A/75/385 prescribes enhanced penalties. In this context, the Special Rapporteur notes that Norway 137 and Israel138 reported that their States have made religion or belief an aggravating circumstance of committed offences. In all cases, it would be vital to ensure that such laws are fully compliant with international standards on the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion or belief. Monitoring discrimination 56. A number of States have reported that they have undertaken measures to improve data collection and disaggregation with regard to discrimination based on religion or belief. For example, Georgia139, Italy140, Germany141, Poland142, Serbia143, Brazil144, Colombia145, the UK146 and Mexico147 all reported to the Special Rapporteur that they have established governmental offices, action plans or public-private partnerships with the purpose of monitoring and reporting on discrimination and incitement to hatred, to allow for the informed development of more accessible and effective justice institutions. The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that as part of promoting institutional accountability and meeting SDG target 16.10, this data should be publicly accessible. 57. The Special Rapporteur also recognizes the importance of civil society initiatives in tackling discrimination based on religion or belief and in promoting accessible, accountable and inclusive institutions. The ‘Coalition for Religious and Inclusive Development’ (CREID) in the UK has explored how COVID-19 is both exacerbating and fuelling new forms of discrimination faced by religious minorities globally. 148 In a similar vein, multiple civil society groups in Pakistan are collaborating on the creation of an online survey to report on and document discrimination, including of religious minorities, arising from COVID-19.149 Tackling inequalities in education & promoting tolerance 58. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the enactment of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 in Ireland, which repeals a provision that permitted schools to use religion as a selection criterion. The Special Rapporteur also commends the government of Brazil for the passing of Law No. 13.796/2019, which permit students to be absent from examinations in the case that they fall upon a holiday for their religious community. 150 59. Work to tackle religious intolerance through education is particularly valuable. The Special Rapporteur commends the National Council for Prevention of Discrimination (Consejo Nacional para Prevenir la Discriminación) in Mexico, which has developed education modules on religious diversity for more than 5,500 participants from public institutions, at the federal, state and municipal levels, as well as the judiciary. 151 Education 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 Norwegian Penal Code (sections 77, 185, 186). Submission by Israel. Submission by Georgia; see also State report to CoE. (non-state submission; need to find source). Submission by Germany. Submission by Poland; See Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment. Submission by Serbia. Submission by The Brazilian Center of Studies in Law and Religion. Submission by Dirección de Derechos Humanos y Derecho Internacional Humanitario, Government of Colombia. Submission by the UK; See Hate Crime Action Plan 2016-2020. Submission by Mexico. https://www.ids.ac.uk/news/religious-inequalities-and-the-impact-of-covid-19/. Submission from APPG Pakistani Minorities. Submission by Associação Nacional de Juristas Evangélicos (ANAJURE); see also Submission by The Brazilian Center of Studies in Law and Religion. Submission by Mexico. 15