International Code on Religious Freedom

The 'International Code on Religious Freedom' encompasses the widest possible collection of international texts on the matter. They are grouped under three indexes, namely: a) index by GO's (United Nations, International Labour Organization, UNESCO, Council of Europe, European Union, Organization of American States, OSCE, African Union); b) index by "juridical source" (binding and non-binding international instruments); and c) chronological index. It also includes, as far as Islam is concerned, the "Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam" and "The Arab Charter on Human Rights", as well as, insofar as Asia is concerned, "The Seoul Recommendation on Democracy and Tolerance" and "The Asian Human Rights Charter".

Besides international instruments, the 'Code' also presents the relevant elements of the case-law of the European and Inter-American Courts of Human Rights, with a direct bearing on the matter at issue, in such a way that the practical problems raised, and the solutions thereto, may be known by both specialists and non-legal readers. The 'Code' thus becomes a source of useful and indispensable consultation for all those interested in studying the theme, and of recurrent importance.

The ultimate purpose of the 'International Code on Religious Freedom' by Professor Michelangela Scalabrino is to foster a better understanding of what is meant by "religious freedom" in the domain of the International Law of Human Rights. It is hoped that the aforementioned 'Code' may also serve as a source of inspiration for representatives of States and entities of the civil society, as well as for leaders of religious faiths, in devising and assessing what they could or should do, in order to favour mutual respect for, and a spirit of tolerance and a better understanding of, each other's beliefs, to the ultimate benefit of all human beings and their religious faiths.