Freedom of Religion and Belief in International Documents and National Legislation
Abstract
Human rights are protected by various international documents, reinforced by numerous legal acts and national legislation, underscoring their importance for individuals and, more broadly, for the development of each state. The extent to which human rights are effectively ensured, realized, and exercised within a state is directly linked to the degree of its democracy. Freedom of belief, religion, and conscience is among the most fundamental rights upon which the concept of a legal and democratic state is built. This right plays a crucial role in establishing religious and, more generally, democratic pluralism, which is essential for maintaining public peace and harmony. Therefore, this paper focuses on examining freedom of religion and belief as reflected in international documents and national legislation.
Downloads
Metrics
PlumX Statistics
References
2. Case of Handyside v. the United Kingdom; Application no. 5493/72; Judgment; The European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, 7.12.1976; https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid %22:[%22001-57499%22]}
3. Case of Autronic AG v. Switzerland, (Application no. 12726/87), Judgment; The European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, 22.05.1990; https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemi d%22:[%22001-57630%22]}
4. Case of Leander v. Sweden, (Application no. 9248/81); Judgment; The European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, 26.03.1987; https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[ %22001-57519%22]}
5. Case of Tammer v. Estonia; (Application no. 41205/98); Judgment; The European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, 6.02.2001; Final - 04.04.2001; https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%2 2itemid%2 2:[%22001-59207%22]}
6. CCPR General Comment No. 22: Article 18 (Freedom of Thought, Conscience or Religion); UN Human Rights Committee (HRC); Adopted at the Forty-eighth Session of the Human Rights Committee, on 30.07.1993; https://www.refworld.org/legal/general/hrc/1993/en/13375
7. CCPR General Comment No. 22: Article 18 (Freedom of Thought, Conscience or Religion) Adopted at the Forty-eighth Session of the Human Rights Committee, on 30 July 1993 CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4. https://www.refworld.org/legal/general/hrc/1993/en/13375
8. Constitution of Georgia, https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/30346?publication=36
9. Declaration on the Freedom of Expression and Information (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 29.04.1982 at its 70th Session); https://rm.coe.int/0900001680535fad
10. European Convention on Human Rights, Convention for the Protection of Human Rightsand Fundamental Freedoms, as amended by Protocols Nos. 11, 14 and 15; supplemented by Protocols Nos. 1, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 16; European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe, Rome, 4.XI.1950. https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/convention_eng
11. Freedom of Religion under Georgian and International Law, State Agency for Religious Affairs, Tbilisi, 2020;
12. Freedom of Religion, Freedom Institute, Tbilisi, 2004. pp. 152-177
13. Frowein, Jochen A., & Peukert, W. (2023). European Convention on Human Rights. ECHR Commentary, 4th completely revised edition.
14. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, United Nations (1966). https://treaties.un. org /doc/treaties/1976/03/19760323%2006-17%20am/ch_iv_04.pdf
15. M. A. v. Italy, Communication No. 117/1981, 10.04. 1984. # 117/1981, http://hrlibrary.umn.e du/undocs/html/117-1981.htm
16. Nowak, M. (1993). UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights : CCPR commentary, Kehl, Germany, etc.: N.P. Engel
17. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations (UN) (1948). https://www.supremeco urt.ge/files/upload-file/pdf/act3.pdf
18. Wolfe, C. (2000). Public Morality and the Modern Supreme Court The American Journal of Jurisprudence, Volume 45, Issue 1, Pages 65–92, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajj/45.1.65
Copyright (c) 2025 Mariam Adamashvili

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.