Vienna 1989
(16.10) - allow religious faiths, institutions and organizations to produce, import and
disseminate religious publications and materials;
(16.11) - favourably consider the interest of religious communities to participate in public dialogue, including through the mass media.
(17) The participating States recognize that the exercise of the above-mentioned rights
relating to the freedom of religion or belief may be subject only to such limitations as
are provided by law and consistent with their obligations under international law and
with their international commitments. They will ensure in their laws and regulations
and in their application the full and effective exercise of the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.
(18) The participating States will exert sustained efforts to implement the provisions of
the Final Act and of the Madrid Concluding Document pertaining to national minorities. They will take all the necessary legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures and apply the relevant international instruments by which they may be bound, to
ensure the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons belonging
to national minorities within their territory. They will refrain from any discrimination
against such persons and will contribute to the realization of their legitimate interests
and aspirations in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
(19) They will protect and create conditions for the promotion of the ethnic, cultural,
linguistic and religious identity of national minorities on their territory. They will
respect the free exercise of rights by persons belonging to such minorities and ensure
their full equality with others.
(20) The participating States win respect fully the right of everyone
• to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State, and
• to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
(21) The participating States will ensure that the exercise of the above-mentioned rights
will not be subject to any restrictions except those which are provided by law and are
consistent with their obligations under international law, in particular the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and with their international commitments,
in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These restrictions have the
character of exceptions. The participating States will ensure that these restrictions are
not abused and are not applied in an arbitrary manner, but in such a way that the effective exercise of these rights is ensured.
(22) In this context they will allow all refugees who so desire to return in safety to their
homes.
(23) The participating States will
(23.1) - ensure that no one will be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile;
50 OSCE Human Dimension Commitments
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