A/62/306 politicization is an expression of one disturbing reason for the resilience and increase of racism and xenophobia: the existence of political parties with racist and xenophobic platforms that acquire a democratic legitimacy and the ability to implement these platforms as a result of electoral success and the infiltration of such platforms into the programmes of democratic parties. This has a major impact in the form of legislation and policies that approach immigration and asylum issues solely from a security point of view and criminalize immigrants and asylum-seekers, the considerable number of acts of police violence with racist and xenophobic overtones against these groups, and the impunity enjoyed, according to the victims, by the perpetrators. In that respect, on the basis of the testimonies received, the Special Rapporteur notes that most members of foreign communities and national minorities — blacks, nationals of Balkan countries, Travellers, asylum-seekers and Muslims or persons of Muslim culture — experience racism and discrimination on a daily basis and there is an overall atmosphere of xenophobia, a feeling of loneliness within the population in certain regions and a fear of certain institutions, particularly the police. The leaders of the Jewish community also told the Special Rapporteur that they felt concern over the resurgence of anti-Semitism in certain quarters. 53. The recommendations of the Special Rapporteur to the Swiss Government place emphasis on the following main actions: recognizing the dynamic of racism and xenophobia and expressing a firm political will to combat those phenomena, including through opposition to and condemnation of all racist and xenophobic platforms; putting in place the appropriate means, mechanisms and institutions to implement this political will, in particular by drafting comprehensive national legislation and a national programme of action to combat racism and xenophobia; strengthening existing structures to combat racism; establishing a federal commission to promote human rights and to combat all forms of discrimination; maintaining, if not increasing, the resources provided to independent bodies that combat racism; and finally, in parallel with the political and legal strategy, elaborating a cultural and ethical strategy for the long-term construction of a multicultural, democratic, egalitarian and interactive society, based on the recognition and promotion of the cultural, ethnic and religious diversity of society and on the promotion of interaction and reciprocal knowledge among these different communities. 54. The Special Rapporteur took particular note of the keen involvement of civil society, particularly the Federal Commission against Racism, as a major positive factor for change in Swiss society. Profoundly inspired by the traditional humanitarian heritage of Switzerland, its civil society, faced with the relentlessly hostile legislation of certain political parties, demonstrates a daily commitment to the promotion of human rights in general, as well as support and solidarity towards the victims of racism and xenophobia, particularly immigrants, asylum-seekers and foreign communities. 2. Mission to the Russian Federation 55. The Special Rapporteur visited the Russian Federation from 12 to 17 June 2006 with the objective of gathering first-hand information on the situation of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia in the country, particularly in the light of the many incidents of racist and xenophobic violence reported by human rights organizations and by the national and international press. 16 07-49048