A/HRC/31/18 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 23 December 2015 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-first session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Note by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, prepared pursuant to Council resolution 22/20. In the report, the Special Rapporteur analyses the relationship between the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Against the misperception of these two rights purportedly standing in opposition to each other, he describes far-reaching normative analogies between articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He also explores practical synergies between the rights to freedom of religion or belief and to freedom of expression. The mutual reinforcement of both rights is particularly relevant when combating intolerance, stereotyping, discrimination and incitement to violence based on religion or belief. GE.15-22778(E) *1522778*