A/70/255 the sixth and seventh sessions of the Forum were presented by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues to the Human Rights Council. The recommendations emphasized measures to address, inter alia, acts of violence and incitement to religious hatred. It was also emphasized that guaranteeing the security of members of religious minorities required preventive actions involving States and regional and international organizations, as well as members of the minorities themselves. Interfaith dialogue aimed at promoting interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony was crucial to combating discrimination and exclusion based on religion or belief. 56. On 24 November 2014, a dialogue on the role of the United Nations in preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes against minorities, which was organized by OHCHR, provided an opportunity for sharing United Nations experiences and practices that were effective in strengthening prevention and protection capacities in various contexts, including in ter ms of addressing discrimination and securing the effective participation of minorities in times of peace; preventing violence by facilitating national engagement, including with human rights mechanisms, when identity-related tensions existed; and responding to violence in situations of widespread and systematic attacks against minorities during conflict and post-conflict situations. The discussions served to identify approaches that worked best, by examining action by the United Nations ranging from human rights advocacy work at OHCHR headquarters and in the field to humanitarian action involving peacebuilding and peacekeeping during conflict and post -conflict situations and involving a variety of United Nations actors. VII. Universal periodic review 57. Since the launch of the universal periodic review, minority rights issues have been raised frequently by States and other stakeholders. A study conducted by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues in 2014 concluded that in the first cycle of the universal periodic review, 112 Member States issued a total of 895 recommendations about national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities to 137 Member States, and that minorities were the ninth most discussed topic during that cycle. In the second cycle, the number of recommendations made on minority issues increased further, reflecting remaining challenges and gaps but also suggesting increased recognition by States of the centrality of minority rights in the protection of human rights. 58. Recommendations from the universal periodic review pertaining to minorities covered a broad range of themes and contained a variety of proposals for further action, including in relation to legislative and practical measures to ensure the promotion and protection of minority rights; measures aimed at protecting minorities against discrimination, particularly in employment, housing, health and education; enhanced efforts to promote the participation of minorities in politics; the implementation and enforcement of provisions on freedom of religion and belief; and measures to tackle prejudices and eradicate racial discrimination. 59. OHCHR and other United Nations entities are working with Member States and other partners to support follow-up to universal periodic review recommendations, including in relation to the recommendations concerning minority rights. In such efforts, the inclusion of all stakeholders — States, national 15-12580 13/14