A/HRC/34/53 marginalization, exclusion and discrimination. Minority language rights and language use were frequently a source of tensions, both between and within States. Proponents of linguistic rights had sometimes been associated with secessionist movements or had been seen as a threat to the integrity or unity of a State. The Special Rapporteur pointed out that it was often only when minorities asserted their rights to identity and language that discrimination or persecution started. Fulfilling the rights of minorities, including their language rights, was an essential means to prevent tensions from emerging and was a key element of good governance and conflict prevention. If not appropriately addressed at an early stage, such tensions had led to protracted conflicts and deepening of divisions between linguistic groups. Where conflicts had ceased or peacebuilding initiatives were under way, it was essential that all groups in society should play a full role in discussions, negotiations and decision-making processes. 39. Following her thematic study on the rights of linguistic minorities, the Special Rapporteur produced the handbook “Language rights of linguistic minorities: a practical guide for implementation”, which is available in all six official languages of the United Nations on the mandate’s website. This linguistic guide aims to serve as a practical tool to assist policymakers and right holders to have a better understanding of linguistic rights as well as to provide best practices that could be replicated in different contexts. 2. Rights and security of religious minorities 40. Information received by the previous mandate holder and the work of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, as well as other holders of thematic mandates, have revealed disturbing patterns of attacks and violence against members of religious minorities and their places of worship. In this context, the Special Rapporteur presented a thematic report to the General Assembly in 2013 (A/68/268) on minority rights-based approaches to the protection and promotion of the rights of religious minorities. 41. In her report, the Special Rapporteur indicated that she had become increasingly alarmed by the situation of millions of persons belonging to religious minorities globally who frequently faced discrimination, social exclusion, marginalization and, in many instances, harassment, persecution and violence. It was the primary duty of States to protect the security of religious minorities. Beyond reacting to incidents of violence, this duty required positive and preventive actions through active engagement with religious minorities. The Special Rapporteur advocated a minority rights-based approach to the protection of religious minorities that not only included guarantees for freedom of religion or belief, but also required States to take positive legislative and policy measures and concrete steps to create substantive equality for religious minorities in all areas of cultural, economic, political, public, religious and social life. Protection of minority rights, together with initiatives by States to foster dialogue between faith groups, helped to build a culture of understanding, acceptance and trust across faiths and helped to prevent tensions from emerging and deteriorating into violence and conflict. 3. Recognition of minorities 42. The Special Rapporteur welcomed the work of her predecessor relating to the rights and status of members of minorities in all regions that find themselves denied or deprived of citizenship, and has continued to raise awareness on these specific communities. 43. In her last report to the General Assembly (A/71/254), which focused on minorities in situations of humanitarian crises, the Special Rapporteur discussed in a separate section statelessness as a factor leading to increased vulnerability. She emphasized that minorities were often disproportionately affected by statelessness as a result of discriminatory nationality and citizenship legislation that could deny citizenship to some ethnic, linguistic, racial or religious groups or deprive them of citizenship, or because of discriminatory 8