Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century project
Submissions to the Freedom of religion and belief in the 21st century project are now formally closed. The final report will be released in 2010.
New
- Submissions received
- Supplementary Paper - Freedom of religion and belief and physical and mental wellbeing (29 October 2008)
Media
- Deadline extended for religion and belief project (28 January 2009)
- Media Release: Like oil and water? - Religion and human rights in Australia (17 September 2008)
- Launch speech by Tom Calma (17 September 2008)
About the Project
- What is this research about?
- What is the research methodology?
- Supplementary Papers
- For more information
What is this research about?
The Australian Human Rights Commission has commissioned the Australian Multicultural Foundation, (AMF) in association with RMIT University and Monash University to prepare a report on Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century. This team will consult with the Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations (APRO) in preparing its report.
This project builds on the Commission’s earlier report Article 18: Freedom of Religion and Belief released in 1998 and the 2004 report Religion, Cultural Diversity and Safeguarding Australia, by the (then) Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. Further details of this study are provided in the Discussion Paper.
This project is designed to work with faith communities and other civil society organisations to record their concerns and proposed solutions to build a more socially cohesive and harmonious society that protects and promotes Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
What is the research methodology?
The Freedom of Religion and Belief project consists of the following elements:
- Consultation with Australian heads of faith
- Consultation with national and state/ territory governments and NGOs
- Consultation with the Australian public via a national call for submissions
- A series of commissioned papers related to faith and society
The discussion paper has been designed to guide the consultations and submissions. The discussion paper will:
- provide the background and context to the Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century project
- outline the overall project objectives
- outline the report’s focus, including the ‘Content for consideration’ section which lists research questions as a guide for participants
- detail the consultation process
- provide a brief biography on each of the researchers
- outline the project outcomes
Click here to download the discussion paper in PDF or Word.
Submissions closed on 28 February 2009
Consultations with heads of faith, governments and NGO’s took place from mid-2008 to mid-2009. 210 senior representatives were consulted in 23 group consultations and 30 interviews.
The final report is due to be released in 2010. It will inform governments, faith communities, NGOs and relevant organisations, and contribute to the ongoing debates around culture, identity and national unity.
Supplementary Papers
A series of supplementary papers will also be written for the final report. The topics of these papers are:
- Freedom of religion and belief and physical and mental wellbeing
- Religion and the arts
- The law, judiciary and religion
- The media, journalism and freedom of religion and belief
- Indigenous spiritual expression and freedom of religion and belief
- The intersection of freedom of religion and gender equality
- Freedom of religion and belief and global peace
- Religion freedom and expression and radicalisation
- Freedom of religion and belief and secularism
For more information
For more information please contact:
Freedom of Religion and Belief project team
Race Discrimination Unit: Education and
Partnerships Section
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: (02) 9284 9600
