New Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief stresses human dignity, the right to change religious affiliation

Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt, the newly appointed UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, spoke at an introductory briefing organized by the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the Bahá'í International Community’s UN Office. Earlier in the week, Dr. Bielefeldt, a professor of Human Rights and Human Rights Politics at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany), addressed the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee affirming that, “Human dignity is neither an ascribed societal status, nor a privilege granted by Governments.