A/HRC/55/47
(i)
Contribute actively and in good faith in sharing challenges, experiences
and lessons learned with other States, including through the Istanbul Process for
Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on
the Basis of Religion or Belief;
(j)
Engage with transnational advocacy networks, including the media, civil
society organizations and religious or belief communities and minorities, to address
hate speech with ongoing vigilance;
(k)
Adopt legislation prohibiting advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes
incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, in accordance with article 20 (2) of
the Covenant; this should be informed by the breadth of thought, conscience, religion
or belief, as understood in article 18 of the Covenant, and incidents should be assessed
carefully, on a case-by-case basis, with the benefit of the guidance of the Rabat Plan of
Action.
63.
The Special Rapporteur recommends that non-State actors:
(a)
Engage in transnational advocacy networks to address hate speech with
ongoing vigilance, giving special attention to the targets of hate speech and therefore
the importance of engaging with individuals and communities belonging to religious or
belief minorities;
(b)
Prevent, mitigate and counter hate speech in traditional media and social
media and ensure the right of reply to those who are targeted in such hate speech on
grounds of their religion or belief;
(c)
Encourage interfaith responses for allyship and solidarity with those who
are targeted on grounds of their religion or belief; speaking collaboratively in such
counter-speech and conveying positives messages of support may provide strong
societal resilience against hate speech;
(d)
Refrain from using messages of intolerance and expressions that
instrumentalize religions or beliefs or their followers to incite violence, hostility,
discrimination, hatred or violence, for example for electoral purposes or political gain;
(e)
Publicly denounce all instances of advocacy of religious hatred that incites
violence, discrimination or hostility; discernment must be used in distinguishing State
and non-State actors as speakers, malicious intermediaries or targets, as this has an
impact on response strategies;
(f)
Stand up for the human rights of all persons belonging to minorities and
defend their freedom of religion or belief, as well as their right to participate equally
and effectively in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life.
VII. Activities of the Special Rapporteur
64.
An overview of the activities of the Special Rapporteur from 1 January to 30 June
2023 is provided in her most recent report to the General Assembly on freedom of religion
or belief.108 Since that time, she has participated in the activities set out below.
A.
United Nations and related activities
65.
On 11 July 2023, the Human Rights Council held an urgent debate to discuss the
alarming rise in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred as manifested by recurrent
desecration of the Holy Qur’an in some European and other countries. In that context, the
Special Rapporteur delivered an in-person statement on behalf of the Coordination
Committee of special procedures mandate holders. The Council adopted resolution 53/1 on
12 July.
108
18
A/78/207.
GE.23-25950