A/HRC/28/47
58.
Since 2012, the Government has also funded a project for the prevention of antiSemitism, racism and undemocratic attitudes (DEMBRA), led by the Centre for Studies of
the Holocaust and Religious Minorities, in cooperation with the European Wergeland
Centre and the University of Oslo. The Ministry of Education and Research commissioned
a study on how indigenous peoples and national, ethnic and religious minorities are
described, and how questions related to immigration and cultural diversity, anti-Semitism,
xenophobia, racism, extremism, terrorism and radicalization are discussed, in textbooks for
schools. The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training launched a guide on
national minorities for staff in kindergartens and schools in 2014.
59.
The anti-discrimination act prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion or belief,
and requires public authorities to make active, targeted and systematic efforts to promote
equality irrespective of ethnicity, religion or belief.
60.
The State and the municipalities have a financial responsibility for the Church of
Norway. For several decades, other religious and life stance communities have had a
statutory right to claim an annual financial grant per member of the community from both
the State and the municipalities. The grants scheme secures equal financial treatment of all
religious and life stance communities in Norway. About 700 such communities, including
Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and humanistic communities, receive financial
grants under the scheme.
61.
Norway noted that no allegations had been made with regard to racial profiling.
Spain
62.
In Spain, four key developments and activities were carried out to implement the
action plan outlined in paragraphs 7 and 8 of Council resolution 25/34. The Advisory
Commission on Religious Practice (CALR) was modified by Royal Decree 932/2013 in
order to enhance the presence of religious groups in the Commission and to enrich the
space and dialogue of confessions within the Commission. New measures have been
created to improve knowledge of the situation of religious freedom in Spain and, therefore,
of religious groups, including the preparation and submission of an annual report to the
Government on the situation of the right to religious freedom in Spain, and the collection of
information on action by the public administration related to the development and exercise
of the right to religious freedom, thus strengthening the ability of CALR to obtain
information on situations that can affect religious groups and believers and to raise its
conclusions with government authorities. Specific working groups study and analyse issues
affecting religious groups with a view to finding out more about their situation and
identifying joint solutions, alternatives or initiatives to improve social life.
63.
Spain participates in the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for
Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, located in Vienna, which seeks to enable,
empower and encourage dialogue among followers of different religions and cultures
around the world. In November 2013, a government delegation from Spain participated in
the international conference entitled “The image of the other” aimed at implementing best
practices in interreligious and intercultural education developed in the Euro-Mediterranean
region.
64.
The Observatory for Religious Pluralism in Spain developed a knowledge transfer
tool underpinned by an agreement among the Ministry of Justice, the Spanish Federation of
Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and the Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation for
public management of religious diversity. The Observatory produces management guides
and serves as a reference portal for religious groups and communities and confessions,
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