A/61/340 or belief. She was encouraged by the number of initiatives undertaken by the United Nations and governmental and non-governmental bodies to promote religious tolerance at the national and global levels. Among others, she attended events in Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Norway, which are discussed in more detail below. She also participated in the annual meeting of special rapporteurs/representatives, independent experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures held in Geneva in June. 7. Throughout the year the Special Rapporteur also met with religious and other groups and communities, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Meetings and regular contacts of this nature are essential to the effective functioning of the mandate. The Special Rapporteur also makes special efforts to hold consultations with mainstream human rights NGOs so that they remain encouraged to address questions of religious freedom. 8. This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. While contentious religious issues have probably not diminished over the past 25 years, it is evident that they have taken other forms, and that a global examination of the situation is necessary to assess the current status of the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration. 9. It is pertinent to emphasize that while the mandate on freedom of religion or belief observes methods of work that are similar to those of other mandates, it has to keep a flexible approach to enable it to identify acts or situations which may not be in direct violation of the formal provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the 1981 Declaration, but may raise concerns of potential future human rights abuses. While the transmission of early warnings is critical, the Special Rapporteur must first carefully assess both the negative and positive reactions that could follow, and decide whether to make early warnings public. 10. The issue of freedom of religion or belief is complex and delicate and as a result, the tools for dealing with the issue have to be sufficiently sophisticated. Governmental responses in situations of religious tension or controversy have to be measured, balanced and prompt. This is a tough challenge for all Governments, and the Special Rapporteur has deep admiration for those Governments that are making a sincere effort to promote religious tolerance not only within their own national context, but also at the regional and global levels. The mandate on freedom of religion or belief is challenging in many respects and it is notable that there is often a tendency to view freedom of religion or belief in a narrow sense. However, it is essential to ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief adds to the values of human rights and does not unintentionally become an instrument for undermining freedoms. The Special Rapporteur remains vigilant with regard to these aspects of the mandate. 11. In this report, the Special Rapporteur sets out the activities that have been carried out under the mandate since her last report to the General Assembly, gives an analysis of some patterns and trends that she has identified through these activities and sets out a number of conclusions and recommendations. 4 06-52068