A/HRC/32/50/Add.1 students and enabling them to develop their skills in their new environment.14 The Special Rapporteur was pleased to note that at the time of his visit the Greek school curriculum was being revised to reinforce understanding and respect for multiculturalism, and that the training and sensitization of teachers was considered of primary importance, with an emphasis placed on the fight against discrimination, and on intercultural education. In 2013, the Ministry of Interior developed a national strategy for the integration of third-country nationals. Priority areas of the strategy are information services, education, Greek language courses, employment, vocational training, health, housing, political participation, equal opportunities, intercultural dialogue, the promotion of the principle of equal treatment, the combating of discrimination, the sensitization of the receiving society and the combating of racist and xenophobic phenomena. Furthermore, the Ministry of Interior, as responsible authority for the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals for the period 2007-2013, implemented, in collaboration with public and private stakeholders in the integration process and with civil society organizations, a series of actions promoting the smooth integration of third-country nationals in Greek society. 35. The Special Rapporteur was pleased to meet with the Racist Violence Recording Network, which was created in October 2011 by an initiative of the National Commission for Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other civil society organizations. Today, it counts 38 member organizations, which provide legal, medical, social and other support services to victims of racist violence. The Network records racist incidents and analyses the quantitative and qualitative trends relating to racist violence in Greece. Stakeholders respect the principle of confidentiality, and incidents are reported to the network without any reference to personal data. 36. The essential contribution of the Network—addressing racially motivated acts and xenophobic attitudes—appeared as early as the first months of its pilot phase. During the January-December 2014 period, the Network recorded 81 incidents of racist violence involving more than 100 victims. In 46 incidents, immigrants or refugees were targeted because of their ethnic origin or skin colour, while 32 incidents were committed against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons (in three of those cases, the victims were foreigners). It also recorded three anti-Semitic attacks, in which places of worship and symbols were desecrated. In most cases, the perpetrators were not members of extremist organizations, but rather Greek citizens, mostly men, and public servants.15 37. The Network recommended that the authorities update circular No. 7100/4/3 of 24 May 2006, as issued by the police, on the obligation of police officers to investigate racist motivations for crimes, to collect relevant data and to record and/or report each incident committed against someone for reasons of national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. 38. Regarding racist violence and hate crimes, such as verbal abuse on the streets, the Network also recommended the following: condemnation of such acts by the political leadership and the leadership of the police force; training of police officers regarding their obligation to assist victims, intervene for their rescue and ensure that they are brought before the competent services; cooperation of police departments with governmental or non-governmental bodies and immigrant communities in order to provide medical, social and legal assistance and interpretation to facilitate access by victims to the police; abstention from prosecution on the grounds of illegal entry; and prohibition of arrest and administrative detention of witnesses during the period between filing a complaint and the 14 15 See A/HRC/WG.6/11/GRC/1, paras. 84 and 86. Racist Violence Recording Network: 2014 annual report, available from http://mdmgreece.gr/app/uploads/2015/05/Report_2014eng.pdf. 11