A/HRC/43/28 on the basis of exclusionary interpretations that instrumentalized religions, beliefs or their followers for electoral purposes or political gains.28 38. In April, the High Commissioner referred to the Faith for Rights framework in her press statement concerning the revised Penal Code of Brunei Darussalam, which included provisions that could encourage violence and discrimination against, inter alia, religious minority groups, and she stressed that the Government, religious authorities and a wide range of civil society actors should work together to uphold human dignity and equality for all.29 39. At the end of her visit to Malaysia in October, the High Commissioner highlighted the Rabat Plan of Action as useful guidance in distinguishing between permissible speech and speech that could amount to incitement, and she offered the assistance of OHCHR and other United Nations human rights mechanisms to further explore that.30 40. In March, United Nations experts condemned attacks on mosques and urged action against nationalist populism and supremacist ideologies. The experts particularly decried that States and leaders had deployed political rhetoric that demonized particular groups, including minorities, and emboldened supremacist ideologues.31 41. In August, United Nations experts issued a statement following mass shootings in the United States of America, noting that the increasing use of divisive language and attempts to marginalize racial, ethnic and religious minorities in political speech had functioned as a call to action, facilitating violence, intolerance and bigotry. The manifestos and social media posts of those attackers reflected political discourse that devalued and dehumanized people on the basis of their race, religion, immigration status and ethnicity.32 42. On the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, several special procedure mandate holders called on States to do more to stop hate crimes and to promote interfaith initiatives.33 In thematic and mission reports, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief called upon States to use the Rabat Plan of Action and the Faith for Rights framework as a chart of specific commitments and practical measures to address the related phenomena of incitement to religious hatred, discrimination and violence. 34 In his report on combating antisemitism, the Special Rapporteur also referred to them as soft law instruments that could provide essential guidance for strategies to combat antisemitism and other forms of intolerance.35 43. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed with alarm the prevalence, in a number of States, of racist hate speech against Roma and other minorities, which fuelled hatred and intolerance and at times incited violence against such groups. The Committee recommended different measures to prevent racist hate speech and incitement to racial hatred by all persons, including public officials and politicians, and to strengthen and implement relevant legislation. 36 The Committee also recommended intensifying public campaigns to combat hate speech, incitement to hatred and hate crimes, and promoting tolerance and understanding towards national minorities and migrants, in cooperation with civil society and representatives of the most affected communities.37 44. At the country level, OHCHR took the lead in developing the country team action plan on hate speech in Ukraine, in line with the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech. As part of that action plan, OHCHR committed to monitoring and 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 8 See www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24531&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24432&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25108&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24385&LangID=E. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24875. See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=24906&LangID=E. A/73/362, para. 79; and A/HRC/40/58/Add.1, para. 91. A/74/358, para. 73. CERD/C/HUN/CO/18-25, paras. 16–17. CERD/C/LTU/CO/9-10, para. 12.