A/HRC/2/3 page 15 • The adoption of policies and programmes in the fields of education, social, economic and cultural life, favouring the interactions between communities; • The recognition of the value of cultural and religious diversity associated with the promotion of unity within society; and • The creation of conditions facilitating the encounter, dialogue and joint action for social harmony, peace, human rights, development and combat against all forms of racism, discrimination and xenophobia. 64. The Special Rapporteurs also recommend that the Council invite the religious and cultural communities to promote an in-depth intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, including joint actions on the issues at the core of their faith - such as peace, human rights and development - and through analysing the internal factors in their beliefs, practices and relationships among them which may have contributed to defamation of religions. 65. In addition, the Special Rapporteurs recommend that the Council remind Member States that efforts to combat defamation of religions, discrimination and incitement to religious hatred also need to be based on the link between the acknowledgment both of the singularity of each form of discrimination, its expressions and manifestations, and that of the universality of their underlying causes and of the efforts to combat them. In this regard, Member States should bear in mind that defamation of religion must receive the same degree of concern and equal treatment regardless of which religion is targeted, thus avoiding hierarchization of forms of discrimination, even if their intensity varies according to history, geography and culture. The recognition, respect and practice of religious pluralism, which encompasses criticism, discussion and questioning of each other’s values, should be the cornerstone of their relationships and their combat against all forms of discrimination. 66. In maintaining a pluralist, diverse and tolerant society, Member States should avoid stubbornly clinging to free speech in defiance of the sensitivities existing in a society with absolute disregard for religious feelings, nor suffocating criticism of a religion by making it punishable by law. Rather, one should focus on creating a tolerant and inclusive environment in which all religions and beliefs may be exercised free of discrimination or stigmatization, within reasonable limits. The situation will not be remedied by preventing ideas about religions from being expressed. -----