OSCE participating States promised in paragraph 16.3 of the 1989 Vienna Document, to “grant upon their request to communities of believers, practising or prepared to practice their faith within the constitutional framework of their States, recognition of the status provided for them in their respective countries”.

This commitment is a reality for many religious and belief communities in the OSCE region. There are, however, still challenges in its implementation in a number of OSCE participating States, both at the legislative and practical level. In particular, the use of mandatory registration systems, as well as significant practical and legal obstacles to acquiring legal personality continues to negatively affect the rights of a wide range of religious or belief communities.