A/HRC/25/34 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 22/31 entitled “Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief”, in which the Council requested, in paragraph 10, the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare and submit to the Human Rights Council, at its twenty-fifth session, a report based upon information provided by States on the efforts and measures taken by them for the implementation of the action plan outlined in paragraphs 6 and 7, as well as their views on potential follow-up measures for further improvement of the implementation of that plan.1 II. Information received from Member States Belarus 2. Belarus stated that its policy in the sphere of confessional relations was regulated by the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, which guaranteed equality and non-discrimination with respect to all religions before the law. 3. It added that the Law on Countering Extremism declared as punishable by law all the criminal acts listed in article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Law on Political Parties and the Law on NonGovernmental Associations prohibited the creation and activity of political parties, nongovernmental associations and unions intending to propagate war or extremism. The Law on Mass Media guaranteed the rights and freedoms in mass media and prohibited the dissemination of information containing incitement to war, violence and extremism. Those anti-discrimination measures were extended to all people living in the territory of Belarus. 4. With a view to making the implementation of the legislation effective and to support inter-confessional dialogue, it had undertaken the second programme on Development of the Confessional Sphere, National Relations and Compatriots’ Cooperation for the period 2011 to 2015. The realization of the rights of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion and belief was under the competence of the Commissioner for Religions and Nationalities, with representatives in all regions of the country. The Inter-confessional Consultative Council coordinated the activity of religious organizations and promoted and consolidated peace for co-existence, tolerance and dialogue among representatives of the different confessions and religions. 5. More than 3,000 religious organizations, 26 confessions and religious groups, as well as over 3,000 religious communities and 164 religious organizations were registered in Belarus. Belarus reported about the absence of conflicts on the grounds of national, racial, cultural, linguistic and confessional affiliation. 1 The present report contains a summary of the information received from the following States: Belarus, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Lithuania, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America. The original texts of the contributions can be consulted in the files of the Secretariat. 3