A/RES/78/264 GA

United Nations A/RES/78/264 General Assembly Distr.: General 21 March 2024 24-05503 (E) 260324 *2405503* Seventy-eighth session Agenda item 14 Culture of peace Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 15 March 2024 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/78/L.48)] 78/264. Measures to combat Islamophobia The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights1 and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action2 for the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons, Reaffirming also the positive role that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can play in strengthening democracy and combating religious intolerance, and reaffirming further that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression carries with it special duties and responsibilities, in accordance with article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 3 and recalling article 20 (2) of the Covenant, which states that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law, Deeply concerned about the prevalence of impunity in some instances, and the lack of accountability in some cases, in addressing violence against persons on the basis of religion or belief in public and private spheres, and stressing the importance of making the necessary efforts to raise awareness to address the spread of hate speech against persons on the basis of religion or belief, Recalling its resolution 76/254 of 15 March 2022, designating 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, and welcoming the first commemoration __________________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 3 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. A/RES/78/264 Measures to combat Islamophobia 24-05503 2/3 by the General Assembly of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, held at United Nations Headquarters in March 2023, Recalling also its resolutions 36/55 of 25 November 1981, in which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, 72/130 of 8 December 2017 on the International Day of Living Together in Peace, 73/296 of 28 May 2019, in which it decided to designate 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, 75/258 of 21 January 2021 on promoting a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites, 77/318 of 25 July 2023 on promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech and 78/129 of 18 December 2023 on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, Reaffirming the obligation of Member States to prohibit discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief and to implement measures to guarantee the equal and effective protection of the law, Expressing its concern at the growing manifestations of intolerance based on religion or belief, including in the digital context, which can generate hatred and violence among individuals from and within different nations and which may have serious implications at the national, regional and international levels, and in this regard emphasizing the importance of respect for religious and cultural diversity, as well as interreligious, interfaith and intercultural dialogue aimed at promoting a culture of tolerance and respect among individuals, societies and nations, Encouraging activities aimed at promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue in order to enhance peace and social stability, respect for diversity and mutual respect and to create, at the global level, and also at the regional, national and local levels, an environment conducive to peace and mutual understanding, Recognizing the leading role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the work of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in promoting intercultural dialogue and their contribution to interreligious dialogue, as well as its activities related to the culture of peace and non-violence and its focus on concrete actions at the global, regional and subregional levels, 1. Condemns 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; 2. Also condemns the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of their holy book, attacks on mosques, sites and shrines and other acts of religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred and violence against Muslims; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to appoint a United Nations Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia; 4. Calls upon Member States to take all necessary measures, including legislative and policy measures, to combat religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred, incitement to violence and violence against Muslims and prohibit by law incitement to violence and violence against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief; 5. Also calls upon Member States to engage with all relevant stakeholders to promote the virtues of interreligious and intercultural dialogue and dialogue among civilizations, respect and acceptance of differences, tolerance, respect for religious and cultural diversity, peaceful coexistence and cohabitation, inclusion and respect Measures to combat Islamophobia A/RES/78/264 3/3 24-05503 for human rights, and to reject the spread of hate speech that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility and/or violence; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare and submit a report to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on measures taken by Member States and the United Nations pursuant to the present resolution to combat Islamophobia in all its forms and manifestations. 62nd plenary meeting 15 March 2024

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