A/61/340 world in order to explore ways to address the main forms of religious intolerance and try to find common ground on which interreligious dialogue could be further strengthened, with the support of the mandate and on the basis of human rights principles. Twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration 43. In her previous report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur drew attention to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption in 1981 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, which will take place on 25 November 2006. She would like once again to encourage Governments and NGOs to take advantage of this occasion to organize events that will highlight the importance of promoting freedom of religion or belief and religious tolerance. The Special Rapporteur is aware that many such events will be taking place in the next few months and sees this as an important reminder of the governmental consensus that led to the adoption of this important Declaration. 44. The international commemoration of this anniversary is being held in Prague. This event is being funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and will be attended by the Deputy United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives of the Netherlands and other Governments, representatives of religions and beliefs and other members of civil society as well as by the Special Rapporteur. The programme of the day will include workshops on key thematic areas that continue to challenge the realization of the Declaration’s principles: Protection of religion or belief vis-à-vis freedom of expression; Change of religion or belief — enabling the environment; Protection of religion or belief — Who benefits?; and Propagation of religion or belief. The programme will conclude with a reaffirmation of the norms protected in the Declaration. 45. The Special Rapporteur encourages Governments, international organizations, religious or belief communities and other civil society organizations to visit the website of this commemorative occasion (www.1981Declaration.org) and to support it. III. Patterns and trends in freedom of religion or belief 46. While the situation worldwide has not changed dramatically, the Special Rapporteur is in a position to identify several new developments as well as persisting patterns in the context of the activities of the mandate and, in particular, the communications. 47. The Special Rapporteur notes that people of all religions and all religious communities are victims of religious intolerance. In the same context, the perpetrators of acts of religious intolerance, whether Governments or non-State actors, often use religion to justify their actions. The Special Rapporteur notes that religious motivations can often be at the origin of religious intolerance. 48. For these reasons, the Special Rapporteur does not wish to single out one or several religious groups, and cannot re-emphasize enough that no country is spared religious intolerance and that all Governments need to address more actively issues of religious intolerance in a world that is becoming increasingly globalized. 06-52068 9