A/78/207 incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, 77 using their positions of privilege and significant public profiles to de-escalate tensions. 68. Respectful debate should form the core of parliamentarian ethics. Current and prospective legislators can be a vital bulwark against escalating hatred, extremism and violence. This requires bravery and may come at a political cost. It almost certainly requires standing up for the safety and well-being of those with whom sincerely held disagreements on fundamental issues may exist. 69. Legislators must not design or implement laws that are contrary to international obligations, including as they relate to freedom of religion or belief. International human rights standards require that minorities be involved in public life and in all matters that concern them. Religious or belief communities, including minorities, dissidents and non-religious groups, should therefore be consulted in a transparent, inclusive and timely manner on legislative proposals that may have implications for them. Draft legislation should be scrutinized for compatibility with international law and best practice. The mandate holder is available to support States in this process. 70. Legislators should ensure accountability for, and the non -repetition of, violations of freedom of religion or belief of the kind highlighted above. Laws and protocols should be developed to ensure that rights holders have access to redress and accountability for such violations. Awareness-raising and education should also be ensured for State functionaries at all levels, to counteract the prejudices that are often the root causes of violations. 78 Such initiatives should be based on international standards relating to freedom of religion or belief and designed in collaboration with stakeholder communities. 71. The work of the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief in capacity-building, networking, advocacy and research to support parliamentarians in more deeply understanding and integrating freedom of religion or belief in their work is notable. Legislators are encouraged to engage with this and similar initiatives to strengthen their capacities for carrying out their work in a manner compatible with freedom of religion or belief. The increasing engagement of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on issues related to freedom of religion or belief is commended, 79 including through its Marrakech communiqué 80 and its commitment to encourage members to develop global parliamentary codes of conduct to ensure respect for the right to freedom of religion or belief. 72. Legislators can contribute significantly to a better understanding of the domestic contours of freedom of religion or belief through public hearings, consultations and studies, as well as through mechanisms such as standing committees and commissions of inquiry. In addition to exercising governmental oversight, those processes can provide an excellent evidence-based grounding for policy solutions to structural and root causes of violations of freedom of religion or beli ef, often garnered out of disaggregated data. 73. Several States seek to guarantee representation of religious (or ethno -religious) communities in their legislative bodies, such as through the reservation of seats or through electoral mechanisms and processes. These may be representatives of the dominant or State-affiliated religion or recognized minorities. In the former case, doing so can contribute to fortifying the influence of a dominant religion or belief tradition on the legislature and facilitate discrimination and violations of freedom of religion or belief. In the latter case, even when the intention is positive, representation __________________ 77 78 79 80 23-14116 See Human Rights Council resolution 16/18. A/HRC/43/48/Add.1, para. 30. See www.ipu.org/event/parliamentary-conference-interfaith-dialogue. See www.ipu.org/file/17036/download. 15/24