A/HRC/55/47/Add.2 years, a number of challenges have brought freedom of religion or belief matters to the fore in Swedish society. This has encouraged some Swedish authorities to realize that faith communities can be part of the solution in an ongoing dialogue, and not just recipients of State messaging during crises. This is a welcome development but the political make-up, and the high level of autonomy and independence enjoyed by municipalities, means that this is unlikely to become the dominant approach with faith communities unless there is a firm determination behind it. The Special Rapporteur notes that civil society organizations and religious communities can play a vital role in increasing inclusion, empathy, understanding and solidarity across communities. VIII. Recommendations 98. The Special Rapporteur notes that a human rights-based approach to addressing the challenges facing Sweden is necessary to avoid the setbacks that security-based or populist responses to tensions between communities beget. Against this background, the Special Rapporteur recommends that the Government: (a) Incorporate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights into domestic law and review domestic legislation in order to ensure full compliance by all entities irrespective of their independence, especially in recognizing manifestation of religion or belief as a stand-alone right; and raise awareness about the interrelationship between article 18 of the Covenant, other human rights and the country’s fundamental laws among judges, lawyers, prosecutors and public officials, at the national, municipal and local level; (b) Strengthen understanding of the country’s freedom of religion or belief obligations, including in public and in community with others, whether relating to headdress, religious practices, worship, employment, conscientious objection, dietary practices, religious education and schooling, or other matters. Although not all claims will withstand adjudication, they must be assessed in the light of international obligations, with all limitations needing justification in accordance with article 18 (3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (c) Build capacity in all authorities, at every level, to better recognize and counter discrimination based on religion or belief and provide redress; (d) Periodically review the Criminal Code to identify provisions, processes and procedures that may perpetuate discrimination based on religion or belief; (e) Investigate and prosecute religiously motivated hate crimes, including hate speech and physical attacks against Muslims, Jews and others; and promote awareness of the widespread nature of hate crimes on religious grounds in Swedish society; (f) Acknowledge and spotlight the extent of Islamophobia, antisemitism and other such discrimination in Sweden, including attacks on places of worship, physical assaults, hate crimes, and discrimination that especially target women and hateful discrimination in social media and in political rhetoric, which risk becoming normalized and institutionalized, and plan how to effectively counter it; (g) Improve the application of international human rights obligations and soft law guidance in addressing the far-reaching challenge of recurring incidents of the burning of the Qur’an, with cognizance of root causes that extend across various authorities and politicians, from the law to school curricula. The desecration of holy books and symbols may constitute incitement when independently ascertained to have reached the six-part threshold test of the Rabat Plan of Action; (h) Consider expanding the scope of protection under the Discrimination Act, on the basis of the proposals stemming from the inquiry on the matter, to ensure that all public activities, including acts of authority by law enforcement agencies, are covered; 18 GE.24-04001