A/HRC/34/35
provision of services, the delivery of public functions, education and the management and
disposal of premises.
70.
The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is enshrined in article 9 of
the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, to which
the United Kingdom is a signatory. There are also laws against incitement to racial and
religious hatred. Under the Public Order Act 1986, it is an offence to commit an act that is
threatening, abusive or insulting and which is intended or likely to stir up racial hatred.
71.
Under the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, an offence is committed if a
person uses threatening words or behaviour, or displays any written material that is
threatening, if the person intends to stir up religious hatred. Possession, publication or
distribution of inflammatory material is also an offence. The Terrorism Act 2006 makes it a
criminal offence to directly or indirectly incite or encourage others to commit, prepare or
instigate acts of terrorism.
72.
The Government reports that it has set up the first ever cross-government working
group on anti-Muslim hatred and funds, TellMAMA, the first service to record incidents
and support victims. It also supports the cross-government working group on anti-Semitism
to respond to the concerns of the Jewish community and it supports the Anne Frank Trust to
challenge prejudice and hatred in schools across London and the West Midlands. The
Government plans to publish its new hate crime action plan in the summer of 2017.
III. Information received from non-Member States
State of Palestine
73.
Palestine states that all religions and beliefs are respected. Article 9 of the
Constitution provides that all Palestinians are equal before the law. Article 273 of the Penal
Code concerns the verbal disrespect of any religion or prophets, which is punishable by
imprisonment of between one and three years. Articles 275, 276 and 277 provide for
punishment and imprisonment for destruction of a place of worship, regardless of religion;
and damage to religious cemeteries or other places of burial.
74.
Article 278 prohibits the dissemination of texts, religious articles or pictures that
insult a religion and verbal insults, in a public place where others can hear, of other
religions. Article 146 makes the intentional destruction of a religious place or insult to a
religion, a felony.
75.
The disciplinary and educational laws stipulate that everyone has the right to
education, regardless of sex, religion, where they live, their colour or background.
IV. Observations and views on follow-up measures to further
improve the implementation of the action plan
76.
In recent years, there has been greater international attention paid to issues
concerning discrimination, intolerance and violence on the basis of religion or belief and
Member States have agreed to address them through a number of actions and measures.
77.
There is also a rising tide of attacks around the world that target people on account
of their religious beliefs, including in places of worship, and horrific acts of incitement to
hatred, as well as evidence of racial or religious profiling.
78.
It is important to recognize that multiple forms of discrimination may affect
individuals and groups. Women suffer from discrimination on the grounds of both gender
and religion or belief, often because they are identifiable through manifestations of their
faith, and consequently they may bear the brunt of discrimination aimed at their
communities.
79.
The High Commissioner has repeatedly highlighted increasingly worrying levels of
incitement to racial or religious hatred and violence, particularly against ethnic or religious
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