The conflict was said to be not religious but political, and one in which religion was being manipulated to achieve ends that had absolutely nothing to do with it.

It is not a confrontation between religions, but fundamentalist religious groups have severely exacerbated the conflict.

(c) Religious rights and persons deprived of their liberty in the context of an armed conflict

As a result of the religious instruction, Pia often experienced conflicts of loyalty between her home and her school.

In many conflicts sentiments of ethnic belonging are mixed with sentiments of a religious or political character.

Article 16, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention, concerning the same right to enter into marriage, conflicts with religious directives.

Article 16, paragraph 1(h), conflicts with religious directives, which provide that men are the guardians of women.

The end of the cold war has given rise to intra State, ethnic and religious conflicts which are fought with readily available and easy to use small arms.

Conflict and confrontation arising from racial or religious differences persist around the world.

While laws might be in conflict with beliefs, human rights were universal and a consensus was needed in applying them to all religions and religious groups.

As a result, religion is not necessarily a source of conflict, although religion, when linked to ethnicity, can be used by political groups to achieve and retain power.

Concerned by reports of religious persecution in areas of the conflict zone controlled by the Government of the Sudan and of discrimination based upon religion in the provision of shelter and relief,

They helped reduce the potential for abuse of religion and faith as further fuel for conflict.

In April, a conference was held in Melbourne Australia, on the theme Religion in peace and conflict responding to militancy and fundamentalism .

But, make no mistake about it, religion is a kind of fault line, and when a conflict gets ingrained in a region, religion can get sucked in and become part of the problem. Our modernity has been exceedingly violent.

We take care to ensure that there is justice and equality regardless of race, language or religion, and we do not and will not condone any acts that stir up strife along racial or religious lines.

74. According to a second source of information (including non governmental and religious organizations and the authorities), the conflictual situation which had arisen in Punjab had no religious basis it was purely political.

Most conflicts of the last 15 years have been internal conflicts civil wars that may have erupted owing to failures of governance, abuse of human rights, religious or ethnic persecution, and economic exclusion.

Since the end of the cold war, the world had witnessed many conflicts arising from language, ethnicity, race and religion.

Ethnic and religious conflicts, the most common type of civil war, are by their very nature directed against entire populations, including civilians.

Instead, we are witnessing a marked rise in intra State conflicts based on ethnic, religious or cultural differences.

He referred to article 2.1 of the Declaration, which could be read to imply that no State had the right to compel children belonging to minorities to participate in religious activities which were not their own or to receive religious instruction which conflicted with the religion or conviction of their parents.

66. In Romania, the issue of restitution of religious property confiscated under the former regime has reportedly led to conflicts between religious communities and, in particular, between the Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches.

Disturbed at the widespread occurrence of violent conflicts in many parts of the world where ethnic or religious hostility is engendered and exploited by one or more of the parties to the conflict,

Teaching tolerance and conflict resolution

Public instability and insecurity is compounded by an increase in sectarian strife.

Understanding and respect between religions, cultures and civilizations become necessary prerequisites for dialogue and the avoidance of conflicts.

The Committee welcomes the establishment of the National Inter religious Council and of the Institute for Peace and Conflict to promote inter ethnic, intercommunal and interreligious harmony.

That might lead religious minorities to lose their identity, and to come into conflict with the State and the projection and promotion of its values a situation which might lead to increasing tensions and conflict.

Collisions over the opportunities to exercise the right to freedom of thought and religion are not an exception.

The conflict within the Orthodox Church is not subsiding.

There is a clash within Islam, which, if the violence in Iraq spreads to neighboring countries, risks causing regional destabilization. There is also a clash that is best described not as being between Islam and the West, but between the secularized world and a growing religious one.

For much of its history, Pakistan has been plagued by violent conflict between different religious, ethnic and political groups.

The nature of most post cold war conflicts which more often than not are based on ethnic, cultural or religious confrontation means, even if those conflicts are subsequently internationalized, that they can have a devastating effect on the societies concerned.

The multidimensional approach should include post conflict peace building and confidence building measures, irrespective of whether a conflict was ethnic or religious in origin or simply the result of a struggle for power.

Not all conflicts between religion and the state are easy to resolve. But the fact that these three issues, all currently causing controversy in their respective countries, are not really about the freedom to practice one s religion, suggests that the appeal to religious freedom is being misused.

Religious intolerance Mr. A. Amor (Tunisia) 1998

A variety of civil society organizations and groups, such as traditional community organizations, non governmental organizations (NGOs), academe, religious organizations and other social groups have been making their unique contributions, bringing their individual capacities, experience and resources to bear in preventing, mitigating or otherwise addressing causes of conflicts.

In that connection, it is important to take account of the economic, social, historical, religious, cultural and other characteristics of the countries or regions involved, as well as of the particular aspects of each individual conflict, the root causes thereof and the best way of arriving at a settlement.

(c) The intensification of armed hostilities in Afghanistan and the increasingly ethnic and religious nature of the conflict, which have resulted in extensive human suffering and forced displacement, and which hinder the return of the internally displaced to their homes

6. The Working Group is informed through the source that these 21 persons allegedly participated in riots which broke out on 10 and 11 June 1996 as a result of a religious conflict between Catholics and Muslims which was apparently provoked by a number of the Indonesian army.

As a multiracial, multi religious society, Singapore was concerned to prove wrong those who predicted a clash of civilizations .

The Lutheran World Foundation's interreligious work in the field, particularly in conflict zones in Africa, is a particularly original and effective initiative to promote the role of religion as a factor for peace across the African continent.

Kazakhstan made the following recommendations Terrorism is closely linked with conflicts, ethnic and religious tensions, organized crime, drug trafficking, illicit small arms trade, and money laundering.

China believes that, given their complex nature, the causes of regional turmoil and conflicts are varied, involving a wide spectrum, from political, economic and social factors to territorial disputes and religious conflicts. The accumulation of small arms itself does not cause conflicts.