A/78/207 information and contribute to community-building. On the other hand, they can underrepresent or misrepresent religious or belief minorities or di sseminate disinformation and misinformation that contribute to the stigmatization and marginalization of minorities. Under articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, States may limit hate speech that constitutes a serio us affront to the enjoyment of that right. Furthermore, under article 20 (2) of the Covenant, States are required to prohibit expressions that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. Digital platforms should also ensure that their policies on content moderation and curation, ideally developed and implemented with multi-stakeholder participation, prevent hate speech and encourage respectful and constructive discourse on religious issues. Such policies must comply with the jurisprudence of the Human Rights Committee, especially as set out in paragraph 48 of its general comment No. 34 (2011), and follow the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant international good practice. 97 89. Civil society and faith-based organizations play a central role in the enjoyment of freedom of religion and belief. In addition to being claimants of the collective dimension of such a right, they also serve as institutions in which individuals can manifest their religion or belief in community with others. Faith-based organizations may make positive contributions through the provision of education at all levels, health care, social services and humanitarian assistance; through documenting, reporting and preventing freedom of religion or bel ief violations; through capacitybuilding and the provision of legal aid and support to minorities; through community building, interfaith collaboration, mediation and peacebuilding; and through international engagement, awareness-raising and advocacy. Civil society and faithbased organizations may also be engaged in harmful actions, such as through perpetuating objectives and discourses that discriminate against others and against the realization of other rights. V. Conclusion 90. The enjoyment of human rights, including the freedom of religion or belief, must be practical and effective, not theoretical and illusory. 98 In the present report, the Special Rapporteur has detailed the wide array of actors at the domestic level who have the power to contribute towards the realization or violation of the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief. The scale of the task to make that freedom practical and effective is significant and ongoing. 91. A first important step for States to promote and protect freedom of religion or belief effectively is the ratification of relevant treaties protecting the three dimensions of the freedom, 99 including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, without the adoption of reservations to its provisions, including those of its articles 2, 18, 26, 27, or to the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, among others. 92. In the report, the Special Rapporteur illustrates that, as first responders at the local level, key State actors are, most often, simply not playing their role in ensuring freedom of religion or belief for all. __________________ 97 98 99 23-14116 See www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/publications -and-resources/Countering_ Online_Hate_Speech_Guide_policy_makers_practitioners_July_2023.pdf. European Court if Human Rights, Christine Goodwin v the United Kingdom, Application No. 28957/95, Judgment, 11 July 2002, para. 74. See A/HRC/52/38. 19/24