A/HRC/25/58 hatred also include religious hatred. While a generally agreed definition of this phenomenon does not exist, the Special Rapporteur understands by “collective religious hatred” any joint manifestations of intense and irrational emotions of opprobrium, enmity and animosity towards a specific target group or individual4 that are proclaimed in the name of a particular religion or belief. Such manifestations may be made with the intention of defending certain religious or belief-related truth claims, practices, norms or identities against perceived or imagined threats.5 While frequently targeting believers of a competing persuasion, or non-believers, religiously motivated hatred may also affect internal critics, dissidents, “heretics”, or converts from within one’s own religious community. 17. In practice, manifestations of collective religious hatred frequently overlap with national, racial, ethnic or other forms of hatred, and in many situations it may seem impossible to clearly separate these phenomena. As a result, the label “religion” can sometimes be imprecise and problematic when used to describe complex phenomena and motives of collective hatred. Nevertheless it remains obvious that religions and beliefs can serve as powerful demarcators of “us-versus-them” groupings. Unfortunately, there are many examples testifying to this destructive potential of religion. At the same time, one should always bear in mind that anti-hatred movements exist within all religions and that most adherents of the different religious and belief traditions are committed to practising their faith as a source of peace, charity and compassion, rather than of hostility and hatred. 18. The Special Rapporteur’s rationale for focusing the present thematic report on manifestations of collective religious hatred is twofold. On the one hand, collective religious hatred is a source of many violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief as enshrined in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international human rights instruments. A better understanding of this disturbing phenomenon is required in order to prevent human rights abuses in this area. On the other hand, securing freedom of religion or belief alongside other human rights can help eliminate the root causes of collective religious hatred by establishing trust within societies and between communities on the basis of respect for everyone’s religious or belief-related convictions and practices. B. Collective religious hatred and its root causes 1. Not a “natural phenomenon” 19. Manifestations of collective hatred, including religious hatred, can set in motion a seemingly unstoppable negative dynamic. However, manifestations of hatred do not “erupt” like a volcano. Rather, they are caused by human beings, that is, by human action and omission. For instance, populist politicians attract followers by offering simplistic explanations for complex societal problems; advocates of hatred poison intergroup relations by stirring up resentment for short-sighted political or economic gains; lack of trust in public institutions may exacerbate an existing atmosphere of suspicion in society; and parts of the population may be all too willing to replace political common sense with the snappy slogans of hatred. 20. What renders policies of hatred so unfortunately “attractive” in the eyes of their followers is that they provide scapegoats on whom to project multiple fears. Obviously, fear 4 5 See the definition of “hatred” in principle 12.1 (i) of the Camden Principles on Freedom of Expression and Equality. Available from www.article19.org/data/files/pdfs/standards/the-camdenprinciples-on-freedom-of-expression-and-equality.pdf. See also A/HRC/13/40. 5