A/HRC/58/34 measures to ensure the sustainability of the Roma community mediators system, including through the allocation of funds.30 42. In August, in its concluding observations on the combined fourteenth and fifteenth periodic reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reiterated its concerns about the persistent discrimination and marginalization of Roma. The Committee urged Bosnia and Herzegovina to intensify its efforts to guarantee Roma adequate access to public services and include a gender perspective in all policies and strategies for combating racial discrimination. The Committee further noted the increasing and widespread use of hate speech based on ethnic grounds, particularly on social media and in public discourse, that could lead to the proliferation of ethnic violence, racial hatred and racially motivated incidents. The Committee requested Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement measures to combat hate speech by ensuring the effective application of domestic legislation, investigating ethnicity-motivated crimes and prosecuting and punishing perpetrators, and continuing data collection related to hate speech and training for law enforcement officials.31 F. Hate speech against minorities 43. In January, in his report, the High Commissioner noted that intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of persons based on religion or belief were used for political gain and that they hindered peaceful dialogue and coexistence. He noted that social media platforms continued to be vehicles for the spread of hateful speech and incitement to violence against religious or belief minorities. He called upon States and other stakeholders to redouble their efforts to implement the action plan referred to in Human Rights Council resolution 52/38, including by enacting and enforcing comprehensive anti-discrimination laws and through the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on the Basis of Religion or Belief and strategic engagement with faith-based actors. The High Commissioner also encouraged the adoption of training initiatives for law enforcement officers and the judiciary, faith-based actors, teachers and media professionals on combating religious hatred, as part of a comprehensive approach that integrates faith literacy, better understanding and sensitivity.32 44. In May, OHCHR published an information note on hate speech in the electoral context, to provide guidance on differentiating between lawful speech, unlawful hate speech and incitement to hatred, as well as appropriate responses thereto.33 45. On 18 June, on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, OHCHR organized, together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the University for Peace, a side event during the fifty-sixth session of the Human Rights Council on the theme of “The role of youth faith actors in combating hate speech and creating more inclusive societies”. The event highlighted successful initiatives to promote digital citizenship, media and information literacy, and freedom of religion or belief and to foster intercultural and interfaith engagement, using the peer-to-peer learning methodology of the Faith for Rights toolkit.34 46. In June, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 54/25 and linked to the 2024 Union of European Football Associations European Championship, OHCHR co-organized in Berlin, together with the World Jewish Congress and the German non-governmental organization What Matters, a panel discussion on combating antisemitism in the context of football. The panel discussion highlighted structural conditions and practical approaches by individual clubs and athletes, and the summary document outlined recommendations for 30 31 32 33 34 10 See www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2024/09/roma-mediators-moldova-enable-roma-families-enjoy-theirhuman-rights. CERD/C/BIH/CO/14-15, paras. 15, 16 and 23–30. A/HRC/55/74, paras. 58–60. See www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/information-note-hate-speech-incient-hatred-inelectoral-context.pdf. See www.ohchr.org/en/documents/tools-and-resources/faith4rights-toolkit. GE.25-00006