Thank you, Mr. President.
 
We thank you Special Rapporteur for your insightful report on how freedom of religion or belief relates to death and honoring the deceased. 
 
The Kingdom of the Netherlands attaches great importance to the protection of freedom of religion or belief, including the right to observe religious or belief-based practices surrounding death, mourning and commemoration, individually and in community with others.

The report speaks about ‘one of the most emotive and challenging of life’s junctures’. And that is spot on. A great philosopher once said: ‘How one views life, is definieer by how one views death’. We believe anything related to the observance of death ritua;s goes to the core of human beings. 
 
We share the Special Rapporteur’s concern about cases in which burial rites are obstructed, cemeteries are desecrated, or religious minorities are denied access to appropriate burial grounds. Such practices affect not only the deceased, but also the next generation and communities at a moment of profound vulnerability. 
 
We support the emphasis in the report on non-discrimination, meaningful consultation with affected communities, and the strict application of international human rights law when any limitations on the manifestation of religion or belief are imposed.
 
Thank you.