A/HRC/RES/53/1
religion or belief,1 in which the Special Rapporteur documented, inter alia, the human rights
impacts and drivers of this growing phenomenon,
Welcoming the unanimous decision made by the General Assembly to proclaim 15
March the International Day to Combat Islamophobia,2 and noting its first commemoration
in 2023,
Emphasizing that all human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, freedom
of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of
association are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing, and stressing the
positive role that these rights can play in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of
discrimination based on religion or belief,
Recalling that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are
manifested on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and that
victims can suffer from multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related
grounds, such as sex, language, religion, disability, political or other opinion, social origin,
property, birth or other status,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 52/38 of 4 April 2023 on combating
intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to
violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief, and its resolution 52/6 of
3 April 2023 on freedom of religion or belief,
Taking note of the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or
religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,
Condemning 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,
Recognizing that gaps may exist in national legal, policy and law enforcement
frameworks, impeding prevention and prosecution of and redressal for acts and advocacy of
religious hatred that constitute an incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence
committed against persons based on religion or belief,
Acknowledging that tolerance, pluralistic tradition, mutual respect and the diversity of
religions and beliefs promote human fraternity, and in this regard recalling all United Nations
resolutions on human fraternity,
1.
Condemns and strongly rejects any advocacy or manifestation of religious
hatred, including the recent public and premeditated acts of desecration of the Holy Qur’an,
and underscores the need for holding those responsible to account in a manner consistent
with the obligations of States arising from international human rights law;
2.
Calls upon States to adopt national laws, policies and law enforcement
frameworks that address, prevent and prosecute acts and advocacy of religious hatred that
constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and to take immediate steps to
ensure accountability;
3.
Urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and all
relevant special procedures of the Human Rights Council and treaty bodies, within their
respective mandates, to speak out against advocacy of religious hatred, including acts of
desecration of sacred books that could constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or
violence, and to make recommendations on addressing this phenomenon;
4.
Requests the High Commissioner to present at its fifty-fourth session an oral
update on the various drivers, root causes and human rights impacts of religious hatred
constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, highlighting gaps in existing
national, legal, policy and law enforcement frameworks, in particular in the context of the
urgent debate, held at the fifty-third session of the Human Rights Council, to be followed by
an interactive dialogue;
1
2
2
A/HRC/46/30.
General Assembly resolution 76/254.