HIGHLIGHTS OF RESULTS #FAITH4RIGHTS: INTERFAITH ENGAGEMENT TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS Religious leaders are important human rights actors in light of their considerable influence on the hearts and minds of millions of people. The Rabat Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence (A/HRC/22/17/Add.4) outlined some of the responsibilities of religious leaders to prevent incitement to hatred. In order to expand on those responsibilities and include the full spectrum of human rights, UN Human Rights brought together faith-based and civil society actors, in Beirut in 2017 (see A/ HRC/40/58, annexes). The Beirut Declaration considers that all believers – whether they identify as theistic, non-theistic, atheistic or other – should join hands and hearts to articulate the ways in which “faith” can more effectively stand up for “rights” so that they are mutually reinforcing. The individual and communal expression of religions or beliefs thrive and flourish in environments where human rights are protected. Similarly, deeply rooted ethical and spiritual foundations provided by religions or beliefs are also the foundation of human rights and can contribute to their protection and promotion. The Beirut Declaration is linked to 18 commitments on “Faith for Rights,” with corresponding follow-up action (https://www.ohchr. org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/ FaithForRights.aspx). In 2019, UN Human Rights enhanced the application of the Beirut Declaration and its 18 commitments on “Faith for Rights” for training and advocacy purposes with religious minority groups, civil society organizations as well as international human rights mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on minority issues and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. OHCHR focused on the protection of religious minorities by organizing a regional workshop, in Tunis, in October, on enhancing civic space and addressing hate speech on social media platforms in the Middle East and North Africa. In November, the Office organized a side event during the Forum on Minority Issues on “Telling human rights stories of minorities: Short films and conversations with UN Human Rights minority fellows.” It screened and facilitated discussions on several short films from Iraq. The films had been selected at the 2019 Baghdad Foundation of Cinema and Arts Film Festival, conducted in partnership with the Human Rights Office of UNAMI. Bringing rights into the digital age, UN Human Rights produced a #Faith4Rights toolkit, in December, as a prototype for faith actors, academic institutions and training experts that can be adapted and enriched to suit unique interfaith engagement contexts. The concept is interactive and participatory and the methodology of engagement is designed to be implemented through information technology and social media, with a particular focus on the needs of youth. The toolkit contains 18 modules, which offer concrete ideas for peer-to-peer learning exercises, such as how to share personal stories, search for faith quotes or provide inspiring examples of artistic expression. Throughout 2019, the “Faith for Rights” framework was used by UN Human Rights, faith-based actors and civil society organizations to promote and advocate for the respect of freedom of religion and of minority rights. For example, the G20 Interfaith Forum in Osaka recommended reducing incitement to hatred by supporting religious leaders and faith-based actors to fulfil their human rights responsibilities outlined in the Beirut Declaration and its 18 commitments. In addition, the Action Plan of the Faith Action for Children on the Move Global Partners Forum called for the design and implementation of projects and initiatives aimed at promoting respect for and understanding of minority groups, including those with different beliefs, faiths and religions in order to reduce violence and xenophobic narratives and to nurture peaceful societies. Furthermore, the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process organized a “Faith for Rights” seminar, in Nicosia, in October, which focused on the role that faith communities can play in combating human trafficking and supporting victims. In November, Arigatou International published a multi-religious study entitled “Faith and Children’s Rights,” which also draws upon the Beirut Declaration. UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2019 47