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Religious Freedom Toolkit

Part IV | Select Quotes from Church Leaders

Category D | Human Rights

Topic 18 | ICCPR Article 18

Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantees individuals the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. As of 2024, 174 countries have ratified the ICCPR, which means these countries have made a solemn, legally binding commitment to protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This includes the right of individuals to adopt a religion or belief of their choice; to practice a religion or belief in public or private, individually or in a community; and to be free from coercion that would limit the freedom to choose a religion or belief.

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President Dallin H. Oaks: Human rights treaties  

“From the American perspective, a second key event in the development of religious liberty was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. Most significantly, Article 18 declares:

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.

Importantly, this declaration opens with an affirmation that resonates with the doctrine of many religions.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

This declaration has paved the way for twenty-seven multilateral human rights treaties, important regional human rights instruments, and numerous other human rights treaties.”

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See also Religious Freedom Library
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