A/HRC/37/44 84. There is also a need to disseminate widely the practical elements of, as well as relevant actions taken by, Member States to implement, the action plan with a view to raising awareness about the issues at stake. Awareness-raising campaigns or communications initiatives would be welcome, particularly those aimed at simplifying the language of the action plan and issuing a concise, separate publication in all regions and in all United Nations languages, and at a later stage in other local languages. Member States could also consider holding general public briefings on the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on the Basis of Religion of Belief. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief recently noted that six conferences had been held in various countries since the adoption of resolution 16/18 (see A/72/365, paras. 55 and 79–81). 85. It will also be important to expand participation in the implementation of the action plan to include civil society and other stakeholders. States may wish to consider inviting other stakeholders to report on their implementation of the action plan. Similarly, multiple forms of discrimination may affect individuals and groups. Women may suffer from discrimination on the grounds of both gender and religion or belief, often because they are identifiable through manifestations of their faith, and they may bear the brunt of discrimination targeting their communities. It would also be important to consider more closely how women are affected by such issues as religious profiling, representation and pluralism. Are they participating in the dialogues, collaborative networks and initiatives which States report are taking place? It would be helpful if future submissions made reference to these issues of multiple discrimination and the gender dimensions of discrimination on the basis of religion or belief. 86. As stressed in the previous report of the High Commissioner (see A/HRC/34/35, para. 116) and the most recent report of the Secretary-General (see A/72/381, para. 101), there is also a need to improve the reporting profile, in terms of the overall number of contributions received from States and the regional geographic participation.22 87. Furthermore, as there are two separate annual reports on the same action plan, one to the Human Rights Council and one to the General Assembly, States could streamline these parallel reporting processes either in terms of content or focus, or by adjusting the reporting time frames to a biannual period in order to give a better picture of how the action plan is being implemented worldwide. 88. As specified in paragraph 9 of the resolution, States are encouraged to consider providing updates on efforts made in this regard as part of their ongoing reporting to OHCHR. Member States are also encouraged to utilize the universal periodic review to fully address freedom of religion or belief and related issues. The use of this mechanism, including through information from national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, has great potential to improve the implementation of the action plan and, during their recent reviews, some States have accepted specific recommendations to implement resolution 16/18 (see A/HRC/32/8, A/HRC/32/10 and A/HRC/32/15). Similarly, in recent resolutions the Human Rights Council has called for the effective implementation of resolution 16/18 and the Rabat Plan of Action, as well as increased efforts in a countryspecific situation to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence in all sectors of society, in accordance with resolution 16/18 and the Rabat Plan of Action. 23 89. Finally, with a view to enhancing the gathering of consolidated information and furthering reporting, States may wish to revisit the proposal made at the Durban Review Conference, held in 2009, that an observatory be created to gather and organize information about discrimination, including on the basis of religion or belief. Trends and manifestations could be compiled and analysed as well as legislation, policies, programmes and institutions which address them. It can be used to develop technical cooperation programmes and to better assess the situation. The proposed mechanism could initially 22 23 See also the report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief (A/72/365, paras. 63–65 and 80). See, for example, resolutions 34/8 and 34/22. 15