A/HRC/11/4 page 8 open debate, emphasizing that free speech is therefore a requirement for, and not an impediment to, tolerance. The Special Rapporteur’s participation in the event falls within the realms of his mandate as outlined in resolution 7/36 of the Human Rights Council. 17. From 7 to 8 October 2008, the Special Rapporteur participated in the information session for newly appointed special-procedures mandate-holders, held in Geneva. The meeting primarily discussed the institution-building process conducted by the Human Rights Council and the new methods of work of mandate-holders, as well as issues such as cooperation with civil society, national human rights institutions and among special-procedures mandates. 18. While in Geneva to attend the aforementioned events, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Group States (GRULAC). The Special Rapporteur is keen to maintain open dialogue with all regional groups and plans to meet with those he did not have the opportunity to meet with during his future visits to Geneva. 19. On 10 October 2008, the Special Rapporteur participated in a seminar at the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg entitled “The European protection of freedom of expression: reflections on some recent restrictive trends”. The event was organized jointly by Robert Schumann University of Strasbourg, Ghent University and the Open Society Justice Initiative. 20. On 26 October the Special Rapporteur met with members of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) in London. 21. On 28 October, the Special Rapporteur attended the International Symposium on Freedom of Expression organized by UNESCO in Paris. The event, entitled “Freedom of expression: development, democracy and dialogue”, was organized to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While in Paris for this event, the Special Rapporteur also met with representatives of Reporters Without Borders. 22. On 7 November 2008, the Special Rapporteur attended the international symposium “25th anniversary of AMARC: Development and empowerment through community radio” organized by the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) in Montreal. 23. From 13 to 15 November 2008, the Special Rapporteur participated in an event organized by the Latin American Association for Educational Radio (ALER), in Buenos Aires. The international conference focused on “Freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity in radio”. 24. Following a meeting on 9 December 2008, as part of the Global Forum on World Media Development (held 7-10 December 2008 in Athens), the Special Rapporteur, along with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Catalina Botero, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Faith Pansy Tlakula, issued a joint declaration on defamation of religions, and anti-terrorism and anti-extremism legislation. The declaration noted that the concept of “defamation of religions” did not accord with international standards regarding defamation and that restrictions on freedom