Governments could help to combat religious discrimination by offering a greater public space for minority groups to share their beliefs.

That was among the ideas discussed at the Sixth Forum on Minority Issues, held 26-27 November 2013 at the Palais des Nations.

Organized by the UN’s Independent Expert on minority issues, Rita Izsák, the Forum brought together 15 experts to discuss “Beyond freedom of religion or belief: Guaranteeing the rights of religious minorities.”

Among them was Diane Ala’i, the representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, who told the Forum that states can contribute to the dispelling of misconceptions and prejudices by “creating a space where religious minorities are able to inform other of the tenets of their beliefs.”

“Often attacks and violence are based on suspicion, ignorance and presumptions,” said Ms. Ala’i, addressing the Forum on 26 November in her personal  capacity. “Majorities also have little interest in learning more – which is fostered by religious leaders as well as politicians, often because they believe these religions and beliefs are a threat.”

Thus, she said, “fear of the unknown is a breeding ground for persecution.”

Ms. Ala’i said religious intolerance is often roused by the spread of lies based on “primordial fears” such as spying, sexual offenses, secret societies, assaults on children, or the drinking of blood. “All the persecuted minorities can recognize these accusations.”

“By allowing freedom of expression, the state will provide an environment where healthy debates regarding different beliefs will improve the level of awareness and be conducive to a heightened social tolerance, thus safeguarding minorities from attacks and persecution,” said Ms. Ala’i.

In addition, she said, religious groups themselves can combat intolerance “by actively contributing to the betterment of society, shoulder to shoulder with other compatriots, members of religious minorities will create confidence-building situations.”

She cited as an example efforts undertaken by the Baha’is of Iran to work with fellow citizens in contributing to the improvement of society through education projects, or working to advance the status of women.

Ms. Ala’i’s intervention followed from a report by Ms. Izsák, delivered last month to the UN General Assembly, which noted that “globally the rights of religious minorities are poorly implemented in practice, and that in all regions they face discrimination, social exclusion, marginalization and in many instances harassment, persecution and violence.”

Ms. Izsák also said that the “wider collective rights of religious minorities are frequently neglected by Governments. … far greater attention must be given to the rights of religious minorities … [these] require positive actions on the part of States … [and] requires legislation, policies and concrete measures to create substantive equality in all areas of cultural, economic, political, public, religious and social life.”

Another expert who contributed to the Forum was Nazila Ghanea, an International Human Rights Law academic at the University of Oxford. She said greater participation in the life of society by religious minorities could also help dispel prejudices.

She urged them to “go beyond ‘victimhood’” and to “recognize their power to stand up for their own rights and the rights of others.”

Religious minorities should also “use all their means, their spiritual and ethical resources, to contribute to wider society along with their neighbors and along with majorities and other minorities,” said Dr. Ghanea.