A/HRC/RES/22/31
and the holding of five regional workshops on related issues by the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Austria, Chile, Kenya, Morocco and
Thailand,,
1.
Expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory
stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or
belief, as well as programmes and agendas pursued by extremists organizations and groups
aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups, in particular
when condoned by Governments;
2.
Expresses its concern that incidents of religious intolerance, discrimination
and related violence, as well as of negative stereotyping of individuals on the basis of
religion or belief, continue to rise around the world, and condemns, in this context, any
advocacy of religious hatred against individuals that constitutes incitement to
discrimination, hostility or violence, and urges States to take effective measures, as set forth
in the present resolution, consistent with their obligations under international human rights
law, to address and combat such incidents;
3.
Condemns deeply any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement
to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or
electronic media or any other means;
4.
Welcomes international, regional and national initiatives aimed at promoting
interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony and combating discrimination against
individuals on the basis of religion or belief, in particular the series of experts meetings in
the framework of the Istanbul Process, and notes also in this regard the efforts of the Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the holding of five
regional workshops on separate but related issues, including the final workshop in Morocco
and its outcome document, the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of
national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or
violence, and the recommendations and conclusions contained therein.
5.
Recognizes that the open, public debate of ideas, as well as interfaith and
intercultural dialogue, at the local, national and international levels, can be among the best
protections against religious intolerance and can play a positive role in strengthening
democracy and combating religious hatred, and convinced that continuing dialogue on
these issues can help to overcome existing misperceptions;
6.
Notes the speech given by Secretary-General of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference at the fifteenth session of the Human Rights Council, and draws on his
call on States to take the following actions to foster a domestic environment of religious
tolerance, peace and respect by:
(a)
Encouraging the creation of collaborative networks to build mutual
understanding, promoting dialogue and inspiring constructive action towards shared policy
goals and the pursuit of tangible outcomes, such as servicing projects in the fields of
education, health, conflict prevention, employment, integration and media education;
(b)
Creating an appropriate mechanism within Governments to, inter alia,
identify and address potential areas of tension between members of different religious
communities, and assisting with conflict prevention and mediation;
(c)
strategies;
Encouraging the training of government officials in effective outreach
(d)
Encouraging the efforts of leaders to discuss within their communities the
causes of discrimination, and evolving strategies to counter these causes;
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