Item IV Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by (or that will be delivered by) the European Union. In many interventions yesterday it has been already highlighted how prevention and inclusion of minorities in decision-making process are proven to be effective ways to address violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities. Italy strongly supports the UN early warning mechanisms and believes that particular attention should be given to the religious dimension and to the role that religious leaders can play in preventing the outbreak of conflicts. Today too often religion is exploited to exacerbate tensions and violence, unleashed for other interests or to put in question the existence of minor religious communities. The International Community has to commit itself to prevent such results. In the context of the cooperation established in 2012 with the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and with the special Adviser for the Responsability to Protect, Jennifer Welsh, Italy will co-organize on December 11th in New York an event focused on the important role that specific actors can play in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes , namely religious leaders, the media and civil society. Prevention also means fight against racism and political extremism. These phenomena are present in many societies, as