The Proposed Treaty
International Treaty to Ban the Political Use of Religion
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 stopping the use of any religion to incite intolerance, division and discrimination to pursue 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 abuse of religion to serve political agendas is a major cause of many of the most brutal local, regional and international conflicts,
Acknowledging that all 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 damage than good, and have failed to build any global consensus,
Realising the need for clear global rules to prevent international Actions from making grave errors when dealing with religious sensitivities, which play into the hands of sectarian and extremist parties,
Understanding that the dangers come not only from those using supposedly divine rights to trample on the rights of others, but also from violent retaliation against minorities and innocent people,
Recognising that the absence of clear international rules is allowing vicious political and economic interests to manipulate religious teachings to serve harmful agendas,
Affirming that the time is now right to adopt international rules to ban religious discrimination, religious exclusion, all political uses of religion that undermine equality and all restriction to freedom of belief and worship,
Believing that these simple terms can apply to all religious violations, build indisputable global consensus and bypass any clashes with deeply engraved religious teachings,
Confident that all responsible governments should endorse these fundamental rules in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Emphasising the utmost respect for all religions in order to disarm extremism, refute any claim by extremists that they are defending their religion and remove a key recruitment tool by which the vulnerable are attracted to terrorism,
Confident that this unique non-confrontational approach will encourage many implicated countries to seize the opportunity and join the world consensus on justice and equality for all,
Believing that these clear rules will tip the balance in favour of more moderate, tolerant ideals and represent a massive step towards greater respect for human rights by liberating those who suffer from religious repression,
Intending to make concerted efforts to attract the endorsement of this Treaty by all states and determined to work intensely towards the promotion of its universalisation,
Committed to support the establishment of a global monitor to expose all political abuses of religion by providing verified data to 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:
a) Undermines equal respect and dignity for all people under the jurisdiction of the State.
b) Prevent certain individuals or groups of people from any legal activities.
c) Put social pressures on any individual or groups of people on religious grounds.
d) Force individuals or groups of people to do anything not required legally from all people under the jurisdiction of the State.
Article 2
Discrimination in Rights
Each State Party undertakes to ban all religious discrimination that:
a) Exclude individuals or groups of people from holding any positions in the public and private sector.
b) Deprive individuals or groups of people from any legal rights.
c) Prevent individuals or groups of people from having equal access to judicial and administrative procedures.
d) Exclude individuals or groups of people from privileges or financial supports or social securities.
e) Restrict any legitimate economic or business activities on religious grounds.
f) Prevent individuals or groups of people from entering any public places, online communities and virtual spaces or taking
part in any public activities.
g) Reject 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:
a) Impose additional taxes and fees on certain individuals or groups of people.
b) Enforce any services or duties on individuals or groups of people based on their beliefs.
c) 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 orientations of individuals and groups of people.
Article 5
Freedom of Belief and Practice
Each State Party undertakes to prohibit all:
a) Restrictions to freedom of belief.
b) Restrictions to practice any religion or belief by individuals or groups of people.
c) Religious practices that violate the rights of other individuals or groups of people.
d) Forced conversion.
e) Harmful religious practices enforced on individuals, genders or groups of people.
Article 6
Ratification and Depositary
a) The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the designated Depositary of this Treaty.
b) Each state ratification shall be deposited to the United Nations Depositary.
c) The Articles of this Treaty shall not be subject to reservations.
d) All State Parties undertake to put utmost diplomatic pressure on non-party states to secure their signature of this Treaty
and to work strenuously towards its universalisation.
Article 7
Implementation and Compliance
a) State Parties undertake to enact all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures to prevent all violation to this
Treaty by governmental institutions, individuals or groups of people under its jurisdiction or control.
b) Each State Party shall report to the United Nations Depositary their national implementation measures within 90 days of
ratification.
c) 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.
d) State Parties undertake to establish or assign their cyber authorities to monitor the internet in order to prevent any online
violations to this Treaty.
e) State Parties agree to consult and cooperate with each other regarding the implementation of the terms of this Treaty.
f) State Parties undertake to join international actions to stop any violation to this Treaty in any country.
g) Each State Party may request clarification or investigation into any suspected violation to this Treaty.
h) The Secretary-General of the United Nation can establish a fact-finding mission to investigate any disputed violation to
this Treaty.
Article 8
International Cooperation and Assistance
a) In fulfilling its obligations under this Treaty, each State Party is committed to provide and seek assistance from other State
Parties.
b) 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.
c) 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
a) 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.
b) 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.
c) 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.
d) The Depositary shall communicate any amendment adopted to the State Parties.
e) 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
a) This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.
b) Any State Party requesting to withdraw from this Treaty shall give a full explanation of the reasons motivating this
withdrawal to the Depositary and State Parties.
c) Such withdrawal shall only take effect six months after the approval of withdrawal by the Depositary.
d) 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
a) State Parties undertake to support the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to formulate early warning and
preventive strategies.
b) The global monitor shall keep a register documenting all threats to the coexistence of religions.
c) The monitor shall also document all violations to this Treaty worldwide.
d) 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.
e) The monitor shall issue semi-annual extensive reports covering all violations and compliance of all State Parties and non-
party states to this Treaty.
f) 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.
Article 13
Entry into Force
a) This Treaty, done in ———-, on ———-2020, shall be open immediately for signature by all states.
b) This Treaty shall enter into force after the 40th state ratification and shall apply to all State Parties.
c) This Treaty shall also apply to all non-party states upon the ratification of 90 states or more.
d) 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.