HRs council adopts two important initiatives sponsored by Pakistan

ISLAMABAD—The Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution sponsored by Pakistan on behalf of OIC entitled Combating Defamation of Religions and an amendment to the resolution on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Pakistan's initiatives to combat defamation of religions particularly Islam received broad support in recently concluded Seventh Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) which was held from 3 to 28 March 2008.
The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Pakistan on behalf of OIC entitled Combating Defamation of Religions which, inter alia, expressed its grave concerns at the serious instances of deliberate stereotyping of religions, their adherents and sacred persons in the media and urged States to take actions to prohibit the dissemination, including through political institutions and organizations, of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement to racial and religious hatred, hostility or violence.
In addition to the members of the OIC and African Group in the Human Rights Council, the resolution was supported by China, Cuba, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Russian Federation and Sri Lanka.
The Human Rights Council (HRC) also adopted an amendment to the resolution on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The amendment which was sponsored by Pakistan on behalf of OIC, was meant to respond to recent instances in which Islam and Muslims have been ridiculed and associated with violence and terrorism. It mandated the Special Rapporteur on promotion and protection of the right to report on instances where the abuse of the right of freedom of expression constitutes an act of racial or religious discrimination taking into account Articles 19(3) and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and General Comment of the committee on Racial Discrimination on Article 4 of the Convention on the elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.
While introducing the amendment, Pakistan underlined the importance of responsible exercise of freedom of expression. Referring to reprinting of blasphemous caricatures and screening of hate documentaries, Pakistan urged States to take all necessary measures to ensure a balance between freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
The amendment was voted in favour by a majority of the members of the Human Rights Council including all Islamic and African States. Subsequently, the Human Rights Council adopted the resolution as amended by Pakistan by a record vote of 32. The Western Group in the Human Rights Council abstained on the resolution.