A/HRC/43/72
77.
OHCHR has engaged with national and international organizations working to
combat antisemitism. As a member of the working group on the United Nations strategy
and plan of action on hate speech, OHCHR is currently drafting its own strategy on hate
speech.
78.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has spoken out on issues
of freedom of religion and belief relevant to the many topics contained in the action plan, in
various public forums, including at the Second Global Summit on Religion, Peace and
Security, held in Geneva from 29 April to 1 May 2019. On that occasion, the High
Commissioner highlighted the importance of protecting religious minorities, particularly
those targeted through incitement to hatred and violence. 26
79.
In August 2019, the High Commissioner addressed the Security Council, in an Arria
formula meeting, on advancing the safety and security of persons belonging to religious
minorities in armed conflicts, stressing that efforts to protect minorities must begin before
conflicts erupt and that it is important to collect data disaggregated by religion and
ethnicity. Referring to the Rabat Plan of Action, she emphasized the role of politicians and
religious leaders in preventing and speaking out against intolerance, discriminatory
stereotyping and hate speech.
IV. Observations and views on potential follow-up measures for
further improvement of the implementation of the action
plan
80.
The action plan adopted by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 40/25
and similar General Assembly resolutions adopted by consensus provide guidance for
collective action to counter religious discrimination and intolerance. Greater efforts
are required to promote the implementation of the practical actions contained in those
resolutions.
81.
As stressed in several prior reports of the High Commissioner to the Human
Rights Council and of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly, there is a need
to improve the overall number of contributions received from States and the regional
geographic participation.27
82.
During 2019, OHCHR reviewed the 12 reports on the action plan submitted
between 2012 and 2019 pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the Human Rights
Council and the General Assembly. It found that about 30 per cent of all Member
States had sent contributions for the reports of the High Commissioner to the Human
Rights Council between 2014 and 2019.28 On average, 9 per cent of Member States
(equal to 19 States) submitted contributions for each report.
83.
Similarly, about 34 per cent of all Member States contributed to the reports of
the Secretary-General to the General Assembly between 2012 and 2019 and on
average 9 per cent of States (equal to 17 States) submitted contributions for each
report to the General Assembly. In one year, only five contributions were received
from States.
84.
A significant majority of Member States never submitted a single contribution.
Those that did submitted a contribution in respect of either the report of the High
Commissioner or the report of the Secretary-General; very rarely was a contribution
submitted for both in any given year. Over the entire period reporting has been
sporadic, with only one or two States reporting more or less consistently to both
reports.
26
27
28
14
https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24531&LangID=E.
A/HRC/34/35, A/HRC/40/44, A/72/381, A/73/153 and A/74/229.
The first resolution of the Human Rights Council requesting a report based on information provided
by States was resolution 22/31 in 2013.
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