E/CN.4/1995/78 page 4 to that document, which contains chapters on the working methods of the Special Rapporteur (chap. II), contemporary manifestations of racism and racial discrimination (chap. III), causes and vectors of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia (chap. IV) and measures taken by Governments and action undertaken by civil society (chap. V), as well as conclusions and recommendations. 9. In the present document, the Special Rapporteur would like to give an account of his activities in 1994 and those planned for 1995. He would also like to report on a number of allegations of acts and practices of racism and racial discrimination and on measures taken by the Governments of Germany, Australia, Austria, Colombia, France and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as by European bodies. The Special Rapporteur will also refer to the activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aimed at combating racism and racial discrimination. I. ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN 1994 AND THOSE PLANNED FOR 1995 A. Activities conducted in 1994 10. During the past year, the Special Rapporteur has essentially established contact with a number of Governments with a view to undertaking missions to their countries. Following preliminary consultations with representatives of the Permanent Missions of Germany and the United States, the Special Rapporteur wrote to the two Governments concerned through the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (letters of 14 June 1994), proposing that he should visit each country. On 4 August 1994, the Assistant Secretary-General sent a similar letter to the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Lastly, on 13 September 1994, a request along the lines of those addressed to the aforementioned Governments was sent to the Government of Brazil. On 2 June 1994, the Special Rapporteur also had consultations with the Permanent Mission of France to explore the possibility of making a visit to that country. 11. As the Special Rapporteur already explained in his report to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session (A/49/677, para. 46), basing himself on Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1993/20 and 1994/64 and Economic and Social Council decision 1993/258, field missions are useful in enabling the Special Rapporteur to familiarize himself with the actual situation in a particular country through access to first-hand information and discussions with the parties concerned, whether the Government or civil society. Such missions are in no case designed to be inquisitorial; rather, they can enable the measures taken by a Government to overcome racism and racial discrimination to be better known. 1. Mission to the United States of America 12. On 15 August 1994, the Special Rapporteur was pleased to receive the agreement of the United States Government. He then visited Washington, New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta from 9 to 22 October and talked with representatives of the Government, representatives of non-governmental