A/72/165 2. 2013: Minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities (A/68/268) 7. The Special Rapporteur recognizes that religious minorities face discrimination, social exclusion, marginalization and, in many instances, harassment, persecution and violence. Her second report to th e General Assembly is dedicated, therefore, to the rights of religious minorities. In the report, she stresses that their rights go beyond freedom of religion and belief and non -discrimination and voices concern that the wider collective rights of religiou s minorities are frequently neglected by Governments. 8. In all regions, persons belonging to religious minorities face daily human rights violations, ranging from violations of their individual rights and discrimination on the basis of their religious or belief identities to attacks on their community activities and violence against them, their places of worship or their homes. The violations lie at the intersection of a number of realities, including the State’s religion or ideology relationship, the State’s demographic makeup, the constitutional and legislative framework, the personal status laws, intercommunal relationships and the role of non-State actors — each of them and their combined effect have a profound impact on the human rights situation of r eligious minorities. Historical, geopolitical and inter-State factors may in some cases exacerbate the discrimination, exclusion and vulnerability experienced by religious minorities. National and international human rights responses to the challenges face d by religious minorities must seek to uphold their equal enjoyment of international human rights, including through the protection and promotion of minority rights. 9. The security situation of religious minorities in some States is cause for serious concern and requires the urgent attention of national Governments, regional intergovernmental human rights bodies and the United Nations. Acts of violence and widespread and systematic violations of human rights — sometimes by the State itself — threaten the very existence of religious minorities in some States or territories. States have the responsibility to protect human rights and security for all and to create conditions of peace and stability. They must act appropriately and rapidly to protect the rights and security of religious minorities under threat and prosecute anyone who commits, supports or incites violence against them. 10. The Special Rapporteur stresses that, in multi-faith societies, efforts to build a climate of trust, understanding, acceptance and interfaith cooperation and exchange benefit the whole of society and are essential elements of good governance and measures to prevent grievances, tensions and conflict. The active engagement and leadership of religious, community and political actors is essential to such efforts and should be encouraged and supported, including through the establishment of formal and informal mechanisms for dialogue, exchanges of views and consideration of interfaith and intercommunity initiatives. 3. 2014: Preventing and addressing violence and atrocities against minorities (A/69/266) 11. In the report, the Special Rapporteur observes that minorities are frequently the victims of violence and atrocities, which can take the form of attacks on individuals, their homes, shops or places of worship, or wider acts of aggression against communities with different national, ethnic or religious identities. In the worst cases, violence constitutes mass atrocities, crimes against humanity, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and even genocide. Although often perpetrated by State actors, sometimes violence is committed by non-State actors, including those belonging to the majority, or more powerful groups, extremist groups or even business actors. 4/22 17-12138