A/RES/65/224
intimidation and coercion resulting from vilification of religions, and incitement to
religious hatred in general;
17. Also urges all States to take all possible measures to promote tolerance
and respect for all religions and beliefs and the understanding of their value systems
and to complement legal systems with intellectual and moral strategies to combat
religious hatred and intolerance;
18. Recognizes that the open, constructive and respectful debate of ideas, as
well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue at the local, national and international
levels, can play a positive role in combating religious hatred, incitement and
violence;
19. Welcomes the recent steps taken by Member States to protect freedom of
religion through the enactment or strengthening of domestic frameworks and
legislation to prevent the vilification of religions and the negative stereotyping of
religious groups;
20. Urges all States to ensure that all public officials, including members of
law enforcement bodies, the military, civil servants and educators, in the course of
their official duties, respect people regardless of their different religions and beliefs
and do not discriminate against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief,
and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided;
21. Underlines the need to combat vilification of religions, and incitement to
religious hatred in general, by strategizing and harmonizing actions at the local,
national, regional and international levels through education and awareness-raising,
and urges all States to ensure equal access to education for all, in law and in
practice, including access to free primary education for all children, both girls and
boys, and access for adults to lifelong learning and education based on respect for
human rights, diversity and tolerance, without discrimination of any kind, and to
refrain from any legal or other measures leading to racial segregation in access to
schooling;
22. Calls upon all States to exert the utmost efforts, in accordance with their
national legislation and in conformity with international human rights and
humanitarian law, to ensure that places of worship, religious places, sites and
shrines and religious symbols are fully respected and protected, and to take
additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction;
23. Calls upon the international community to foster a global dialogue to
promote a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels, based on respect for human
rights and diversity of religion and belief, and urges States, non-governmental
organizations, religious leaders and bodies and the print and electronic media to
support and foster such a dialogue;
24. Affirms that the Human Rights Council shall promote universal respect
for all religious and cultural values and address instances of intolerance,
discrimination and incitement of hatred against members of any community or
adherents of any religion, as well as the means to consolidate international efforts in
order to combat impunity for such deplorable acts;
25. Welcomes the statement made by the President of the Human Rights
Council of 30 September 2010 on behalf of all the members of the Council
condemning the recent instances of religious intolerance, prejudice and related
discrimination and violence, which continue to occur in all parts of the world;
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