A/HRC/31/18/Add.2 activists, the Government should meticulously avoid any ambiguities that could be perceived as putting the blame partially on the victims of such violence. All incidents of attacks must be investigated and the perpetrators must be brought to justice; (g) The Government should step up its effort in fighting against the culture of corruption; (h) The Government is encouraged to apply the Rabat Plan of Action when combating incitement of acts of religious hatred. This requires inviting all relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, religious communities, media representatives, civil society and experts in education, to develop strategies of “positive speech” in order to counter the impact of hate messages; (i) The Government should investigate allegations of land grabbing and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and religious minorities to their land where religious infrastructures, graveyards and cremation grounds rest; (j) The Government should engage in discussions with representatives of indigenous peoples on how better to accommodate their spiritual practices and needs; (k) The Government is encouraged to continue and broaden projects of community policing in order to enhance the sense of security, especially for minority populations and indigenous peoples; (l) The Government should repeal restrictive legislation, such as the Information and Communication Technology Act, that prevents civil society activists from voicing their criticism and concerns without fear of sanctions; (m) The Government should consider introducing reforms within the existing system of personal status laws in order to overcome discriminatory implications and effects, often at the intersection of religious minority status and gender. This should include broadening the options for contracting a civil marriage; (n) When providing for religious education in schools, the Government should ensure sufficient resources are provided for the recruitment and training of teachers from religious minorities. Furthermore, the autonomy of schools run by religious minorities should be respected, including when appointing principals; (o) The Government should provide equal resources to all religious communities in the country to help them develop and maintain their religious establishments and needs; 105. The Special Rapporteur would like to make the following recommendations addressed to religious communities: (a) Religious communities are encouraged jointly to promote harmonious interreligious coexistence and protect their rights to freedom of religion or belief in Bangladesh; (b) When engaging in interreligious dialogue, religious communities should accommodate the interreligious and intrareligious diversity of positions. Furthermore, they should make sure that women play an active role in such projects; (c) Religious community leaders have a particular responsibility to condemn any incitement to religious hatred in the clearest terms and to send counter- 21

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