A/RES/56/157 desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,4 Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Calling upon all States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief to enable him to carry out his mandate fully, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, occur in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Deeply concerned that, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, the rights violated on religious grounds include the right to life, the right to physical integrity and to liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or detained, 5 Believing that intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as also emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, 1. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination; 2. Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, including the provision of effective remedies in cases in which the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is violated; 3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of their religion or belief, deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and security of person or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention; 4. Further urges States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, with particular regard to persons belonging to religious minorities, and to devote particular attention to practices which violate the human rights of women and discriminate against women; 5. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if those limitations that are prescribed by law are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied _______________ 4 5 2 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. See E/CN.4/1994/79, para. 103.