A/76/369 nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender. In October 2020, a number of measures were introduced into the Garda PULSE system to facilitate the reporting and improvement of the recording of hate crimes and hate incidents. 14. According to the submission, a new policy, as well as procedures and training, have been developed in order to increase confidence and provide support and guidance to Garda members in providing an efficient response to hate crimes. In addition to providing guidance and support in recording, investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, the aim of the training is to ensure that al l Gardaí are equipped with the skills and confidence to interact positively with migrants and marginalized communities and to reduce opportunities for disaffection and radicalization. 15. Ireland reported on measures adopted to prevent radicalization and c ountering violent extremism and terrorism. In this regard, the Government stated that it works with European Union partners to coordinate and collaborate in the area of radicalization prevention and intervention. It participates in the European Union Cooperation Mechanism. The Government stated that it plays an active role in the European Union Internet Forum, which in part addresses the online components of radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism. These forums address a range of forms of terrorism and violent extremism, including violent right-wing extremism. 16. The Government reported on the national Anti-Racism Committee, which is an independent committee appointed in 2020 with the mandate to draw up a national action plan against racism for Ireland. The Committee submitted its interim report to the Government on 30 November 2020, setting out the Committee’s initial ideas and plans for developing the national action plan. The Committee has launched a 12 -week public consultation phase, covering four themes: access to justice; all forms of media and communication, including: new technologies; employment, education, health and accommodation; and inclusion and participation. Regarding measures aimed at preventing and countering hate speech and incitement to violence, the Government of Ireland reported that, under the Justice Plan 2021, new legislation to deal with hate crime and incitement to hatred is being developed and will be approved by the end of 2021. 17. The Government notes in its submission that, although incitement to hatred is already an offence, experience has shown that it is difficult to prosecute and there have been very few convictions since the introduction of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989. Therefore, the Act is being reviewed and updated, based on the policy Legislating for Hate Speech and Hate Crime in Ireland: Report on the Public Consultation 2020, published in December 2020. The proposed legislation will create new, aggravated forms of certain existing criminal offences, where those offences are motivated by prejudice against a protected characteristic, namely, race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability. 18. The Government also identified good practices to combat and eliminate forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. These successful practices include the organization of the Garda National Diversity Forum and the introduction of Garda Diversity Officers, who are trained to actively engage with and attend to the concerns of minority, diverse and hard-to-reach communities. Ireland also referred to the establishment of new reporting mechanisms, such as the Online Hate Crime Reporting and Hate crime campaigns. Italy 19. The Government of Italy described its National Office against Racial Discrimination, which was responsible for protection against all forms of 6/16 21-13874