E/CN.4/2004/63/Add.2 page 22 108. The Special Rapporteur also points out that international human rights law in matters of freedom of religion or belief, and particularly article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, implies that the State has positive obligations, in cases where religious minorities are the victims of acts of intolerance or religious violence, including when these acts are perpetrated by non-State individuals or groups, to take the necessary steps to ensure that religious minorities can exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief in complete safety. 109. Finally, with regard to speeches and other means of communication conveying messages of religious intolerance and, sometimes, hatred in the press, in politics and in schools, where the Orthodox religion is very influential, the Special Rapporteur notes that, for various reasons, incidents of this kind are often not reported to the authorities and therefore go unpunished. The Special Rapporteur encourages the authorities to be more proactive in identifying incidents of this kind, including through the National Centre against Discrimination, and to take appropriate steps to punish such behaviour and ultimately to put a stop to it. The Special Rapporteur also points out that one of the main tools for combating intolerance in the long term is education. In this respect, he refers the Romanian authorities to the final document adopted by the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, held in Madrid from 23 to 25 November 2001, and encourages them to implement all the recommendations contained in it. 110. More specifically, with regard to the role of the media, the Special Rapporteur draws attention to the ease with which religious intolerance can be propagated and the subsequent dangers posed by ignorance and prejudices on all sides, including in relation to religious or faith-based minorities. He also points out that, under article 20, paragraph 2, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the authorities are under an obligation to combat and prosecute any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. -----