A/60/283 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 59/177 of 2 March 2005 on global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the General Assembly condemned all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form. It also recognized with deep concern the increase in antiSemitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent and other communities. 2. The General Assembly emphasized that it was the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law. It was conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes played a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tended to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and required resolute action and cooperation for its eradication. It condemned the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred, and called upon States to take all necessary measures to combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they had undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1), in particular paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression. 3. The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance was requested to continue his exchange of views with Member States and relevant mechanisms and treaty bodies within the United Nations system in order to enhance further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation. In the same resolution, the General Assembly called upon States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively. The Assembly also urged Member States to consider implementing the recommendations contained in the reports of the Special Rapporteur and invited other relevant stakeholders to implement those recommendations. The Assembly also encouraged closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the AntiDiscrimination Unit. In addition, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. 4