E/CN.4/1998/6 page 2 I. INTRODUCTION 1. At its forty-second session, the Commission on Human Rights decided, in resolution 1986/20 of 10 March 1986, to appoint for one year a special rapporteur to examine incidents and governmental action in all parts of the world inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, and to recommend remedial measures for such situations. 2. In accordance with the terms of that resolution, the Special Rapporteur submitted his first report to the Commission at its forty-third session (E/CN.4/1987/35). His mandate was extended for one year by resolution 1987/15 of 4 March 1987, adopted at the same session of the Commission. 3. From 1988 onwards, the Special Rapporteur submitted yearly reports to the Commission (E/CN.4/1988/45 and Add.1; E/CN.4/1989/44; E/CN.4/1990/46; E/CN.4/1991/56; E/CN.4/1992/52; E/CN.4/1993/62 and Corr.1 and Add.1). By its resolutions 1988/55, 1990/27 and 1992/17, the Commission twice decided to extend the Special Rapporteur's mandate for two years, and then for three years until 1995. 4. After the resignation of Mr. Angelo d'Almeida Ribeiro, the Chairman of the Commission appointed Mr. Abdelfattah Amor as Special Rapporteur. The latter submitted his reports to the Commission on Human Rights at its fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second and fifty-third sessions (E/CN.4/1994/79; E/CN.4/1995/91 and Add.1; E/CN.4/1996/95 and Add.1 and 2; E/CN.4/1997/91 and Add.1), and also to the General Assembly at its fiftieth, fifty-first and fifty-second and fifty-third sessions (A/50/440; A/51/542 and Add.1 and 2; A/52/477 and Add.1). By its resolution 1995/23 of 24 February 1995, the Commission on Human Rights decided to extend the Special Rapporteur's mandate for a further three years. 5. This report is submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/18 of 11 April 1997. The Special Rapporteur has concentrated his analysis on legislation in the sphere of tolerance and non-discrimination concerning religion or belief, in situ visits and their follow-up, the establishment of a culture of tolerance, and the status of communications sent since the Commission's fifty-third session. II. IDENTIFICATION OF LEGISLATION IN THE FIELD OF TOLERANCE AND NON-DISCRIMINATION CONCERNING RELIGION OR BELIEF 6. The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, of 1981, provides in article 4, paragraph 2, that all States shall make all efforts to enact or rescind legislation where necessary to prohibit any such discrimination, and to take all appropriate measures to combat intolerance on the grounds of religion or other beliefs in this matter. The objective to be achieved, which is established in article 7 of the Declaration, is that the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration shall be accorded in national legislation in such a manner that everyone shall be able to avail himself of such rights and freedoms in practice.