E/CN.4/1996/95 page 14 means of combating discrimination and intolerance. It could make a decisive contribution to inculcating values pertaining to human rights and the development of tolerant and non-discriminating attitudes and behaviour, thus helping to spread the culture of human rights. The role of the schools in this educational effort is crucial. 67. For these reasons, as he indicates in his discussion on the development of "a culture of tolerance", the Special Rapporteur again stresses the importance of prevention in the effort to end intolerance and discrimination, hatred and violence, including violence motivated by religious extremism. The alarming number of attacks on persons, affecting their physical integrity, their freedom of thought, conscience and religion and their freedom to manifest their religion or their beliefs, together with attacks on places of worship, as reflected in the communications received by the Special Rapporteur since 1988, shows the overwhelming need to act at the prevention level. From this standpoint, the questionnaire on religious teaching in primary and secondary schools could constitute the first stage of a process aimed at consecrating a minimum of generally accepted values and principles that might serve as a basis for a common programme of tolerance and non-discrimination. The Special Rapporteur therefore calls on all States to become involved by replying to this questionnaire, to demonstrate their commitment to a culture of tolerance. 68. It is essential to develop a whole system for promoting human rights and tolerance through education. 69. The Special Rapporteur considers the elaboration of an international convention on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief to be a necessary but premature step, given the present circumstances, and he advocates the establishment of an international policy of tolerance, associated with the development of a culture of tolerance, in teaching, the mass media and religious education. 70. The reservations concerning religious freedom that have been expressed, albeit on rare and isolated occasions, should continue to be dealt with patiently and resolutely, through further dialogue. Such dialogue should take into account the facts, be based on internationally established principles, involve all the parties concerned, determine the potential for immediate action and set a long-term course without any concessions. Progress in this field is as much a matter of uncovering facts, motivations and concerns as of the need for human rights in general and religious freedom in particular to prevail. The only way to make progress in promoting religious freedom is to avoid categorical, inflexible attitudes, impulsive and ineffectual initiatives, ill-considered behaviour, blind obstinacy, gratuitous accusations, inconsistent judgements and grandiose but futile gestures. In other words, it is time to take a hard look at reality, in all its complexity, and work with it to change it gradually. The Special Rapporteur believes that any prejudgement in this field constitutes a wrong approach; any generalization is exaggerated and therefore an error, and any excessive action will ultimately be meaningless. The situations involved are highly complex and cannot readily be reduced to types and classifications and even less to slogans and clichés.