Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination,
incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief
A/RES/69/174
Condemning the criminal acts committed by terrorist and extremist groups and
movements against persons based on their religion or belief, and deeply regretting
attempts to link these acts to any one specific religion or belief,
Reaffirming that violence can never be an acceptable response to acts of
intolerance on the basis of religion or belief,
Welcoming Human Rights Council resolutions 16/18 of 24 March 2011,2 19/25
of 23 March 20123 and 22/31 of 22 March 20134 and General Assembly resolutions
67/178 of 20 December 2012 and 68/169 of 18 December 2013,
Deeply concerned about incidents of intolerance, discrimination and violence
against persons based on their religion or belief in all regions of the world,
Deploring any advocacy of discrimination or violence on the basis of religion
or belief,
Strongly deploring all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their
religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their homes, businesses,
properties, schools, cultural centres or places of worship,
Strongly deploring also all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines
in violation of international law, in particular human rights law and international
humanitarian law, including any deliberate destruction of relics and monuments,
Deeply concerned about the prevalence of impunity in some instances, and the
lack of accountability in some cases, in addressing violence against persons on the
basis of religion or belief in public and private spheres, and stressing the importance
of making necessary efforts to raise awareness to address the spread of hate speech
against persons on the basis of religion or belief,
Concerned about actions that wilfully exploit tensions or target individuals on
the basis of their religion or belief,
Expressing deep concern at the instances of intolerance, discrimination and
acts of violence occurring in the world, including cases motivated by discrimination
against persons belonging to religious minorities, in addition to the negative
projection of the followers of religions and the enforcement of measures that
specifically discriminate against persons on the basis of religion or belief,
Expressing concern at the growing manifestations of intolerance based on
religion or belief, which can generate hatred and violence among individuals from
and within different nations and which may have serious implications at the
national, regional and international levels, and in this regard emphasizing the
importance of respect for religious and cultural diversity, as well as interreligious,
interfaith and intercultural dialogue aimed at promoting a culture of tolerance and
respect among individuals, societies and nations,
Recognizing the valuable contribution of people of all religions or beliefs to
humanity and the contribution that dialogue among religious groups can make
towards an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by
all humankind,
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2
See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/66/53), chap. II,
sect. A.
3
Ibid., Sixty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 53 and corrigendum (A/67/53 and Corr.1), chap. III, sect. A.
4
Ibid., Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/68/53), chap. IV, sect. A.
2/5