E/CN.4/2001/0063 page 50 192. These three studies, which have focused attention on minorities and women, will make it possible to formulate recommendations with a view to preventing intolerance and discrimination on the basis of religion and belief, including intolerance towards vulnerable groups. 193. The Special Rapporteur will also undertake a study of the question of sects. He recommends, in addition, that the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights appoint a Special Rapporteur to prepare a study on religious extremism. 194. The Special Rapporteur is also of the opinion that studies of this nature should be supplemented by the following action: (a) The holding of a high-level international meeting to address (i) the question of sects with a view to identifying a common approach that respects human rights and, in particular, freedom of religion and belief; and (ii) the question of religious extremism, in order to define and adopt a minimum set of rules and principles of conduct; (b) The elaboration and adoption by all relevant United Nations bodies of a plan of action to combat discrimination against women on the basis of religion and tradition. 195. Finally, in order to address the worldwide phenomenon of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief, and in the context of the twentieth anniversary of the 1981 Declaration, the Special Rapporteur has played an active role in the conceptualization and ongoing preparation of the 2001 conference on school education in relation to freedom of religion and belief, tolerance and non-discrimination. The elaboration and adoption of a prevention strategy aimed at the long-term eradication of the evils currently noted at the international level in the field of religion and belief naturally presuppose all-round input, especially at the preparatory phase of the conference (through suggestions posted on the Web site of the High Commissioner’s office regarding the conference). The contribution of religious and faith-based communities and human rights organizations, particularly in the organization of regional seminars preliminary to the Madrid conference, is strongly encouraged by the Special Rapporteur. 196. The interactive participation of the principal religious partners will once again demonstrate the essential role of interfaith dialogue as a factor in conflict prevention. In this connection, it should be noted that in the course of the International Congress on Inter-religious Dialogue and a Culture of Peace, held in Tashkent from 14 to 16 September 2000 under the auspices of UNESCO, many experts opined that interfaith cooperation was making impressive progress and that religious communities were now considered positive forces rather than divisive elements. A study by UNESCO has also found that interfaith initiatives have been launched in 77 per cent of the countries in the world, and that 97 per cent of respondents considered them valuable for peace and intercultural dialogue. The Millennium World Peace Summit, held in New York in August 2000, brought together for the first time over 1,000 religious leaders, and concluded, inter alia, that no genuine peace could be achieved unless all communities recognized the religious and cultural diversity of the human family in a spirit of respect and understanding. This was additional evidence of the need for and the value of interfaith dialogue.