The Notion of the Collective Dimension of Freedom of Religion or Belief

The normative demands created by international provisions protecting the collective dimension of freedom of religion constitute a challenge to historically shaped state–religion relations. The notion of the collective dimension of the right to freedom of religion or belief is firmly founded on the international provisions protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief. As far as legal sources are concerned, the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief is founded quite simply in the relevant provisions protecting freedom of religion or belief. The question of the right holder of the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief is a relevant one. This chapter examines the issues of standing for the natural belief group, the individual, religious legal entity, and informal group of believers in the context of bringing a complaint for international adjudication. Human rights compliance control mechanisms, potentially, may play an important role in improving the protection of the collective dimension for the many collectivities.