A/HRC/25/34
mediation. Dialogue and consultation among national stakeholders had also been
intensified. In cooperation with countries within a bilateral framework, Indonesia had held
inter-faith dialogues to promote a culture of religious tolerance. Indonesia also reported that
in November 2013, in cooperation with the Government of the United States of America, it
had conducted a dialogue involving relevant stakeholders from both sides regarding the
implementation of Council resolution 16/18.
42.
Indonesia had enacted Law No. 11/2008 on Information and Electronic
Transactions, which regulated the dissemination of information by a person with the
intention to incite hatred and hostility of individuals and/or specific community groups
based on ethnicity, religion, race and inter-group. The Penal Code was being revised to
include criminalization of acts that disseminate statements of hostility that could lead to
violence towards other persons or groups based on, inter alia, religion, race and ethnicity. A
bill was being formulated to guarantee and enhance religious tolerance and also provide
concrete and practical steps to resolve future conflicts between religious communities.
43.
Indonesia was of the view that the issue of religious intolerance was transboundary
and should be addressed collectively through cooperation among countries and relevant
stakeholders. Indonesia believed that the existing Council resolutions should be further
solidified and elaborated in order to serve as a robust foundation for advancing effective
international cooperation to address issues of religious intolerance. It stated that a global
joint effort was needed to formulate a solid common normative and operational framework
for international cooperation to comprehensively address issues of religious intolerance,
negative stereotyping and stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and
violence based on religion or belief.
Iraq
44.
Iraq reported that article 2 of its Constitution guaranteed the protection of the
Islamic identity of the Iraqi people and the right and freedom of all peoples to practice their
religions. It added that, there was a variety of religions and branches of religion in Iraq (art.
3). The Constitution also forbade racial, terrorist or radical organizations, and under article
14, all Iraqis were equal before the law, regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion,
branch of religion, conscience, opinion or socioeconomic status. Under article 37(2) of the
Constitution, the State guaranteed the protection of individuals against enforced religious,
intellectual or political opinion or belief; article 43(1) guaranteed to all, freedom of worship
and belief, and the State protected freedom of worship as well as places of worship.
45.
It added that national legislation reflected the international human rights conventions
ratified by Iraq, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination, the Arab Charter on Human Rights and the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Iraq reported on its
efforts to train government personnel, security officials, civilians and others to treat the
public without discrimination. The Government also ensured freedom of worship and the
celebration of feast days and holidays.
46.
It reported that religious and racial minorities in Iraq were represented in politics and
in the Parliament and Councils of the Government through a quota. The Government also
allocated land and funds for the places of worship of all religions. Educational curricula at
all levels reflected the ethnic and racial minorities of Iraq and the Government conducted
promotional campaigns to foster and encourage tolerance among all people in Iraq. The
Government was also undertaking conflict resolution and mediation in different
communities and areas in Iraq.
9
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