A/HRC/16/53/Add.1 (b) No response received from the Government (c) Observations by the Special Rapporteur 419. The Special Rapporteur regrets that he has so far not received a reply from the Government of the United States of America concerning the above mentioned allegations. He would like to refer to General Assembly resolution 64/164, in which the Assembly urges States “to step up their efforts to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, and to this end: […] (h) To exert the utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights 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 and destruction; […] (k) To take all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, discrimination, 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 members of religious minorities in all parts of the world; (l) To promote, through education and other means, understanding, tolerance, non-discrimination and respect in all matters relating to freedom of religion or belief by encouraging a wider knowledge in the society at large of the history, traditions, languages and culture of the various religious minorities existing within their jurisdiction”. 420. The Special Rapporteur would also like to refer to the Durban Programme of Action, which in paragraph 211 “urges leaders of religious communities to continue to confront racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance through, inter alia, promotion and sponsoring of dialogue and partnerships to bring about reconciliation, healing and harmony within and among societies, invites religious communities to participate in promoting economic and social revitalization and encourages religious leaders to foster greater cooperation and contact between diverse racial groups”. Furthermore, paragraph 106 of the Durban Review Conference Outcome Document “reaffirms that the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance should aim not only at promoting equality and eliminating discrimination but also at promoting interaction, social harmony and integration, respect for tolerance and diversity among ethnic, cultural and religious communities”. 421. On 30 November 2010, the Special Rapporteur held a consultation on the theme “Equality, non-discrimination and diversity: challenge or opportunity for the mass media?”, bringing together in Geneva 12 experts with work experience in mass media organizations with a global outreach (see A/HRC/16/53, paras. 18-19). As part of the discussion, the experts analysed two specific cases studies, including one on the media coverage of the above mentioned plans to burn copies of the Qur’an. Drawing upon their work, the experts also reflected upon existing initiatives and guidelines used by mass media organizations to promote equality, freedom of expression and diversity.4 4 See for example Aljazeera’s Code of Ethics (http://english.aljazeera.net/aboutus/2006/11/2008525185733692771.html); the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Editorial Guidelines (www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines); Article 19’s Camden Principles on freedom of expression and equality (www.article19.org/advocacy/campaigns/camden-principles); and the International Federation of Journalist’s The Ethical Journalism Initiative (http://ethicaljournalisminitiative.org). 79