Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization,
discrimination, incitement to violence and violence
against persons, based on religion or belief
A/RES/74/164
Reaffirming the obligation of States to prohibit discrimination and violence on
the basis of religion or belief and to implement measures to guarantee the equal and
effective protection of the law,
Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent
and interrelated,
Reaffirming further that the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights 9 provides, inter alia, that everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion or belief, which shall include freed om to have or to adopt a
religion or belief of one’s choice and freedom, either alone or in community with
others and in public or private, and to manifest one ’s religion or belief in worship,
observance, practice and teaching,
Reaffirming the positive role that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion
and expression and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart
information can play in strengthening democracy and combating religious
intolerance, and reaffirming further that the exercise of the right to freedom of
expression carries with it special duties and responsibilities, in accordance with
article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
Expressing deep concern at those acts that advocate religious hatred and thereby
undermine the spirit of tolerance and respect for diversity,
Reaffirming that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any
religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group,
Condemning the criminal acts committed by terrorist and extremist groups and
movements against persons based on their religion or belief, and deeply regretting
attempts to link such acts to any one specific religion or belief,
Reaffirming that violence can never be an acceptable response to acts of
intolerance on the basis of religion or belief,
Recalling its adoption of resolutions 69/140 of 15 December 2014, 70/19 of
3 December 2015, 71/249 of 22 December 2016, 72/136 of 11 December 2017 and
73/129 of 12 December 2018 on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural
dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, 69/312 of 6 July 2015 on the
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and 67/104 of 17 December 2012, in which
the General Assembly proclaimed the period 2013–2022 as the International Decade
for the Rapprochement of Cultures,
Deeply concerned about continuing incidents of intolerance, discrimination and
violence against persons based on their religion or belief in all regions of the world,
Deploring any advocacy of discrimination or violence on the basis of religion
or belief,
Strongly deploring all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their
religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their homes, businesses,
properties, schools, cultural centres or places of worship,
Strongly deploring also all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines,
which are in violation of international law, in particular human r ights law and
international humanitarian law, including any deliberate destruction of relics and
monuments,
Deeply concerned about the prevalence of impunity in some instances, and the
lack of accountability in some cases, in addressing violence against p ersons on the
__________________
9
2/6
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
19-22292