NEW YORK, 22 January, 2021, (TON): UN General Assembly on Thursday, January 21^st, adopted a resolution calling for greater efforts to promote a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs.

It condemns offences or mockery against religious sites and symbols, rejects the use of violence to express any point of view and aims to develop a culture of peace as a shield against extremism and intolerance. 

It invites all member states, the UN system, regional and nongovernmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders to support UN initiatives that promote tolerance, including the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites.

Member States denounced any moves to obliterate or forcibly convert religious sites, while strongly deploring violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief.

The Assembly condemned any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and urged States to take effective measures to combat such incidents.

The resolution expresses concern about the increase in incidents of racial and religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence, as well as of negative racial and religious stereotyping.

It expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief, as well as programs and agendas pursued by extremist individuals, organizations and groups aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups.

It reaffirms the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of member states to prevent and effectively suppress attacks on places of worship.

The resolution deplores damage to the cultural heritage of countries in situations of crisis, conflict and post-conflict, and calls for an immediate end to such acts.

The resolution calls on the United Nations to continue to develop strategies, educational initiatives and global communications campaigns and tools aimed at strengthening the protection of religious sites and cultural heritage, fostering mutual respect and understanding, enhancing media awareness and countering religious intolerance and hate speech.

The representative of Pakistan, while speaking in UNGA categorically rejected the “unwarranted assertions” made against his country by India’s delegate and said “India is a leading State sponsor of discrimination against minorities, India is in no position to blame others.”

It invites all member states to enhance education and capacity-building to counter incitement to violence through fostering the messages of unity, solidarity and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, raising awareness and mutual respect toward promoting the culture of peace, non-violence and non-discrimination, and promoting understanding among people of all cultures, religions and beliefs, as well as the importance of peaceful coexistence.