A/HRC/13/57 secure their preservation. Last, but not least, it was working with public and private schools to educate students about the spiritual beliefs and practice of the Maya. Kazakhstan [Original: English] 15. Kazakhstan reported that it was historically at the crossroads of religions, cultures and civilizations. It reported that 40 confessions and denominations, as well as 130 nationalities and ethnic groups, coexisted peacefully and that Kazakhstan ensured religious freedom for Muslims, Christians and Jews. 16. It was reported that, in 1992, the Freedom of Belief and Religious Organizations Act had been adopted, in compliance with international human rights standards. Additions and amendments to this law were currently being discussed by Parliament. Also at the national level, the Government’s Council on Relations with Religious Unions had organized round tables on interconfessional dialogue and religious tolerance. The Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan, as well as the Ombudsman, in cooperation with NGO and religious groups, further worked to resolve conflicts between non-traditional religious organizations and local authorities. 17. Kazakhstan reported it had hosted three Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in 2003, 2006 and 2009. Kazakhstan had also initiated the Forum of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on Interreligious, Inter-ethnic and Intercultural Understanding in 2006. In 2007, Kazakhstan had adopted the Programme on Guaranteeing Religious Freedom and Improving State-Religion Relations. Within the framework of the programme, international conferences on religious legislation and the fight against religious extremism were being organized. Kazakhstan had also actively advocated for the designation by the United Nations of 2010 as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. Pakistan [Original: English] 18. Pakistan, in its submission, gave an overview of global events affecting Muslims in the world, Islamophobia as a rapidly increasing phenomenon, the basic principles governing the relation of Islam with Christianity and Judaism, and the centrality of peace and dialogue in Islam. 19. It further reported that article 33 of the Constitution of Pakistan stipulated the discouragement by the State of parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian and provincial prejudices among its citizens. Sections 295–298 of the Pakistani Criminal Code addressed defamation of religions, providing sanctions of imprisonment, fines, or both, for the following: acts of vandalism in a place of worship with the intent of insulting a religion, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings or beliefs, disturbance of religious ceremonies or assembly, trespassing of places of worship or burial, and speech or gestures deliberately intended to hurt religious feelings. 20. At the district level, it was reported that the provincial governments of Pakistan had established district interfaith harmony committees — with religious leaders of minority and majority communities represented — to target the sources of prejudice. The committees were meeting on a monthly or quarterly basis to review the situation in the district with regard to the security and welfare of minorities, the promotion of interfaith harmony and the fostering of a better understanding between majority and minority communities. 6 GE.10-10223

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