A/HRC/13/57 intolerance and hatred among religious communities. The pilot study, conducted in the Lebanon, involved 15 focus group discussions with 113 youths aged 18–25 years. 59. The study brought to light the profound contempt of participants of all confessions towards one another. Participants frequently used harsh and offensive terminology when asked to share their impressions of other confessions, while using highly inspirational terms for their own confessions. Misperceptions about other religions developed into selective collective memories, virtual boundaries and negative attitudes that could potentially degenerate into acts of violence. While participants of all confessions resented what they perceived to be a systemic stigmatization and victimization because of their religion, they nevertheless did not refrain from stigmatizing other confessions. According to the Commission’s findings, the study revealed that, in the case of the Lebanon, strong religious identities played an important role in fuelling ethnic, regional and interreligious tensions. Department of Public Information 60. On 17 June 2009, the United Nations appealed to parents, the Internet industry and policymakers to join hands to eradicate hate speech from cyberspace. Addressing a daylong seminar titled “Unlearning Intolerance” on the danger of cyberhate, the SecretaryGeneral lauded the benefits of the Internet but regretted that some used information technology to reinforce stereotypes, spread misinformation and propagate hate. He warned that some of the newest technologies were being used to peddle some of the oldest fears, decrying what he called “digital demonization” which targeted innocents because of their faith, their race or their ethnicity. The Secretary-General said that the Internet industry could help ensure that hate speech did not proliferate online and he urged policymakers to safeguard people while balancing basic freedoms and human rights. The United Nations began its “Unlearning Intolerance” series in 2004 with a forum on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and has since continued the programme with lectures and seminars. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 61. Reference is made to the chapter on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (“the Office”) in the report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on combating defamation of religions.21 On 2 and 3 October 2008, the Office organized an expert consultation on the links between articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights entitled, “Freedom of expression and advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”. Participants included 12 experts and over 200 observers, including from Governments, United Nations agencies, regional organizations, the media and NGOs. 62. In 2008–2009, the Office served as the Secretariat for the Durban Review process which culminated in the adoption of the outcome document by the Durban Review Conference.22 Although the document did not refer to the notion of defamation of religions, it made a number of provisions to address the scourges described in resolution Human Rights Council 10/22, including paragraphs 12, 68, 69 and 134. 63. The outcome document also emphasizes the critical importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue as a means to prevent, combat and eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Intercultural and interreligious issues 21 22 14 A/64/209. A/CONF.211/8. GE.10-10223