U. N. Body Asks Governments to Issue Laws Banning Religious Bias

A resolution calling for the rescinding of discriminatory laws which perpetuate “racial prejudice and national and religious in tolerance” and to adopt laws banning racial and religious discrimination, was unanimously adopted yesterday by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights which is now in session here. An amendment by France to the preamble proposing a specific reference to “manifestations of anti-Semitism” was also approved. The amendment was supported by the United States delegate.

The operative part of the adopted resolution, which was proposed by India, would have the UN Economic and Social Council ask the General Assembly to:

“1. Invite the governments of all states, specialized agencies and non-governmental and private organizations to continue to make sustained efforts to educate public opinion with a view to the eradication of racial prejudice and national and religious intolerance and the elimination of all undesirable influences promoting these, and to make appropriate measures so that education may be directed with due regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“2. Call upon the governments of all states to take all necessary steps to rescind discriminatory laws which have the effect of creating and perpetuating racial prejudice and national and religious intolerance wherever they still exist, to adopt legislation if necessary for prohibiting such discrimination, and to take such legislative or other appropriate measures to combat such prejudices and intolerances.

“3. Recommend to the governments of all states to discourage in every possible way the creation, propagation and dissemination, in whatever form, of such prejudices and intolerances.

“4. Invite the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with governments of states in their efforts aimed at the prevention and eradication of racial prejudice and national and religious intolerance. “

Earlier in the day, the Commission adopted a resolution requesting all states to observe a Freedom-from-Prejudice-and-Discrimination Year and Day. The resolution, as adopted, combines the draft resolution sponsored by India, Afghanistan and Pakistan with amendments by the United States and the Soviet Union. The resolution asks that the UN Economic and Social Council recommend that the UN General Assembly;

“Request all states to observe a Freedom-from-Prejudice-and-Discrimination Year in the near future, and thereafter to observe a Freedom-from-Prejudice-and-Discrimination Day every year; urge all states and interested organizations to organize, promote and participate actively in this observance on a national basis through effective means such as posters, films, radio and television programs, and other available educational media; and request the Secretary-General to invite states, members of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies to make comments, if any, on the recommendations set forth in this resolution.”