Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace A/RES/72/136 11. Welcomes the efforts by the media to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, encourages the further promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations, emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and reaffirms that the exercise of this right carries with it special duties and responsibilities and may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but that these can be only such as are provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, and protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals; 12. Also welcomes the efforts to use information and communications technology, including the Internet, to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, including through the Interfaith Dialogue ePortal established following the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development, held in Manila in 2010, as well as the Peace and Dialogue ePortal of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and encourages relevant stakeholders to utilize the opportunity to disseminate their best practices and experiences on interreligious and intercultural dialogue by contributing to the Interfaith Dialogue ePortal and to the Peace and Dialogue ePortal; 13. Encourages Member States to consider, as and where appropriate, initiatives that identify areas for practical action in all sectors and levels of society for the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation, inter alia, the ideas suggested during the High-level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace, held in New York in October 2007, including the idea of an enhanced process of dialogue among world religions, as well as the ideas suggested during the third High Panel on Peace and Dialogue among Cultures, held in Paris in November 2012; 14. Acknowledges the active engagement of the United Nations system with faith-based and cultural organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations in the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue and in bringing together people of different cultures, religions, faiths or beliefs to discuss common issues and objectives; 15. Also acknowledges the important role of civil society, including academia, in fostering interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and encourages support for practical measures that mobilize civil society, including building capacities, opportunities and frameworks for cooperation; 16. Invites Member States to further promote reconciliation to help to ensure durable peace and sustained development, including by working with faith leaders and communities and through reconciliatory measures and acts of service and by encouraging forgiveness and compassion among individuals; 17. Recognizes that the Office for Economic and Social Council Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat plays a valuable role as focal point within the Secretariat on the issue, and encour ages it to continue to interact and coordinate with the relevant entities of the United Nations system and coordinate their contribution to the intergovernmental process aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. 71st plenary meeting 11 December 2017 17-22363 5/5

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