Skip to main content
Religious Freedom Toolkit

Part IV | Select Quotes from Church Leaders

Category D | Human Rights

Topic 20 | Human rights and FoRB

Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a fundamental human right, recognized in nearly every human rights instrument and in most constitutions adopted since the end of World War II, which marked the beginning of the human rights era.

◆ ◆ ◆

Elder Gerrit W. Gong: The prominence of FoRB is highlighted by the lofty position wherein it is enshrined in national constitutions and the UDHR.  

“With some of the societal benefits of religious activity and religious voices of expression fresh in our minds, we return to the two basic freedoms needed to preserve that expression and that activity.

The prominence of these two freedoms, that of religion or belief and that of expression, is highlighted by the lofty position wherein these freedoms are enshrined. For example, in the Mexican Constitution, Articles 6 and 24 protect freedom of Expression and Religious Freedom, respectively.

In the Constitution of the United States of America, freedom of religion and freedom of expression are the first two enumerated rights within the Bill of Rights:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press . . . .

Within the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 states that:

‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion . . . .’ And Article 19 continues: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’”

Previous - Topic 20 Analysis
See also Religious Freedom Library
Next - Topic 21 Summary