A/RES/71/195 Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief Reaffirming 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 and respect for diversity, Reaffirming that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, Condemning the criminal acts committed by terrorist and extremist groups and movements against persons based on their religion or belief, and deeply regretting attempts to link such acts to any one specific religion or belief, Reaffirming that violence can never be an acceptable response to acts of intolerance on the basis of religion or belief, Recalling its adoption of resolutions 69/140 of 15 December 2014 and 70/19 of 3 December 2015 on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, 69/312 of 6 July 2015 on the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and 67/104 of 17 December 2012, in which the General Assembly proclaimed the period 2013–2022 as the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures, Deeply concerned about continuing incidents of intolerance, discrimination and violence against persons based on their religion or belief in all regions of the world, Deploring any advocacy of discrimination or violence on the basis of religion or belief, Strongly deploring all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their homes, businesses, properties, schools, cultural centres or places of worship, Strongly deploring also all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines, which are in violation of international law, in particular human rights law and international humanitarian law, including any deliberate destruction of relics and monuments, Deeply concerned about the prevalence of impunity in some instances, and the lack of accountability in some cases, in addressing violence against persons on the basis of religion or belief in public and private spheres, and stressing the importance of making the necessary efforts to raise awareness to address the spread of hate speech against persons on the basis of religion or belief, Concerned about actions that wilfully exploit tensions or target individuals on the basis of their religion or belief, in particular actio ns that seek to prevent their exercise and full enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief, Expressing deep concern at the instances of intolerance and discrimination and acts of violence occurring in the world, including cases motivated by discrimination against persons belonging to religious minorities, in addition to the negative projection of the followers of religions and the enforcement of measures that specifically discriminate against persons on the basis of religion or belief, 2/6