical assistance to assist its authorities in reforming local laws and regulations to stop any existing violations or prevent potential violations.

Article 9

Amendments

1. At any time after the entry into force of this Treaty, any State Party may propose amendments to the United Nations Depositary, which shall circulate it to all State Parties and shall seek their views on whether an Amendment Conference shall be convened to consider the proposal. 

2. If a majority of the State Parties notify the Depositary within 30 days after the circulation of the proposal that they support further consideration of the proposal, the Depositary shall convene an Amendment Conference to which all State Parties shall be invited.

3. Any amendment to this Treaty shall be adopted by a majority of two-thirds of the State Parties present and voting at the Amendment Conference. 

4. The Depositary shall communicate any amendment adopted to the State Parties.

5. The amendment to this Treaty shall enter into force for all State Parties on the date of deposit of its acceptance.

Article 10

Duration and Withdrawal

1. This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.

2. Any State Party requesting to withdraw from this Treaty shall give a full explanation of the reasons motivating its withdrawal to the Depositary and State Parties. 

3. Such withdrawal shall only take effect six months after the approval of withdrawal by the Depositary.

4. The withdrawal of a State Party from this Treaty shall not in any way affect the duties to continue fulfilling the obligations of this Treaty.

Article 11

Costs

The costs of State Parties’ meetings, the Amendment Conferences and any fact-finding mission shall be borne by the State Parties in accordance with the United Nations scale of assessment adjusted appropriately.

Article 12

Global Monitor 

1. State Parties undertake to support the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to formulate early warning and preventive strategies.

2. The global monitor shall keep a register documenting all threats to the coexistence of religions.

3. The monitor shall also document all violations to this Treaty worldwide.

4. The monitor shall provide constantly updated and verified data about all violations to this Treaty to all State Parties and coordinate international actions to stop these violations.

5. The monitor shall issue semi-annual extensive reports covering all violations and compliance of all State Parties and non-party states to this Treaty.

6. The monitor shall initiate, organise and coordinate efforts by State Parties, organisations and individuals to apply diplomatic and political pressure on those who commit violations to this Treaty to cease its transgressions thereof.

Article 13

Entry into Force

1. This Treaty, done in ———-, on –/–/—-, shall be open immediately for signature by all states.

2. This Treaty shall enter into force after the 40th state ratification and shall apply to all State Parties.

3. This Treaty shall also apply to all non-party states upon the ratification of 90 states or more.

4. Any State Party and the Secretary-General of the United Nations can request the United Nations Security Council to consider any violation to this Treaty by any State Party or non-party states. 

Article 14

Authentic Texts

The Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish texts of this Treaty are equally authentic.