A/HRC/31/18
85.
States should prevent or overcome a climate of impunity, in which intolerant
groups may feel encouraged to commit acts of discrimination, hostility or violence
against persons based on their religion or belief.
86.
Legislation aimed at prohibiting incitement to acts of hatred needs to be
precisely defined, in line with the criteria set out in articles 18 (3), 19 (3) and 20 (2) of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and further developed in
Human Rights Committee general comment No. 34 and the Rabat Plan of Action.
Such legislation should not contain provisions aimed at sanctioning those claiming
superiority of certain religions or beliefs.
2.
Recommendations addressed to different stakeholders
87.
Interreligious communication should accommodate the diversity of
interreligious and intrareligious positions as different formats of “formal” or
“informal” communication may complement each other in this regard. Broad
engagement with people from different age, gender, ethnic and indigenous groups will
enhance the dialogues and overcoming the underrepresentation of women must be a
priority.
88.
All relevant stakeholders should cooperate in developing a culture of public
discourse in accordance with the Camden Principles on Freedom of Expression and
Equality by addressing and discussing problems openly, hence exposing negative
experiences of interreligious coexistence to counter-evidence and counter-narratives.
This can help prevent the spread of rumours and their escalation to fully fledged
conspiracy projections.
89.
Civil society organizations are encouraged to show public solidarity with
targeted individuals or communities, including by mobilizing public demonstrations
against entrepreneurs of hatred.
90.
National human rights institutions are encouraged to use the Rabat Plan of
Action when designing national policies of combating incitement to acts of hatred.
3.
Recommendations addressed to the international community
91.
The international community should continue to cooperate within the Istanbul
Process which aims at the systematic implementation of Human Rights Council
resolution 16/18. The Rabat Plan of Action should serve as an interpretative tool in
this regard. National human rights institutions and civil society organizations should
participate in exchanges on how to implement resolution 16/18 and the Rabat Plan of
Action.
92.
Commitment of States towards Human Rights Council resolution 16/18 should
become a systematic element of the interactive dialogues within the universal periodic
review. The international community should continue to monitor the situations of
prisoners of conscience and advocate for their release.
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