A/HRC/37/44 communities to address civil rights issues. The Department’s Community Relations Service has held approximately one thousand town and community meetings since 11 September 2001, addressing backlash-related issues. It has trained hundreds of law enforcement departments, and it has deployed conflict resolution specialists in communities around the country to alleviate tensions from backlash incidents. During 2016 and 2017, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security led or played a significant role in regular round-table meetings among community leaders and federal, state, and local government officials across the country. During this period, it coordinated and participated in over 200 events. In 2017, the Office continued its strategic engagement with the Somali and Syrian communities and implemented a new initiative engaging with diverse communities at the southern border. F. Encouraging the efforts of leaders to discuss within their communities the causes of discrimination, and evolving strategies to counter those causes8 25. Australia reported that it has funded community-led mentor training programmes and workshops which support youth and individual leaders to counter violent extremism. These measures encourage leaders to explore issues which contribute to negative community sentiment and develop specific solutions to local issues. Ethnic Liaison Officers also meet with a range of community groups to discuss the intake of immigrants on humanitarian grounds and Australia’s Special Humanitarian Programme. Since 2007, the Australian Federal Police has worked with the community through its Community Liaison Team to build productive relationships with community leaders and the broader community across a variety of religions in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. G. Speaking out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence9 26. Australia reported that the Government partners with community leaders and influencers to produce and distribute content that challenges and promotes alternatives to violent extremism. Australia funds programmes to engage youth and empower local leaders with skills and training to support people to speak out, locally and online, to foster critical debate around issues of terrorism and violent extremism. Ethnic Liaison Officers encourage leaders to speak out against intolerance, including advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence. 27. In Oman, employees and people working in the field of religion are instructed to promote everything that leads to achieving social peace in Omani society, to reject religious intolerance and hatred and to renounce violence based on religion or belief. Similarly, acts of terrorism in all its forms, whether against the followers of the same religion or against the followers of a different religion or belief, are to be disavowed and rejected. The focus should be on the values and concepts shared by all religions. 28. The action plan underlines the importance of everyone, including leaders, in speaking out against intolerance. Religious leaders are potentially very important human rights actors, and OHCHR has been undertaking an important activity which engages religious leadership. The Beirut Declaration and its 18 commitments on “Faith for Rights”,10 launched in March 2017, are aimed at faith-based actors, who are defined in a broad manner to include theistic, non-theistic, atheistic or other believers. The Declaration provides 18 corresponding operative commitments through which faith-based actors can articulate how “Faith” can more effectively stand up for “Rights” in order to enhance each other. In December 2017, OHCHR and the Government of Morocco co-organized the 8 9 10 6 Paragraph 7 (d) of resolution 34/32. Paragraph 7 (e) of resolution 34/32. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/FaithForRights.aspx.