Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief A/RES/70/157 importance of respect for religious and cultural diversity, as well as interreligious, interfaith and intercultural dialogue aimed at promoting a culture of tolerance and respect among individuals, societies and nations, Recognizing the valuable contribution of people of all religions or beliefs to humanity and the contribution that dialogue among religious groups can make towards an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Underlining the fact that States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance and respect for religious and cultural diversity and in the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, Underlining also the importance of raising awareness about different cultures and religions or beliefs and of education in the promotion of tolerance, which involves the acceptance by the public of and its respect for religious and cultural diversity, including with regard to religious expression, and underlining further the fact that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Recognizing that working together to enhance the implementation of existing legal regimes that protect individuals against discrimination and hate crimes, increasing interreligious, interfaith and intercultural efforts and expanding human rights education are important first steps in combating incidents of intolerance, discrimination and violence against individuals on the basis of religion or belief, Recalling its resolution 68/127, entitled “A world against violence and violent extremism”, adopted by consensus on 18 December 2013, welcoming the leading role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in promoting intercultural dialogue, the work of the United Nation s Alliance of Civilizations, the work of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Dialogue between Cultures in Alexandria, Egypt, and the work of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue in Vienna, and recalling also its resolution 65/5 of 20 October 2010 on World Interfaith Harmony Week, proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan, Welcoming, in this regard, all international, regional and national initiatives aimed at promoting interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony and combating discrimination against individuals on the basis of religion or belief, noting the initiative of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide on the role of religious leaders i n preventing incitement that could lead to atrocity crimes and the draft declaration of its forum held in Fez, Morocco, on 23 and 24 April 2015, the launch of “Appeal for Peace 2015” at the twenty-eighth annual international, interreligious gathering of re ligious leaders from 60 countries on the theme “Peace is always possible: religions and cultures in dialogue”, held in Tirana from 6 to 8 September 2015, and the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Vio lence on the Basis of Religion or Belief, and taking note of the initiative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its outcome document, the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or 3/6