<P> In Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution 2200A (XXI) on 16 December 1966, the UN resolved that: </P> <P> Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion . This right shall include freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice or teaching . </P> <P> The United Nations Human Rights Committee, a sub-body of the General Assembly, also resolved in General comment 22 on 30 July 1993 that the right to freedom of religion applies to unconventional or extra-institutional religions, as well as atheist or anti-clerical beliefs: </P> <P> Article 18 (of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) protects theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief . The terms belief and religion are to be broadly construed . Article 18 is not limited in its application to traditional religions or to religions and beliefs with institutional characteristics or practices analogous to those of traditional religions . </P>

When was freedom of religion established in england