General Assembly condemns acts of violence against religious sites

The General Assembly today condemned all acts or threats of violence, destruction, damage or endangerment against religious sites, as it adopted a resolution on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations.

Calling upon all States to ensure full respect and protection for religious sites, the Assembly encouraged the international community and the media to promote a culture of tolerance for the diversity of religions, which represented an important aspect of humankind's collective heritage.

In a separate action, the Assembly recommended the adoption of the provisional agenda for its twenty-sixth special session on the review of the HIV/AIDS problem.

The Assembly also adopted a protocol against the illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms -- a supplement to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime adopted last year. The protocol will require 40 ratifications to enter into force.

The Assembly also set 17 and 18 September as the dates for a second high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership.