A/67/303 (f) States should ensure that when applying for asylum, converts are given a fair hearing of their claims, in conformity with international standards. Converts seeking refugee status must never be expelled or returned to the frontiers of territories where their life or freedom would be threatened on account of their religion or belief. 71. With regard to the area of school education, the Special Rapporteur recommends that: (a) States should ensure that when attending school, children are not exposed to religious instruction against their will or against the will of their parents or legal guardians, respectively. Moreover, no child should be at risk of being pressured to attend religious ceremonies or rituals in school against their will or against the will of their parents or guardians. In this regard, particular attention should be given to the situation of children of converts and members of religious or belief minorities; (b) States should ensure that school curriculums, when providing information on religious or belief-related issues, contribute to the elimination of negative stereotypes and prejudices against converts and persons or groups engaged in non-coercive missionary activities. This should also be a guiding consideration for assessing the quality of textbooks used in schools; (c) States should prescribe, organize and provide training for teachers to sensitize them about the particular needs and challenges of children of converts and children from religious minorities in the school situation. 72. With regard to non-State actors, the Special Rapporteur recommends that: (a) Civil society organizations working on human rights should pay attention to the particularly vulnerable situation of converts and members of religious or belief minorities at risk of being forced to convert or reconvert against their will. They should develop strategies to empower such people based on the understanding that conversion constitutes an inextricable part of freedom of religion or belief; (b) Public and private media should provide fair and accurate information about converts and persons or groups engaged in non-coercive missionary activities with a view to overcoming negative stereotypes and prejudices. Self-regulation mechanisms within the media can play an important role in this regard; (c) Religious leaders and opinion formers should become aware and acknowledge that not only is conversion to their own religion or belief protected, but that any decision to replace one’s current religion or belief with a different one or to adopt atheistic views is equally protected; (d) Religious communities, interfaith groups and civil society and development aid organizations are encouraged to address issues of conversion and missionary activities in voluntary codes of conduct. They should use this as an opportunity to also promote more respectful attitudes towards converts and persons engaged in non-coercive missionary activities. 12-46130 23