A/55/280 138. Concerning minorities, the Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize that States have an obligation under international law and jurisprudence (inter alia, article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, General Comment No. 23 of 6 April 1994 of the Human Rights Committee, article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities) to guarantee the right of minorities to freedom of religion and the practice of religion, within internationally agreed limits. The State remains responsible even when abuses are committed against minorities by non-State entities such as extremist groups. States are also required to create conditions for promoting the identity, including the religious identity, of minorities. Article 4 of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities emphasizes the role of education in this regard. The 2001 conference on school education will also consider the special place to be given in primary and secondary education to respect for and promotion of the identity, including the religious identity, of minorities and will make recommendations in this regard. 139. On the question of sects or religious communities, the Special Rapporteur believes that State intervention in matters of religion or belief must be limited, in conformity with international law, to ensuring respect for the law, particularly criminal laws on, inter alia, the safeguarding of public order, fraud, violence, assault and battery, abduction and corruption of minors. It cannot be the State’s role to supervise, favour, impose or censure a religion or belief; nor can any religious or spiritual community supervise people’s personal conscience. Again, the Special Rapporteur believes that education may be a solution in this regard. The development of an educational strategy should in fact not only permit the dissemination of a culture of tolerance but also promote awareness and reasonable vigilance with regard to any abuse or danger in the area of religion or belief. The Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendation that international high-level governmental meetings should be held on the question of sects, in order to consider and decide on a common approach that respects human rights, particularly freedom of religion and belief. 140. On the global phenomenon of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize the urgency of prevention. He therefore encourages all States, intergovernmental organizations, the main religions, other religious or spiritual communities and nongovernmental organizations to contribute actively to the 2001 conference on school education. He urges them to transmit any documentation relevant to the subject of the conference and to formulate proposals, so that they can be duly considered by the conference preparatory committee. 141. The conference will also mark the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. In this connection, the Special Rapporteur also calls on the various governmental and non-governmental actors to plan celebrations as from the beginning of 2001. They could, for instance, give the name “tolerance” to town and village streets and squares; reproduce the text of the 1981 Declaration in artistic displays in public places; and incorporate the Declaration in civic and religious education programmes, especially in primary and secondary schools. He also encourages the holding of dialogue meetings between leaders and members of different religions and beliefs, including children (especially children from areas of conflict or tension with a religious element), on specific themes or projects related to the anniversary of the 1981 Declaration. Such meetings could be held in countries directly concerned by problems of intolerance and discrimination in the area of, inter alia, religion or belief. 142. The Special Rapporteur recommends the creation, on the web site of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, of an entry on the celebration of the anniversary of the 1981 Declaration which would not only inform the public about all the activities and events related to this anniversary but also receive any recommendations and celebratory messages. The site would also keep the public informed of the day-to-day activities of the 2001 conference. 143. The anniversary of the 1981 Declaration and the holding of the conference on school education in relation to freedom of religion and belief will also coincide with events to be held in 2001 to mark the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. As can be seen from General Assembly resolution 53/22 of 4 November 1998 concerning that Year, in which the Assembly invites Governments, the United 29