Freedom of religion or belief A/RES/72/177 with others and in public or private, to manifest one ’s religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance, including the right to change one’s religion or belief; 2. Emphasizes that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief applies equally to all persons, regardless of their religion or belief and without any discrimination as to their equal protection by the law; 3. Strongly condemns violations of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, as well as all forms of intolerance, discrimination and violence based on religion or belief; 4. Recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, regardless of the actors, directed against members of many religious and other communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and Christianophobia and prejudices against persons of other religions or beliefs; 5. Reaffirms that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion or belief, as this may have adverse consequences for the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned; 6. Strongly condemns violence and acts of terrorism, which are increasing in number and intensity, targeting individuals, including persons belonging to religious minorities, on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief, and underlines the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive community-based preventive approach, involving a wide set of actors, including civil society and religious communities; 7. Recalls that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish acts of violence, intimidation and harassment against a person or a group of persons belonging to a religious minority, regardless of the perpetrator, and that failure to do so may constitute a human rights violation; 8. Emphasizes that freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinfo rcing, and stresses the role that these rights can play in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief; 9. Strongly condemns any advocacy of hatred based on religion or belief that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or electronic media or any other means; 10. Expresses concern at the persistence of institutionalized social intolerance and discrimination practised against many on the grounds of religion or belief, and emphasizes that legal procedures pertaining to religious or belief -based groups and places of worship are not a prerequisite for the exercise of the right to manifest one ’s religion or belief and that such procedures, when legally required at the national or local level, should be non-discriminatory in order to contribute to the effective protection of the right of all persons to practise their religion or belief, either individually or in community with others and in public or private; 11. Recognizes with concern the challenges that persons in vulnerable situations, including persons deprived of their liberty, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons, children, persons belonging to national or ethnic , religious and linguistic minorities and migrants, as well as women, are facing as regards their ability to freely exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief; 17-22993 3/6