UNITED NATIONS A Word.Picture.8 General Assembly Distr. Distr. \* MERGEFORMAT LIMITED Symbol \* MERGEFORMAT A/HRC/4/L.12 23 March 2007 Original: Orig. Lang. \* MERGEFORMAT ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fourth session Agenda item 2 IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Conference) : draft resolution 4/… Combating Defamation of Religions The Human Rights Council; Recalling the Outcome Document of the World Summit 2005 that emphasized the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the UN Charter, to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status; and acknowledged the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world; Recalling also the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in September 2001 by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; /… Recognizing the valuable contributions of all religions to modern civilization and the contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Recalling further the Final Communiqué of the Third Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia on 7-8 December 2005, that expressed serious concern at rising discrimination against Muslims; Taking note of the Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on “Combating Defamation of Religions”; Welcoming the report by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the “Situation of Muslims and Arabs in various parts of the world” in which he has given evidence of the upsurge in Islamophobia; Emphasizing that States, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance and freedom of religion and belief through education; Noting with concern that defamation of religions is among the causes of social disharmony and leads to violations of human rights; Noting with deep concern the increasing trend in recent years of statements attacking religions, Islam and Muslims in particular, in human rights forums; 1. Expresses concern at negative stereotyping of religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief; 2. Expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations; /… 3. Notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions, and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities, in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001; 4. Recognizes that in the context of the fight against terrorism, defamation of religions becomes an aggravating factor that contributes to the denial of fundamental rights and freedoms of target groups, as well as their economic and social exclusion; 5. Expresses further concern at laws or administrative measures that have been specifically designed to “control” and “monitor” Muslim and Arab minorities, thereby stigmatizing them further and legitimating the discrimination that they experience; 6. Strongly deplores physical attacks and assaults on businesses, cultural centres and places of worship of all religions as well as targeting of religious symbols; 7. Urges States to take resolute action to prohibit the dissemination of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement racial and religious hatred, hostility or violence; 8. Also urges States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and their value systems and to complement legal systems with intellectual and moral strategies to combat religious hatred and intolerance; 9. Urges all States to ensure that all public officials, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military, civil servants and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 10. Emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which should be exercised with responsibility and may therefore be subject to limitations as provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, public health or morals and respect for religions and beliefs; 11. Deplores the use of the print, audio-visual and electronic media, including the Internet, and any other means to incite acts of violence, xenophobia or related intolerance and discrimination towards Islam or any other religion; 12. Invites the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to regularly report on all manifestations of defamation of religions and in particular on the serious implications of Islamophobia on the enjoyment of all rights; 13. Requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of this resolution to the sixth session of the Human Rights Council. ----- A/HRC/4/L.12 page \* MERGEFORMAT 4 A/HRC/4/L.12 page \* MERGEFORMAT 3