A/HRC/49/44 73. The right to freedom of religion or belief does not give anyone the power to marginalize, suppress or carry out human rights violations against others.186 Equally, the exercise of minority rights can never justify discrimination against persons within minority communities or beyond.187 The notion that States, rebels, or terrorists are primarily motivated by their religious precepts to behave violently reinforces harmful tropes about some religions being “violent” in nature and to be countered – even with force. 74. As the Secretary General articulates, “[j]ustice and peace are not contradictory forces” but can “promote and sustain one another.”188 In this report, the Special Rapporteur provides both evidence-based analysis and practical recommendations to States and other relevant stakeholders in the hope that they can better protect and promote religious or belief minorities’ rights during crises and lay the groundwork for inclusive conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts, consistent with a human rights-based approach. 75. In 1981, the U.N. General Assembly observed that “disregard and infringement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular of the right to freedom of [religion or belief], have brought, directly or indirectly, wars and great suffering to mankind.” 189 Amidst situations of conflict and insecurity, religious or belief minority identity may mobilize a group to take up arms or generate fear that it increases their vulnerability where their community is targeted with discrimination, hostility or violence. Yet this same identity can also be a significant source of strength and solidarity with their community and society at large as they navigate the major upheaval to their livelihoods and displacement that often accompanies conflict. 76. A risk to the human rights of one community is a risk to all society. Recalling that “societies flourish when all voices are heard, when all opinions are considered; [and] when all citizens participate,”190 the Special Rapporteur calls upon both State and non-State actors to uphold human rights and to respect, promote and protect diverse religious or belief systems, including of minorities, whether during war or peacetime. VIII. Recommendations 77. To address pressing concerns over alleged rights violations of persons belonging to religious or belief minorities in conflict and insecurity, the Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations. 78. States should: (a) Promote and protect freedom of religion or belief for minorities by repealing anti-conversion and anti-blasphemy laws, revoking restrictions on manifestations of their religion or beliefs, and adopting comprehensive anti-discrimination laws with input from all disadvantaged groups.191 (b) Fulfil obligations to prohibit incitement (online and offline) to discrimination, hostility, or violence based on religion or belief, consistent with IHRL and standards, 192 and condemn and prosecute violations. This includes the weaponization of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic against religious or belief minorities. (c) Implement a human rights-based approach to preventing violent extremism, including supporting, financially or with other means, religious leaders, actors, and institutions that actively prevent and counter violent extremism and incitement to violence. 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 20 ICCPR art.5(1). A/75/385, para.11. S/2004/616, para.21. 1981 Declaration, preamble. A/HRC/16/45, para.44. OHCHR/Equal Rights Trust, Protecting Minority Rights: A Practical Guide to Developing Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Legislation (forthcoming 2022). A/HRC/RES/16/18; Rabat Plan of Action; Beirut Declaration and its 18 Commitments on Faith for Rights.