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“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”

Article 18 defines the human right to the freedom of religion. The liberty in their own thoughts and conscience. This right includes any circumstances of religious practice.

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Rabbi Sacks speaks about Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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Article 18 states how no person should be subject to coercion which would take away from their freedom of religious belief, though and conscience.

The only limitations of Article 18 are prescribed by law. This entails how one shall have freedom in their own religion and beliefs under the consideration of which public safety, order, health, or other fundamental rights and freedoms are not compromised.

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Definitions of the right to freedom of thought and religion

The right to freedom of movement is enshrined in
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The right is enshrined in Articles 18 and 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

Article 18
1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions. respect the exclusive character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Article 27
In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.

In its General Comment No 22 of 1993, the Human Rights Committee comments on the freedom of thought and religion: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/comments.htm.

Several articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child contain this right (and thus cannot be quoted here): Articles 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 20, 21, 24 and 37.

Even more articles in the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families contain this right: Articles 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 53, 56, 57, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 79, 81 and 82.

The right is also contained in Article 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights:
1. The family shall be the natural unit and basis of society. It shall be protected by the State which shall take care of its physical health and moral.
2. The State shall have the duty to assist the family which is the custodian of morals and traditional values recognized by the community.
3. The State shall ensure the elimination of every discrimination against women and also ensure the protection of the rights of the woman and the child as stipulated in international declarations and conventions.
4. The aged and the disabled shall also have the right to special measures of protection in keeping with their physical or moral needs.

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The right to freedom of movement is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right is enshrined in Articles 18 and 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights : Article 181. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

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“One of my friends, Moishe Chaim Berkowitz, returned from the capital for Passover and told us, "The Jews of Budapest live in an atmosphere of fear and terror. Anti-Semitic acts take place every day, in the streets, on the trains. The Fascists attack Jewish stores, synagogues. The
situation is becoming very serious” (Wiesel 9).

During this time, Fascists take control over the Jews in their towns, terrorizing the people and their economy. Atrocious acts are committed everyday with the only justification being that it is done against the Jews. Anti-Semitic acts are preformed everyday without the consideration of reformation and abolition of such unjust acts.

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Investigating the Holocaust Part 12: Nazi Anti Semitism – When Hatred Forges Policy

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Muslims make up 1.8 percent of the Chinese population. Those who identify under Islam in China have faced discriminations for decades, however in recent times the prejudice has increased dramatically.

Since 2017, around two million Muslims, with the majority being Uyghurs (a Turik people who live in the region of Xinjiang), have been detained in “reeducation camps.” “Detainees have reported being tortured, sexually abused, barred from practicing their religion, and forced to pledge loyalty to the CCP. Outside of the detention centers, Uyghurs are subjected to intense surveillance, widespread religious restrictions, and forced sterilizations” (Albert and Maizland)

Albert, Eleanor, and Lindsay Maizland. “The State of Religion in China.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 25 Sept. 2020, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/religion-china.

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Why more than a million Uighurs are being held in camps in China

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I believe the right to one’s freedom of thought is incredibly important. I think everyone has some kind of religious opinion, or rather the lack of it in certain situations. As humans, I believe we all naturally search for the answers to life. Some may believe in a God, while others may believe there is no higher being, and some may have no structured opinions. Whatever one may believe in, I think it is important to have the freedom to think and believe in anything. That is, as long as it does not take away from other’s fundamental freedoms and rights. No one should be forced to change their beliefs which may shape them as people or be forced to believe in something they do not resonate with.

I cannot imagine living a life in which my conscience and deep inner thoughts are constrained and regulated by another person. If I am not negatively impacting others, I want to have freedom in my beliefs. I believe everyone should have that right.

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NIHRC - Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion