Minister of International Development and Human Rights Hilde Frafjord Johnson

Dinner Speech at the Oslo Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Holmenkollen Park Hotel, 12 August 1998

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome all of you to this dinner here this evening. Most of you are probably not aware that we are now on “sacred ground”. Sport is regarded as a kind of “religion” by people all over the world. This applies to many people in my country, especially as we like to think of Norway as the “craddle of winter sports”. The Holmenkollen area is the very symbol of Norwegian sports traditions and culture. In a few months' time the hills outside these windows will be covered by snow and crowded with skiers of all ages and nationalities.

It is, however, a long way from the steep hills of Holmenkollen and the concept of sport as a kind of “religion”, to the issues we are discussing at this conference. To draw us closer to these issues, I would like to quote a passage from The Religious Experience, a book by Ninian Smart, Professor of religious studies, University of California, Santa Barbara: "No-one can understand mankind without understanding the faiths of humanity. Sometimes naive, sometimes penetratingly noble, sometimes crude, sometimes subtle, sometimes cruel, sometimes suffused by an overpowering gentleness and love, sometimes world-affirming, sometimes negating the world, sometimes inward-looking, sometimes universalistic and missionary minded, sometimes shallow and often profound - religion has permeated human life since early and obscure times."

Freedom of religion or belief is one of the most important human rights. You might ask why the Norwegian Government and other governments are so concerned about human rights issues. These issues have high priority for my Government because the work of promoting respect for human rights reflects our fundamental belief in human dignity. Human dignity is above all a question of morality. But do moral standards that apply to individuals also apply to states? Of course they do, if for no other reason than that states are made up of individuals.

If morality in itself is not sufficient justification for some people, we must remember that promoting human rights is also in our self-interest. Governments that treat their own citizens with tolerance and respect tend to treat other states the same way. Democracies that are based on the rule of law seldom take up arms against each other, whereas dictatorships often do. Even in less weighty issues than war and peace, such as trade, states that respect human rights are more likely to play by the rules. Efforts to promote human rights undermine the position of oppressors, encourage their victims and, in the long run, make the world a safer place for everyone.

I would maintain that freedom of religion or belief is one of the most pressing issues on the international human rights agenda today. At the same time, it is important that we, particularly this year when we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, take a holistic approach and that we bear in mind that we are part of a long tradition. Not all documents and statements dealing with the importance of freedom of religion or belief are of recent date. In his first inaugural address, held on 4 March 1801, Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, said: "Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of person under the protection of habeas corpus, and trial by juries impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us, and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation."

As we approach the new millennium almost two centuries after Thomas Jefferson's address, we must not lose sight of the universal obligation of humanity to learn to live together with respect, dignity and tolerance. In Jefferson's words, these are principles that are guiding our steps. These precepts are an inherent part of human nature. If we can bear this in mind during this conference, it is my hope and belief that by the end of the week, we will have contributed something to this most important of causes.

In closing, I would like you all to join me in a toast to the success of the conference.