A/HRC/37/49/Add.1 75. The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to the Government of Albania: (a) The Special Rapporteur emphasizes the importance of expediting the restitution of properties and the legalization of houses of worship, and ensuring that they are carried out in a fair and transparent manner with the engagement of all stakeholders; (b) Freedom of religion or belief is interrelated to a number of other human rights, including the rule of law. The Special Rapporteur stresses that reforms that strengthen the rule of law are important to ensure that respect for freedom of religion or belief are sustained, and to strengthen public confidence in the ability of State institutions to ensure fair and equal treatment for all; (c) The Special Rapporteur notes that the proposed programmes to introduce a module on religion as part of civic education in schools is an important part of nourishing and safeguarding interfaith understanding and societal harmony. However, it would be important to ensure that the education programmes are carried out in a transparent manner that sustains public trust and confidence in the educational system; (d) The State should continue to facilitate and encourage interfaith initiatives and activities and contribute to sharing good practice with international partners; (e) While the situation of freedom of religion or belief is generally benign, the Government must address emerging challenges, such as the equal enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief by all individuals, including those who do not subscribe to those religions or interpretations of religion that enjoy recognized or contractual status; (f) One of the most striking features of the situation in Albania is that religion is not used as an identity marker or a basis for political mobilization. It would be important to take steps to strengthen the separation between political mobilization and religion and to nurture the inclusive national identity, while fully respecting the rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities, especially in the context of the changing religious landscape in the country. 76. The Special Rapporteur makes the following recommendations to civil society: (a) Religious communities, groups and civil society organizations must continue to ensure that interreligious dialogue is sustained to promote interfaith harmony, inclusion and mutual respect; (b) Civil society actors have a vital role to play in upholding the traditions of inclusion and offering empathy and solidarity across communities, and must ensure that religious difference or religious resources are not mobilized to support hate speech and incitement to discrimination, including in the case of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities. 17

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