A/RES/70/157
United Nations
Distr.: General
3 March 2016
General Assembly
Seventieth session
Agenda item 72 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2015
[on the report of the Third Committee A/70/489/Add.2)]
70/157. Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping,
stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence
and violence against persons, based on religion or belief
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the commitment made by all States under the Charter of the
United Nations to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of
all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to, inter alia,
religion or belief,
Reaffirming also the obligation of States to prohibit discrimination and
violence on the basis of religion or belief and to implement measures to guarantee
the equal and effective protection of the law,
Reaffirming further that all human rights are
interdependent and interrelated,
universal, indivisible,
Reaffirming that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1
provides, inter alia, that everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion or belief, which shall include freedom to have or to adopt a
religion or belief of one’s choice and freedom, either alone or in community with
others and in public or private, to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship,
observance, practice and teaching,
Reaffirming also the positive role that the exercise of the right to freedom of
opinion and expression and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart
information can play in strengthening democracy and combating religious
intolerance, and reaffirming further that the exercise of the right to freedom of
expression carries with it special duties and responsibilities, in accordance with
article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
Expressing deep concern at those acts that advocate religious hatred and
thereby undermine the spirit of tolerance,
Reaffirming that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any
religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group,
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1
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
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