A/HRC/RES/46/27
1.
Expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory
stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons on the basis of their religion or
belief, and programmes and agendas pursued by extremist organizations and groups aimed
at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups, in particular when
condoned by Governments;
2.
Expresses its concern that incidents of religious intolerance, discrimination
and related violence and of negative stereotyping of individuals on the basis of religion or
belief continue to rise around the world, condemns in this context any advocacy of religious
hatred against individuals that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence,
and urges States to take effective measures, as set forth in the present resolution, consistent
with their obligations under international human rights law, to address and combat such
incidents;
3.
Condemns deeply any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement
to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or
electronic media or any other means;
4.
Welcomes international, regional and national initiatives aimed at promoting
interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony and combating discrimination against
individuals on the basis of religion or belief, in particular the series of expert meetings held
in Washington, D.C., London, Geneva, Doha, Jeddah, Singapore and The Hague, the
Netherlands in the framework of the Istanbul Process to discuss the implementation of
Human Rights Council resolution 16/18;
5.
Notes the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights and the holding of four regional workshops, in Austria, Chile, Kenya and
Thailand, on separate but related issues, and the final workshop in Morocco and its outcome
document, the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or
religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and the
recommendations and conclusions contained therein;
6.
Recognizes that open, public debate of ideas and interfaith and intercultural
dialogue at the local, national and international levels can be among the best protections
against religious intolerance and can play a positive role in strengthening democracy and
combating religious hatred, and is convinced that continuing dialogue on these issues can
help to overcome existing misperceptions;
7.
Notes the speech given by the Secretary-General of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference at the fifteenth session of the Human Rights Council, and draws upon his
call on States to take the following actions to foster a domestic environment of religious
tolerance, peace and respect by:
(a)
Encouraging the creation of collaborative networks to build mutual
understanding, promoting dialogue and inspiring constructive action towards shared policy
goals and the pursuit of tangible outcomes, such as servicing projects in the fields of
education, health, conflict prevention, employment, integration and media education;
(b)
Creating an appropriate mechanism within Governments to, inter alia, identify
and address potential areas of tension between members of different religious communities,
and assisting with conflict prevention and mediation;
(c)
strategies;
Encouraging the training of government officials in effective outreach
(d)
Encouraging the efforts of leaders to discuss within their communities the
causes of discrimination, and evolving strategies to counter those causes;
(e)
Speaking out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious hatred that
constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence;
(f)
Adopting measures to criminalize incitement to imminent violence on the basis
of religion or belief;
(g)
Understanding the need to combat denigration and negative religious
stereotyping of persons and incitement to religious hatred by strategizing and harmonizing
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