A/64/159 provide them with access to quality education that promotes tolerance, mutual understanding and respect. 9. Due to the very nature of new information technologies, such as blogs or online discussion sites, certain manifestations of religious intolerance have an additional global dimension. The Special Rapporteur has been made aware of numerous situations in which religious or belief communities have been the object of critical analyses ranging from a merely theological point of view to the most extreme forms of incitement to violence or hatred against members of a religious group. Such forms of expression are directed towards many religious and belief communities, regardless of their size or age. In this context, the Special Rapporteur has noticed that, while criticism of major religions attracts a lot of attention, numerous cases of incitement to violence against smaller religions can go relatively unnoticed. 4 She would like to reiterate that the right to freedom of religion or belief needs other human rights to be fully exercised, including the right to freedom of association or the right to freedom of expression. 5 10. The Special Rapporteur has also received numerous allegations that national policies, legislation and practices which are designed to combat terrorism have had and continue to have adverse effects on the enjoyment of freedom of religion or belief worldwide. Some groups seem to be specifically targeted, such as migrants, asylum-seekers or members of particular national, racial or religious groups. While Governments are obliged to take effective measures to combat terrorism, the Special Rapporteur would like to underline that Governments must also ensure that counterterrorism measures comply with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. 11. Furthermore, another general pattern seems to be the targeting of places of worship and other religious buildings or properties. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about reports of frequent attacks on places of worship, the desecration of cemeteries and the exhumation of dead bodies. Attacks or other forms of restriction on places of worship in many cases violate the rights not only of a single believer, but also of a group of individuals forming the community that is attached to the place in question. The Special Rapporteur would like to refer to General Assembly resolution 55/254 on protection of religious sites, in which the Assembly encourages all States to promote a culture of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religions and for religious sites, which represent an important aspect of the collective heritage of humankind. B. Further issues of concern for the mandate 12. The Special Rapporteur would like to highlight some further issues of concern for her mandate, which seem to be more prevalent in particular regions or countries even though they may not constitute common patterns worldwide. In this regard, the Human Rights Council in its resolution 6/37 has invited the Special Rapporteur to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles. __________________ 4 5 6 See A/HRC/2/3, para. 24. Ibid., para. 41. 09-40869