STATEMENT OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER ON THE PUBLICATION TITLED "SACRED RIGHTS: FAITH LEADERS ON TOLERANCE AND RESPECT"

18 June 2001



The Office of the High Commissioner refers to the publication “Sacred Rights: Faith Leaders on Tolerance and Respect” which was launched at a ceremony in the Palais Wilson on Friday, 15th June. The Office of the High Commissioner recalls that as part of the process of mobilizing civil society in support of the World Conference and its objectives it has encouraged civil society activities such as the organization of meetings and the launching of publications. The Office of the High Commissioner considers that the contributions of the Faith Leaders on tolerance and respect provide some valuable insights that can help advance the objectives of the World Conference.

The Office of the High Commissioner notes that despite its modest financial support of the publication and the launching ceremony in the Palais Wilson, the publication is not that of the Office but of the Millennium World Peace Summit, and that the Office had no editorial role in relation to the text.

Unfortunately, parts of the publication have given rise to protests because of some of its descriptions. The Office of the High Commissioner regrets that this has occasioned concern and re-affirms its unstinting attachment to the principles of objectivity and impartiality, the principles of the United Nations Charter, and to the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner.


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