A/HRC/23/34/Add.1 (d) To increase efforts to combat prejudice and hostility against persons with disabilities. 114. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to continue to support artistic creation and education. She also recommends, however, a shift in policy towards artistic expression criticizing political power or the Russian Orthodox Church, or both. In particular, she recommends that the Government: (a) Refrain from using articles 213 and 282 of the Criminal Code against artists and art activists, which is disproportionate. Only serious and extreme instances of incitement to hatred should be criminalized these provisions should not be used to protect belief systems, religions or institutions from criticism; (b) Exercise its due diligence obligation and protect artists and art activists from violence and threats by others. 115. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to respect and protect the right of LGBT persons to express their identity safely, including through attending and organizing cultural events. She recommends that the Government and relevant regional authorities ensure that all legislation respects this right, and that they: (a) Exercise due diligence and protect from violence and threats by others LGBT persons as well as organizers and audiences of LGBT events; (b) Increase efforts to combat prejudice and hostility against LGBT persons. 116. The Special Rapporteur recommends that the Russian Federation take the steps necessary to implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 117. The Special Rapporteur calls upon the Russian Federation to ratify the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UNESCO Conventions for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. 22