A/HRC/RES/31/26 Welcoming in this regard all international, regional and national initiatives aimed at promoting interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony and combating discrimination against individuals on the basis of religion or belief, including the launching of the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on the Basis of Religion or Belief, and taking note of the recent initiative of the chairmanship of Albania of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe under the theme “United in diversity” and the initiative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, 1. Expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief, and programmes and agendas pursued by extremist organizations and groups aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups, in particular when condoned by Governments; 2. Expresses its concern that incidents of religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence, and of negative stereotyping of individuals on the basis of religion or belief, continue to rise around the world, condemns in this context any advocacy of religious hatred against individuals that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and urges States to take effective measures, as set forth in the present resolution, consistent with their obligations under international human rights law, to address and combat such incidents; 3. Condemns deeply any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or electronic media or any other means; 4. Welcomes international, regional and national initiatives aimed at promoting interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony and combating discrimination against individuals on the basis of religion or belief, in particular the series of experts’ meetings held in Washington, D.C., London, Geneva, Doha and Jeddah, in the framework of the Istanbul Process to discuss the implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 16/18; 5. Notes the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the holding of four regional workshops, in Austria, Chile, Kenya and Thailand, on separate but related issues, and the final workshop in Morocco and its outcome document, the Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and the recommendations and conclusions contained therein; 6. Recognizes that the open, public debate of ideas, and interfaith and intercultural dialogue, at the local, national and international levels can be among the best protections against religious intolerance and can play a positive role in strengthening democracy and combating religious hatred, and convinced that continuing dialogue on these issues can help to overcome existing misperceptions; 7. Notes the speech given by the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference at the fifteenth session of the Human Rights Council, and draws on his call upon States to take the following actions to foster a domestic environment of religious tolerance, peace and respect by: (a) Encouraging the creation of collaborative networks to build mutual understanding, promoting dialogue and inspiring constructive action towards shared policy goals and the pursuit of tangible outcomes, such as servicing projects in the fields of education, health, conflict prevention, employment, integration and media education; 3