Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace A/RES/72/136 1. Reaffirms that mutual understanding and interreligious and intercultural dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the promotion of a culture of peace and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace; 5 3. Recognizes the importance of interreligious and intercultural dialogue and its valuable contribution to promoting social cohesion, peace and development, and calls upon Member States to consider, as appropriate and where applicable, interreligious and intercultural dialogue as an important tool in efforts aimed at achieving peace and social stability and the full realization of internationally agreed development goals; 4. Also recognizes the efforts by relevant stakeholders to foster peaceful and harmonious coexistence within societies by promoting respect for religious and cultural diversity, including by engendering sustained and robust interaction among various segments of society; 5. Further recognizes the leading role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on intercultural dialogue and its contribution to interreligious dialogue, as well as its activities related to the culture of peace and non-violence and its focus on concrete actions at the global, regional and subregional levels; 6. Encourages Member States and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to consider carrying out activities in support of the Action Plan for the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013–2022), adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 6 which provides a framework for enhancing interreligious and intercultural dialogue and promoting tolerance and mutual understanding, while placing emphasis on the involvement of women and youth in such dialogue; 7. Condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or electronic media or any other means; 8. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for and observance and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1 and other instruments relating to human rights and international law, the universal nature of these rights and freedoms being beyond question; 9. Welcomes the declarations adopted by the Global Forums of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and invites relevant stakeholders to continue their efforts to promote mutual understanding among different civilizations, cultures, religions and beliefs; 10. Underlines the importance of moderation as a value within societies for countering violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism, while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for further contributing to the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and coopera tion, and encourages efforts, as appropriate, to enable voices of moderation to work together in order to build a more secure, inclusive and peaceful world; __________________ 5 6 4/5 A/72/488. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Executive Board dec ision 194 EX/10. 17-22363