A/53/279 rights. In 1968, the General Assembly also decided to ask Member States to take steps, where necessary, to introduce or encourage, depending on the school system of each State, the principles proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other Declarations. In 1978, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized an International Congress on the Teaching of Human Rights, which was the first meeting of a wide range of governmental and non-governmental experts on education. In 1987, a similar congress was organized, in Malta, by the Centre for Human Rights. Both UNESCO and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have been working since then, by means of various activities, to disseminate a culture of human rights and hence of tolerance. It should also be remembered that the General Assembly, in resolution 49/184 of 23 December 1994, proclaimed the 10year period beginning on 1 January 1995 the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education. Finally, the Special Rapporteur notes with interest the projected preparation of a manual on human rights training for primary and secondary school teachers by the technical cooperation services of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 10. In 1994, in resolution 1994/18, paragraph 14, the Commission on Human Rights encouraged the Special Rapporteur to examine the contribution that education can make to the more effective promotion of religious tolerance. The Special Rapporteur therefore decided to conduct a survey by means of a questionnaire addressed to States, on problems relating to freedom of religion and belief from the standpoint of the curricula and textbooks of primary or elementary and secondary educational institutions. The results of such a survey could help to shape an international educational strategy centred on the definition and implementation of a common minimum curriculum of tolerance and nondiscrimination, for combating all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. 11. The Special Rapporteur received answers from the following 77 States: Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav 4 Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia and Zambia. 12. As indicated in the previous report (E/CN.4/1998/6), the Special Rapporteur has formulated some preliminary observations; however, they must be further polished in the context of the finalization of the analysis of the replies to the questionnaire and also lead to the preparation of a series of conclusions and recommendations to be used in shaping an international educational strategy for combating all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion and belief. In this connection, as the Special Rapporteur has pointed out in his reports to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, it is essential that a minimum of resources be made available for the mandate so that its essential activities, including the analysis of the results of his survey may be completed on time, with due seriousness and rigour. At its most recent session the Commission on Human Rights in resolution 1998/18 urged States to promote and encourage through the educational system, and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief. To that end States must have, as a matter of urgency, in the field of education the results of the survey conducted by the Special Rapporteur to which they have contributed. 13. The Special Rapporteur also wishes to point out that this initiative is completely consistent with resolution 1998/74 of the Commission on Human Rights entitled “Human rights and thematic procedures”, particularly with paragraph 5 thereof whereby the Commission requested the thematic special rapporteurs to make recommendations for the prevention of human rights violations. 14. The Special Rapporteur notes with satisfaction resolution 1998/21 of the Commission on Human Rights entitled, “Tolerance and pluralism as indivisible elements in the promotion and protection of human rights” whereby the Commission, recognizing that promoting a culture of tolerance through human rights education was an objective that must be advanced in all States, and that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and mechanisms of the United Nations human rights system had an important role to play in that regard, reiterated the obligation of all States and the international community to promote a culture conducive to promoting and protecting human rights, fundamental freedoms and tolerance, inter alia, through education leading to genuine pluralism, a positive acceptance of diversity of opinion and belief and respect for the dignity of the human person.