A/62/280 addressing possible conflicts between communities of religion or belief ahead of time is a challenge for good governance. This requires concerted efforts to analyse the religious demography and existing problems as well as to review policies and administrative approaches in all issues involving freedom of religion or belief. However, specific legislation should be introduced in a cautious manner since compulsory overregulation may be counterproductive. 84. Education can play an important preventive role, especially when it teaches respect for and acceptance of pluralism and diversity in the field of religion or belief and ensures the right not to receive religious instruction inconsistent with one’s convictions. The quality of education is crucial and States should take appropriate measures to bring their school curricula, textbooks and teaching methods into line with human rights, including freedom of religion or belief. The media and other means of self- and mutual teaching, as well as cultural institutions such as museums and libraries, can contribute positively to education by providing relevant knowledge on religions or beliefs and showing the diversity that exists within each community. Unfortunately, there is also evidence of the propagation of intolerant and discriminatory stereotypes of religions or beliefs in the media and on the Internet. However, the State should respect the threshold of article 20 (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which only requires that “advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence” be prohibited by law. 85. Furthermore, inter-religious and intra-religious dialogue should be encouraged, including exchanges of views with believers who are dispassionate about their faith as well as with atheistic and non-theistic believers. Such a dialogue would also greatly benefit from the perspectives of women and of young people. Furthermore, the voluntary participation of pupils and their teachers in regional or international cultural exchanges could be supported and, consequently, States should be encouraged to provide funding for related grass-roots activities. 86. Communities of religion or belief may lose their trust in the Government if incidents of intolerance by non-State actors or discriminatory governmental actions continue to occur without adequate response. In such cases, confidencebuilding measures are a first step, but they need to be followed by further measures. It is of the utmost importance that States ensure that their legislative and administrative systems provide adequate protection to victims and effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of religion or belief is violated. The Special Rapporteur would like to reiterate that the human rights obligations of States also consist in ensuring the free exercise of freedom of religion or belief and in bringing the perpetrators of acts of religious intolerance to justice. 87. When confronted with issues involving communities of religion or belief, Governments sometimes tend to resort to knee-jerk reaction rather than tackling the underlying problems by taking well-thought-out steps. Only the latter approach can provide lasting solutions for the medium or long term. Governments should not be afraid when confronted with issues of religion or belief, for example when criminal acts which infringe on the human rights of others are given a religious label. There should be no impunity, regardless of 24 07-48490