A/HRC/6/5 page 2 Summary The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 4/10 of 30 March 2007, recalls all resolutions on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief that have been adopted by the General Assembly and by the Commission on Human Rights and requests the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to report on this issue to the Human Rights Council at its sixth session. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur gives an overview of the mandate’s issues of concern according to the categories of her framework for communications. This structure enables her to summarize the pressing issues, as analysed during the 21 years of mandate practice, with regard to intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. The Special Rapporteur highlights worrying situations where the freedom to adopt, change or renounce a religion or belief has been infringed, for example when State agents try to convert, reconvert or prevent the conversion of persons. While the right to freedom to worship is not limited to members of registered religious communities, many believers belonging to religious minorities are not allowed to worship or conduct any religious activities without State approval or prior registration. Since believers are in a situation of special vulnerability whenever they find themselves in places of worship, States should pay increased attention to attacks on places of worship and ensure that all perpetrators of such attacks are properly prosecuted and tried. Women, persons deprived of their liberty, refugees, children, minorities and migrant workers can be identified as particularly vulnerable groups with regard to their freedom of religion or belief. The right to life and the right to liberty are also frequently infringed as evidenced by numerous cases of killings and arbitrary detention for reasons of religion or belief. States have to ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of religion or belief is violated. Furthermore, States should devise proactive strategies in order to prevent such violations. Education could serve as an essential tool in creating a genuine human rights culture in society. Schools may be a suitable place for learning about peace, understanding and tolerance among individuals, groups and nations in order to develop respect for pluralism. In addition, inter-religious and intra-religious dialogue is vital for the prevention of conflicts. Such a dialogue should not only include religious leaders but could also involve initiatives at the grass-roots level. Teachers, children and students could benefit from voluntary opportunities of meetings and exchanges with their counterparts of different religions or beliefs, either in their home country or abroad.