E/CN.4/2006/5 page 5 Introduction 1. This report is submitted pursuant to resolution 2005/40 of the Commission on Human Rights. It covers the activities carried out under the mandate on freedom of religion or belief since the submission of the previous report to the Commission (E/CN.4/2005/61 and Add.1 and 2). 2. The Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance was initially appointed pursuant to Commission resolution 1986/20. The Commission changed the title to Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief by its resolution 2000/33. In July 2004, Asma Jahangir was appointed Special Rapporteur for a period of three years. 3. The present report is divided into four sections. Section I presents the activities that have been undertaken under the mandate during the period under review. Section II presents a framework for communications, which the Special Rapporteur has developed as a tool to enable her to improve the effectiveness of her communications with Governments. Section III provides a more detailed analysis of one issue, namely the issue of religious symbols. Section IV sets out the Special Rapporteur’s conclusions and recommendations. 4. The summary of communications sent by the Special Rapporteur from 12 November 2004 to 30 November 2005 and the replies received from Governments by 30 January 2006 is found in addendum 1 to the report. Addendums 2 to 4 are the reports of the country visits to Sri Lanka, Nigeria and France, respectively. The joint preliminary report with the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning the human rights situation of prisoners detained at the United States of America Naval Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba (E/CN.4/2006/120), will be submitted separately. I. ACTIVITIES 5. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the 1981 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief will take place in 2006. Nevertheless, the Special Rapporteur notes with concern that freedom of religion or belief is not a reality for many individuals throughout the world. The high level of religious intolerance in some countries is leading to an alarming degree of polarization. 6. The activities of the Special Rapporteur are focused mainly on the protection of individuals, and particularly the monitoring of cases and situations of alleged violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief. This was carried out mainly in the context of acting on information provided by several sources, including individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and in situ visits.