Jakarta, Dec. 13 -- Freedom of religion and belief is the fundamental right of every human being, Indonesian representative for the ASEAN Intergovernment Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Yuyun Wahyuningrum said. "As universal human rights, freedom of religion and belief safeguard the sense of respect to diversity," Wahyuningrum said in a written statement released Friday.

She made these remarks while opening the AICHR consultations on the implementation of Article 22 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration on Freedom of Religion and Belief in Nusa Dua, Bali, Friday.

In practice, freedom of religion directly contributes to democracy, development, legal supremacy, peace and stability, he said.

"ASEAN is located in a very diverse area in ...