A/66/156 Contents Page I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 II. Activities of the Special Rapporteur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 A. Promotion of the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief . . . . 4 Identification of existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and presentation of recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Examination of incidents and governmental actions incompatible with the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and recommendation of remedial measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 D. Application of a gender perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 E. Working with mass media organizations to promote an atmosphere of respect and tolerance for religious and cultural diversity, as well as multiculturalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The role of the State in promoting interreligious communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 B. C. III. IV. 11-41943 A. Communication and human rights in general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 B. Formal and informal interreligious communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 C. Appreciating diversity of interreligious communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 D. State responsibility in promoting dialogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 E. Important caveats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 F. Addressing adverse side effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Conclusions and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 3