A/HRC/34/35 minorities and migrants. Discrimination and xenophobia is often being triggered or stoked by political leaders, including during electoral campaigns. The number of recorded hate crimes appears to be rising in a number of Member States. All these phenomena tear at the fabric of society, creating mistrust and political and social instability, and posing a threat to peace. 80. It remains urgent that States honour their obligations under international human rights law to fight any discrimination and take effective measures to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and cultural life. 81. The action plan outlined in paragraphs 7 and 8 of Human Rights Council resolution 31/26 provides a guiding tool for individual or collective action to counter religious discrimination and intolerance. Concrete steps and measures to foster its practical implementation are required. 82. Based on the contributions received, it is clear that a number of States continue to take steps to implement the action plan. Among the 18 States that submitted contributions, many reported on legal developments and revisions or amendments to existing legislation and mechanisms dealing with human rights and issues related to freedom of religion or belief in particular. Most States reported that they had constitutional provisions concerning non-discrimination, equality and freedom of religion or belief, and several have enacted criminal codes and civil laws aimed at protection against discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief. V. Conclusions and recommendations 83. There is an urgent need to take concrete measures to combat intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief. The action plan provides an important foundation for this endeavour. OHCHR stands ready to assist States, at their request, to develop frameworks and strategies to put the action plan into practice. The present report provides some examples of the ways in which that task could be achieved. 84. In the light of the request by the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner suggests that States consider the following recommendations. Dialogue at the national, regional and international levels 85. The High Commissioner welcomes the fact that dialogue is once again a major feature of the contributions received from Member States and notes the benefits of dialogue that is witnessed through collaborative networks, councils, engagement with various entities and personalities, as envisaged by resolution 31/26. The importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue and exchange, whether national, regional or international, was underlined in almost all submissions. Ongoing and established interreligious and intrareligious dialogue serves as a forum for communication, discussion, networking and learning and provides for the open debate of ideas. It is also a means to foster harmony, tolerance and coexistence in communities. 86. Some States provided examples as to how government-led initiatives and decision-making processes can be most effective when they include civil society organizations, religious leaders and faith-based organizations. The implementation of the action plan should be inclusive in nature, with the participation of a broad range of stakeholders, including regional and international organizations, national human rights institutions, equality bodies and civil society. 87. Support from and the participation of Member States in various forms of dialogue should be increased and greater efforts are needed to support regional dialogues, as well as a global dialogue on these issues, as stated in the action plan. International platforms, such as the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, including 11