A/HRC/4/21/Add.2 page 17 91. Moreover, the Special Rapporteur believes that the right to freedom of expression as protected by international standards provides a certain latitude for religious communities in the drafting and dissemination of their literature, even in cases where they do not agree with other religions, provided that they do not raise to the level of incitement to religious hatred as prohibited by article 20 of the Covenant. VII. RECOMMENDATIONS 92. The Government should primarily ensure that all individuals who may have been the victim of violations of their right to freedom of religion or belief or of other human rights because of their religion or belief receive appropriate redress, including through a judicial procedure. It should also ensure that the perpetrators of acts that have caused such violations are prosecuted according to applicable criminal procedures. Such measures should also be systematically enforced for any future acts of religious intolerance or other forms of persecutions of members of religious communities in accordance with the criminal laws of the country. 93. In particular, the Special Rapporteur urges the Government to give special attention to any form of religious intolerance towards religious minorities and take the appropriate measures to address and prosecute all forms of incitement to religious hatred in accordance with article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant human rights provisions, including when these acts are perpetrated by the media. 94. Concerning the prerogatives that are exercised by the relevant State mechanisms with regard to religious groups and communities, the Government should generally reassess the level of control on the activities of those groups and communities in order to reach the right balance between a necessary regulation of religious activities in the society and the exercise of the right to freedom of religion or belief of all individuals living under Azerbaijan jurisdiction. 95. Concerning SCWRA, the Government should, as a priority, organize a system of training for persons who work directly or indirectly with the Committee on human rights in general and the right to freedom of religion or belief in particular. Moreover, it should define clear guidelines and objective criteria concerning the activities of staff members of SCWRA. 96. Regarding the registration of religious associations, the Government should first take the necessary measures so that the principle according to which registration does not constitute a precondition to the exercise of the right to freedom of religion, including the right to manifest one’s own religion individually or in a group, is widely disseminated among the population as well as to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. 97. Moreover, the procedure of registration of religious associations should be more transparent, including regarding the timeframe of the process. In case of refusal of registration, the relevant institutions have an obligation to formally transmit to the

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