A/HRC/46/30
Brazil has a communication hotline that allows victims of discrimination to submit
complaints, including for religion-based discrimination. 189 Nonetheless, Islamophobic
incidents are often underreported, with some civil society organizations trying to fill
reporting gaps,190 often where State mechanisms are inadequate or non-existent.
The Special Rapporteur also recognizes efforts to tackle hate speech online. Mexico
is reportedly engaging with social media companies to develop counter-narratives on hate
speech. 191 Sweden provides financial support to civil society initiatives, including
Näthatsgranskaren, which detects hate speech online and reports findings to the police and
social media companies.192
Six States have organized interfaith meetings covering discrimination against
Muslims or have organized consultations with Muslim communities so that they may voice
concerns and communicate their needs.193 Reportedly, OSCE194 and the European Union195
have organized high-level conferences, and five States have engaged in regional
consultations with civil society on the subject.196 Recalling that Islamophobia may manifest
itself as intersectional discrimination against Muslim refugees and migrants, the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,197 OSCE 198 and the European Union 199
have developed good practice frameworks or resources for States on the integration of
migrants.
Some States and civil society organizations inform Muslims about their rights and
conduct public awareness campaigns about Muslims and Islam designed to dispel negative
myths and misconceptions. Ireland educates schoolchildren on common prejudices and
attitudes that might infringe on dignity, including Islamophobia. 200 The Observatory of
Islamophobia in the Media has increased awareness on how to report on matters involving
Muslims and Islam in ways that avoid stigmatization and the reproduction of harmful
stereotypes.
Definitions
In an effort to fully capture the collective experiences of victims and to coordinate
effective governmental, multilateral and civil society responses, particularly in the field of
education and awareness-raising, many propose that there are time-sensitive and practical
benefits to developing a working definition of “Islamophobia”.201 Over the years, several
definitions have been proposed by academics and human rights advocates, including the
Runnymede Trust and other civil society organizations, as well as the All-Party
Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in the United Kingdom.
Some argue that efforts to define Islamophobia are a means to shield totalitarian
political ambitions and harmful practices that undermine human rights, and to afford these
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190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
os+delitos+de+odio+English+version.pdf/1767a25c-cfb6-42c1-8876-c1534d825158), Sweden,
United Kingdom
(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/83
9172/hate-crime-1819-hosb2419.pdf) and United States (www.fbi.gov/investigate/civil-rights/hatecrimes).
Submission by Brazil.
https://tellmamauk.org/; www.splcenter.org/data-projects/tracking-anti-muslim-legislation-acrossus?by-type#filters.
Submission by Mexico.
Submission by Sweden.
Submissions by Australia, Belgium, Malta, Qatar, Switzerland and Togo.
Submission by the International Alliance for Peace and Development.
Submission by the European Commission.
Norway, Togo, Uganda, United States and Zimbabwe. Consultations in sub-Saharan Africa, Western
Europe and the Americas.
www.unhcr.org/en-us/the-10-point-plan-in-action.html.
www.osce.org/files/f/documents/a/2/393554.pdf.
https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/home;
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2178.
Submission by Ireland.
https://columbialawreview.org/content/islamophobia-toward-a-legal-definition-and-framework/.
19