E/CN.4/1999/58 page 6 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other relevant international and non-governmental organizations, to plan and implement appropriate cultural, educational and social programmes to promote the concept of dialogue among civilizations ...”. 11. With regard to the Special Rapporteur's present mandate, it is recalled that the Commission on Human Rights, in paragraph 14 of resolution 1994/18, encouraged the Special Rapporteur to examine the contribution that education could make to the more effective promotion of religious tolerance. The Special Rapporteur therefore conducted a survey, by means of a questionnaire addressed to States, on problems relating to freedom of religion and belief from the standpoint of the curricula and textbooks of primary or elementary and secondary educational institutions. The results of such a survey could help to shape an international educational strategy centred on the definition and implementation of a common minimum curriculum of tolerance and non-discrimination, for combating all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. 12. The following 77 States replied to the questionnaire: Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia and Zambia. 13. These replies were used as the basis for a number of provisional comments (see E/CN.4/1998/6, paras. 38 to 46) which need to be finalized in order to elaborate a set of conclusions and recommendations to be used in devising an international educational strategy of the kind mentioned above. It is therefore of crucial importance that the Special Rapporteur should be provided with the minimum resources necessary to enable him to complete this vital task in a timely, serious and precise manner. In resolution 1998/18, adopted at its fifty-fourth session, the Commission on Human Rights urged States “to promote and encourage through the educational system, and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief” (para. 4 (g)). To this end, there is an urgent need to provide States with the results of the survey conducted by the Special Rapporteur in the field of education, which they have supported through their contributions. II. INITIATIVES BY STATES AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 14. The Oslo Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief was held from 12 to 15 August 1998 in the context of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The goal of the Conference - an initiative of Norwegian NGOs and institutes (Cooperation Council for Faith and Life Stance Societies; Council on Ecumenical and International Relations, Church of