A/HRC/25/34 association were not required to register; however, some did register in order to benefit from fiscal advantages. With respect to paragraph 9 of resolution 22/31, where necessary, State authorities ensured the protection and security of places of worship. 21. In March 2013, the annex to the annual report on racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia by the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) had highlighted, through facts and figures, a decrease in tolerance in France over the past three years. The report made recommendations concerning education, awareness-raising and training to combat discrimination and foster tolerance. 22. A National Observatory of Secularism had been created in April 2013 and the Minister of Education had also introduced a Secular Charter at the start of the school year in September 2013. Regarding paragraph 7(a) of the resolution, France stated that strict neutrality was applied by functionaries and public school establishments, which were required not to privilege any religion over another. With reference to paragraphs 6 (e), (f) and (g) of the resolution, it stated that acts against persons on the basis of their religion were severely punished by law, and had been firmly condemned by the highest authorities in France. The penal response of the State in this regard was very high. Incitement to hatred was also heavily sanctioned. 23. France stated that it universally defended freedom of religion or belief and freedom of opinion and expression. It recalled that human rights were envisaged to protect individuals, not belief systems such as religions and their symbols, which were not subjects of rights. In order to combat intolerance, the High Commissioner for Human Rights should support the implementation of freedom of opinion and expression as well as freedom of religion and belief in an “equal and simultaneous” manner. Georgia 24. Under the auspices of the Public Defender of Georgia, the Council of Ethnic Minorities had been created in December 2005 with the main goals of responding in a timely manner in cases involving breaches of minority rights and/or the emergence of conflict situations and fostering consultation and dialogue between, inter alia, ethnic minorities and the Government. The Council of Religions had been created in June 2005 to, inter alia, facilitate constructive multilateral dialogue between various religious groups, engage religious minorities in the process of civil integration and protect religious freedom, etc. 25. The Action Plan of the Ministry of Justice, as a part of the National Concept for Tolerance and Civil Integration, included the elaboration of a comprehensive legal act on the issue of tolerance, undertaking measures aimed at the registration of the Roma population and the creation of an advisory body within the Ministry on questions of national minorities. 26. Prohibition of all forms of discrimination and intolerance was comprehensively regulated by the Constitution and other legal acts of Georgia. Under article 24.2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (1999), in conjunction with all relevant crimes, a person could be brought to justice for instigating violence against representatives of any distinguishable group. Furthermore, in 2012, article 53 (General Principles of Sentencing) of the Code had been amended so that all relevant crimes committed on the grounds of racial, religious, national or ethnic intolerance or any other discriminating ground shall be considered to be committed in aggravated circumstances. 27. The Ministry of Justice had drafted a Law on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, with the purpose of eliminating all forms of discrimination and ensuring for 6