A/HRC/43/48 warrant an exemption from general laws against discrimination, and religious beliefs cannot be privileged over non-religious beliefs. 75. The Special Rapporteur agrees with the Secretary-General’s conclusion that further progress in implementing the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women and achieving gender equality will require “transformational policies, systemic change, multilateral cooperation and a commitment to achieving gender equality and full respect for the human rights of women, including sexual and reproductive health and rights” (E/CN.6/2020/3, para. 11). As promoters and defenders of human rights, the human rights community must become more clear-eyed about the root causes of gender equality and intentional about the multilevel, transformational approaches that are needed to “solve” such a complex problem. The international human rights, security and development goals, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, require that States consider a more extensive and proportional conception of its duties to promote and protect human rights. VII. Recommendations 76. The Special Rapporteur recommends that States: (a) Reaffirm that traditional, historical, religious or cultural attitudes must not be used to justify violations of human rights; 64 (b) Review their laws and practices and ensure that all uphold the principles of the universality of human rights and respect the right to equality and nondiscrimination and do not create, perpetrate or reinforce gender-based violence, discrimination or inequalities; (c) Withdraw reservations to core human rights treaties citing religious considerations; (d) Combat all forms of violence and coercion perpetrated against women, girls and LGBT+ persons justified with reference to religious practice or belief, ensure their personal safety and liberty, and hold accountable perpetrators of such violence and ensure victims obtain redress; (e) Repeal discriminatory laws, including those enacted with reference to religious considerations, that criminalize adultery, that criminalize persons on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, that criminalize abortion in all cases, or that facilitate religious practices that violate human rights; (f) Ensure that legal protections for individuals to manifest their religion or belief, such as in health-care settings, do not have the effect of denying women, girls or LGBT+ persons the right to non-discrimination or other rights; in all cases, States should ensure the right to physical and mental integrity, as well as the right to health, including reproductive health, for women, adolescents and LGBT+ persons and effective access to reproductive health services and comprehensive sexuality education, in line with international standards; (g) Publicly condemn expressions of hostility against, and the perpetuation of harmful gender stereotypes of, women, girls, LGBT+ persons and human rights defenders promoting gender equality, including by religious figures or when “justified” with reference to religious belief, and instead express active support for gender equality; (h) Create a safe and enabling environment in which women, girls, LGBT+ persons, human rights defenders and all others are able to exercise the right to freedom of expression in defence of human rights, to manifest their religion or belief; and repeal laws criminalizing offences such as blasphemy or “offence to religious feelings”; 64 18 Human Rights Committee, general comment No. 28.