ABSTRACT

This chapter addresses the potential conflicts that arise from the absolute nature of the forum internum right to freedom of conscience, both between groups and its individual members and among individuals within the group and outside the group. The proposal suggested in the chapter centres on separating the elements of the right to freedom of conscience, such that one may derive the forum internum of the group from the individual right to freedom of religion and conscience, while the external manifestation of the group's beliefs, the forum externum of the group, derives from minority rights. The chapter suggests a possible approach to some of the issues regarding the significance of a group's belief by considering the relationship between the right to religion and conscience with minority rights. The dimensions of the individual and group forum internum develop along similar lines outlined in the human rights treaties.