A/65/207 L. Promotion of understanding, tolerance, non-discrimination and respect in the society at large 45. The Final Document of the International Consultative Conference on School Education in Relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination 43 underlines the urgent need to promote, through education, the protection of and respect for freedom of religion or belief, in order to strengthen peace, understanding and tolerance among individuals, groups and nations, and with a view to developing a respect for pluralism. Each State should promote and respect educational policies aimed at strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights, eradicating prejudices and conceptions incompatible with freedom of religion or belief, and ensuring respect for and acceptance of pluralism and diversity in the field of religion or belief, as well as the right not to receive religious instruction inconsistent with one’s conviction. 46. In addition, interreligious and intrareligious dialogue may be an important tool for preventing misunderstanding and discrimination based on religion or belief. Such dialogue, especially when it involves youth, women and men at the grass-roots levels, can contribute to defusing tensions in a post-conflict situation and can help prevent them before the situation deteriorates. If interreligious and intrareligious dialogue is implemented in the right format and with a wide selection of participants, it may ultimately lead to a wider knowledge in the society at large of the history, traditions, languages and cultures of the various religious minorities. Artists, journalists and lawyers may also be important in terms of public education regarding religious tolerance and in building bridges between different communities. 47. All the media should, as a moral and social responsibility, play a role in combating discrimination and in promoting intercultural understanding, including by considering the following: (a) taking care to report in context and in a factual and sensitive manner, while ensuring that acts of discrimination are brought to the attention of the public; (b) being alert to the danger of discrimination or negative stereotypes of individuals and groups being furthered by the media; (c) avoiding unnecessary references to race, religion, gender and other group characteristics that may promote intolerance; (d) raising awareness of the harm caused by discrimination and negative stereotyping; and (e) reporting on different groups or communities and giving their members an opportunity to speak and to be heard in a way that promotes a better understanding of them, while at the same time reflecting the perspectives of those groups or communities. 44 M. Signs of intolerance that may lead to discrimination 48. It is vital to give due attention to early warning signs of discrimination and violence on the grounds or in the name of religion or belief. In her latest thematic report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur identified a number of early warning signs with regard to State actors, non-State actors and external factors (A/HRC/13/40, paras. 18-32). __________________ 43 44 16 E/CN.4/2002/73, appendix. The Camden Principles on Freedom of Expression and Equality, Principle 9; available at www.article19.org/advocacy/campaigns/camden-principles/index.html. 10-47047