A/RES/69/175 Freedom of religion or belief 13. Expresses deep concern at continued obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief as well as the increasing number of instances of intolerance, discrimination and violence based on religion or belief, including: (a) Acts of violence and intolerance directed against individuals based on their religion or belief, including religious persons and persons belonging to religious minorities and other communities in various parts of the world; (b) The rise of religious extremism in various parts of the world that affects the human rights of individuals, including persons belonging to religious minorities; (c) Incidents of hatred, discrimination, intolerance and violence based on religion or belief, which may be associated with or manifested by the derogatory stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief; (d) Attacks on or destruction of religious places, sites and shrines in violation of international law, in particular human rights and humanitarian law, as they have more than material significance for the dignity and lives of persons holding spiritual or religious beliefs; (e) Instances, both in law and practice, that constitute violations of the human right to freedom of religion or belief, including of the individual right to publicly express one’s spiritual and religious beliefs, taking into account the relevant articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,1 as well as other international instruments; (f) Constitutional and legislative systems that fail to provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief to all without distinction; 14. Urges States to step up their efforts to protect and promote freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, and to this end: (a) To ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief to all without distinction by, inter alia, providing access to justice, including by facilitating legal assistance and effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief or the right to freely choose and practise one’s religion is violated, paying particular attention to persons belonging to religious minorities; (b) To implement all accepted universal periodic review recommendations related to the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief; (c) To ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life, liberty and security of person because of religion or belief, to provide adequate protection to persons at risk of violent attack on the grounds of their religion or belief, to ensure that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or arbitrary arrest or detention on that account and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; (d) To end violations of the human rights of women and to devote particular attention to appropriate measures modifying or abolishing existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that discriminate against women, including in the exercise of their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, and to foster practical ways to ensure equality between men and women; 4/6