Freedom of religion is a fundamental, inviolable and non-negotiable human right, applicable to all and any human being, in every country of the world. This emerged at the end of the meeting held in Velletri (Rome) from May 12th to 16th, which was attended by about thirty leaders of several religious confessions, during which the three-year study plan promoted by the Vatican and the Ecumenical Council of the Churches (Wcc), named "Inter-religious reflection on conversion: from controversy to a common code of conduct", was launched. "Freedom of religion reads a Wcc release published today – defines everyone’s freedom, without any hindrance, of practising one’s faith, of spreading its lesions and the freedom of embracing any other faith without coercion". Likewise, this right involves "the non-negotiable responsibility for respecting faiths, not disparaging or debasing them in order to affirm the superiority of one’s faith over the others, thus violating other people’s sensitivity and rights". The Velletri meeting also brought up a powerful recommendation to "get rid of the obsession of converting others" and the need of "an honest soul searching". The proposals launched for a right approach to the conversion issue include that of discouraging and refusing "unethical systems", not taking advantage of vulnerable people, such as children or disabled people, and carrying on humanitarian work with no ulterior motive.
