A/66/156 IV. Conclusions and recommendations 60. Interreligious communication has an important role to play in the continuous endeavour to eliminate prejudices and stereotypes which constitute the root causes of resentment, fear, paranoia, hatred, hostility, violence and concomitant human rights abuses. In order to contribute to this purpose, communication between individuals or groups should be conducted on an equal footing and with a long-term perspective. Pursuing common practical projects can help to accomplish sustainability in interreligious communication. 61. Besides its instrumental role in the eradication of stereotypes and prejudices, intra- and interreligious communication falls within the scope of freedom of religion or belief. Therefore, States have to respect, protect and promote the freedom to communicate within one’s own religious or belief group, to share one’s conviction with others, to broaden one’s horizons by communicating with people of different convictions, to cherish and develop contacts across State boundaries, to receive and spread information about religious or belief issues and to try to persuade others by means of peaceful communication. 62. States should take a constructive role in promoting interreligious communication (i.e., the various forms of exchange of information, experiences and ideas between individuals or groups holding different religions or beliefs). As a consequence of the universalistic nature of freedom of religion or belief, interreligious communication must be broadly construed and include theistic, atheistic or non-theistic beliefs as well as the possibility not to profess any religion and belief. 63. Interreligious communication harbours an inexhaustible diversity of themes, settings, goals and procedures. Thus, there can be no one-size-fits-all approach with regard to interreligious dialogue. Keeping that crucial insight in mind, States have a number of general options at their disposal to promote interreligious communication, including by: (a) Encouraging interreligious communication by publicly expressing their appreciation for well-defined dialogue projects; (b) Providing financial subsidies to existing or newly created projects; (c) Facilitating dialogue between members of various religious or belief groups in the framework of the State itself; (d) Using and developing forums of regular encounters among people of different religious or belief affiliations. 64. Promotion of interreligious dialogue by the State must always be based on respect for every human being’s freedom of religion or belief as an inalienable human right. Therefore, when promoting formal or informal dialogue projects States should take into account a number of important caveats: (a) States communication; (b) belief; 11-41943 should refrain from monopolizing interreligious States should not identify themselves with one particular religion or 21