Overview:

• Recognition and registration are amalgamated rather than ideally differentiated; a focus is placed on legal registration with few to no mechanisms provided by the state to obtain

• Informational requirements seem appropriate but need continued monitoring to ensure they are not further extended and do not violate the Durham principles and the broader spirit of freedom of religion or belief.

• Two step authorisation for religious organisations with the Ministry of Women, Family and Gender and then a three step authorisation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreign religious groups to operate in the country demonstrate a slight instance of restriction.

Positive elements:

• Freedom of religion or belief is generally upheld.

Recommendations:

• To attain receptive status, revoke two-step and three-step authorisations for religious groups and foreign religious groups; also, dissolve the implementation of any longevity quotas.

• Also to attain receptive status, establish a revitalised recognition system that has within provisions for both existential recognition and legal registration, is inclusive of all belief systems, and can be apply recognition and registration at multiple levels of activity and operation.

• To attain dynamic status, establish a recognition agency that is independent of government to manage the recognition system.