Address to Oslo Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Excellencies,
the Honourable High Commissioner Mary Robinson,
Ladies and Gentlemen

As a Christian, permit me to start with a quote from the Holy Bible. In the gospel according to St. Matthew, - as also referred to by bishop Stålsett, Jesus tells us that:

“thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”.

Loving your neighbour as you love yourself: here lies the essence, not only of Christianity, but also of other religious and humanist communities. The respect for the value of our fellow human beings, the trust in the inherent dignity of every individual, the belief that all men and women are created equal – this must be our ethical and moral starting point.

And this is also a reason why my Government has given renewed priority and political emphasis to the promotion of ethical and human values.

Let me make it clear: there must be no compromise on human rights and fundamental freedoms. They are universal, and must apply to all nations and religions. And among these rights and freedoms, the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is central to building a solid basis for global tolerance, peace, democracy, and prosperity.

That is why it is a great pleasure for me to join you here this evening, on the occasion of the Oslo Conference, to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the hosts and organisers of the Conference for their initiative and their preparations, and to support their commitment to follow-up.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights arose from the ruins of the greatest war and the worst human crimes in history. The nations and individuals that drafted and adopted the Declaration, today deserve our thankful praise for their efforts. They were standing in a morally sound historical tradition, from the American Declaration of independence of 1776, the French Revolution, the democratic constitutions of the last century, to the work of the United Nations in the post war period.

And the progress of the United Nations in this field has indeed been remarkable. The number of nations that confirmed their commitment to the Declaration in Vienna in 1993 had increased threefold from 1948. States are now morally and legally committed to respect human rights, through a wide range of instruments and declarations. Among these, the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, is central to this Conference.

A recent crowning achievement has been the creation of the important institution of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. And I would like to use this opportunity to say that I am very pleased to be participating with the honourable Mary Robinson here tonight.

All nations agreed in Vienna that ”the international community should support the strengthening and promotion of democracy, development and respect for Human Rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire world”.

Thus, we have an obligation to promote respect for human rights, at home and abroad. Speaking as Prime Minister of the Norwegian Government, I confirm our commitment, and pledge our increased efforts to this end. Speaking as an ordained minister of the Norwegian Church, permit me to go one step further, and point to religion itself as a motivating factor in the struggle for human rights. The saying that ”faith can move mountains” will have resonance in all cultures and religions.

Unfortunately, there are still many ”mountains to move”. Human rights abuses continue around the world. Massive violations of human rights too often go hand in hand with violent conflicts. The bulk of such conflicts have shifted from wars between nations to struggles within nations. In many cases, religious conviction is portrayed as a cause for conflict.

Those of us who are committed to the freedom of religion or belief must therefore mobilise our religious communities where necessary, to fight false prophets, prevent conflicts, and seek solutions in tolerance. Misuse of religion by fanatics and terrorists, for political or other purposes, must be clearly condemned by all true believers and humanists, regardless of nationality or creed. The freedom of speech and expression is as important as the freedom of thought. Persecution or violence in the name of God, Jehova or Allah is not acceptable to truly and honestly religious people.

Another cause for lack of human rights is to be found in the continued state of poverty in many parts of the world. Fulfilment of basic needs should not be subject to any qualification. The right to development is as fundamental as any other human right.

My Government will remain a major contributor, including through the United Nations, to humanitarian relief and development assistance for the poorest - particularly in Africa, where the needs are the greatest. Norway will intensify efforts to strengthen development, democratic institutions, the rule of law, and the respect for human rights in the countries where we are engaged. We will continue to promote constructive and critical dialogue with partners on all continents, including in Europe and in Asia. Without a deeper understanding of the importance of respect for civil and political rights – lasting and stable democratic and economic development can not be achieved.

There is a long way to go, and tough tasks ahead, in all parts of the world. We all have jobs to do in order to improve implementation of human rights – be it at home or abroad. Norway will contribute to these tasks through national measures, bilateral co-operation, and multilateral efforts. As Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe next year, Norway will be leading the work of carrying on the important achievements of the OSCE in promoting human rights and democratic development on our continent.

In our efforts, we will join with many different partners - including non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, and international bodies, as well as other governments, in order to achieve the best results.

This conference here in Oslo is very appropriate because you have chosen to bring together representatives from all of these categories of partners. I can assure you that the coalition you are striving to form, and your struggle to protect and strengthen the universal freedom of religion or belief, has the full support and blessing of my Government.

I wish you all the best in this important task.