A/HRC/4/21/Add.3 page 16 56. Whilst welcoming the fact that national unity and harmony are highly prized in the Maldives, she notes that the concept of national unity appears to have become inextricably linked to the concept of religious unity, and even religious homogeny, in the minds of the population. She notes that religion has been used as a tool to discredit political opponents and that political opponents have publicly accused each other of being either Christians or Islamic extremists, both of which have proved to be damaging accusations in a country in which religious unity is so highly regarded. She emphasizes that political actors across the board must refrain from using religion as a tool to discredit opponents. She considers that the Government must take the lead in raising awareness about the issue of freedom of religion or belief, and human rights in general, and she notes the potential role of the Human Rights Commission in this regard. She stresses that efforts to improve respect for freedom of religion or belief can only be effective if carried out in full consultation with the population as a whole, and as such she encourages the Government to translate her report, and to disseminate it throughout the country. 57. The Special Rapporteur notes that many of her interlocutors expressed their concern about the potential impact of increasing religious extremism in what has been a traditionally moderate country. In this regard, she notes that the extensive de jure and de facto restrictions on religious rights are not easy to reconcile with a moderate approach to issues of religion. She is also concerned that despite the fact that the Maldivian economy is largely dependent on income from tourism, numerous steps have been taken to restrict contact between tourists and Maldivian citizens, apparently in an effort to limit the impact of other cultures on the local population. Relevant international standards 58. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the Government’s decisive action in response to the public statement issued by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, which purported to ban the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). However, she regrets that the Supreme Council continues to hold the view that article 18 of the UDHR contradicts the Constitution of the Maldives and the Islamic faith. She encourages the Human Rights Commission to continue its efforts to translate and disseminate international human rights standards, and calls upon the Government to lend the Human Rights Commission its full support in this endeavour. 59. She welcomes the recent accession of the Maldives to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), although she regrets that the Government has felt it necessary to enter a reservation to article 18 on freedom of religion or belief. While she understands that freedom of religion or belief is particularly sensitive in the Maldivian context, she does encourage the Government to keep the reservation under review and to revisit it in the near future. She also hopes that the Government will review reservations that are currently in place in relation to articles 14, 20 and 21 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and article 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).