A/HRC/24/22 women and the fight against human rights violations. Education from an early age played a key role in nurturing those positive contributions. 69. The Regional and National Human Rights Defender Programme held the view that dignity, justice, equality and non-discrimination were common to humanity, that States had the primary responsibility to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms by respecting, protecting, and fulfilling them, and that human rights could not be limited or violated invoking “traditional values”. Although some traditions complied with human rights standards, it was noted that neither customary international law nor the core international human rights treaties permitted or envisaged limitations on human rights on the basis of traditional values. 70. Best practices in the promotion of rights and freedoms required encouraging, understanding and accepting the principles of universality and indivisibility of human rights, non-discrimination in the enjoyment of rights, and fairness and equality in efforts to ensure and implement those rights. The protection of human rights defenders, including women defenders, should be at the centre of all debates on human rights and their promotion. 71. The Russian LGBT Network, Russian Federation, noted that the traditional values discussion in the Russian Federation sought to impose an ideological monopoly. Liberal approaches and beliefs were regarded by conservatives as opposing traditional values, justifying severe restrictions of rights and freedoms, especially for the LGBT community. In that context, traditional values were synonymous with biblical values such as family values and served as a platform to bring together Orthodox Christian conservatives, Protestant fundamentalists and conservative Catholics. 72. Enumerating several practices based on traditional values, the Russian LGBT Network referred to the introduction of religious education in public schools through the subject named “Basics of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics” in 1991; the division of religions into the traditional religions of the Russian Federation – Christianity: Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, Lutheranism; Islam; Judaism; and Buddhism and “sects” or “totalitarian sects”, i.e. all religious associations not fitting into the concept of traditional religions; efforts to obstruct liberal priests and opinions within the Moscow Patriarchate; the introduction of a military chaplain system; and the ban on sex education in Russian schools. 73. Rwanda Culture, Rwanda, stated that cultural values such as fairness, tolerance and generosity, which were defined as religious, moral and cultural benchmarks, had for long been regarded as the pillars of the country’s development, regulating the conduct and behaviour of every member of the community. The organization highlighted strategies implemented by the Government, including laws, infrastructure and policies for the promotion and protection of culture, language and art. 74. As best practices, it referred to the legal promotion and protection of traditions and culture guaranteed by articles 50 and 51 of the Constitution of Rwanda. The State also had a duty to ensure the conservation of cultural heritage and national memorials and sites of genocide against the Tutsi. Law No. 01/2010 of 29 January 2010 on the mission, organization and functioning of the Rwandan Language and Culture Academy, provided for the Academy’s responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the language, Kinyarwanda, and the culture. 75. Sexual Rights Initiative, Canada, asserted that some traditional values led to stigmatization, discrimination and violence against people on the basis of their racial or ethnic origin, religion or other beliefs, disability status, age, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. Many practices and norms that discriminated against women and other groups were justified by reference to tradition and were legally punished with lighter sentences, for 14