A/HRC/16/53/Add.1 (b) No response received from the Government (c) Observations by the Special Rapporteur 224. The Special Rapporteur regrets that he has so far not received a reply from the Government of Kyrgyzstan concerning the above mentioned allegations. He would like to appeal to the Government to ensure the right to freedom of religion or belief of the members of Jehovah’s Witnesses in accordance with the principles set forth in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief and article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 225. The Special Rapporteur would also like to refer to Human Rights Council resolution 6/37, which urges States “(a) To ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, or the right to practice freely one’s religion, including the right to change one’s religion or belief, is violated; […] (e) To exert the utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights and humanitarian law, to ensure that religious places, sites, shrines and symbols are fully respected and protected and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction; […] (l) To take all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to religious minorities”. 226. Furthermore, he would like to recall that the General Assembly, in its resolution 63/181, urges “(j) To ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of fulfilling their official duties, respect all religions or beliefs and do not discriminate for reasons based on religion or belief, and that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided”. N. Maldives Communication sent on 20 May 2010 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (a) Allegations transmitted to the Government 227. The Special Rapporteurs brought to the attention of the Government information regarding provisions in the draft “Regulations on protecting religious unity of Maldivian Citizens”. According to the information received, in May 2010, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs drafted new “Regulations on protecting religious unity of Maldivian Citizens” and submitted the draft Regulations to the Office of the President for gazetting. On 18 May 2010, the Cabinet discussed the draft Regulations and decided to have them reviewed by the Attorney General before the draft Regulations could be gazetted. 228. Concern is expressed that a number of provisions in the draft Regulations, if enacted in this form, may seriously hamper several human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of opinion and expression. 229. Article 2 of the draft Regulations enumerates their aims, including “to maintain the religious harmony existing among Maldivians; solve conflicts that arise from disagreement among Islamic scholars on religious issues; ensure that information regarding such issues is spread so as not to sow discord in society; […] maintain religious unity of Maldivian 45