E/CN.4/1996/72/Add.2 page 25 8. Acts of violence stemming from xenophobia or racism committed against persons or their property: Inequality of treatment in access to employment and housing, in educational and occupational training institutions, and in community-based services and establishments; Insults, humiliating treatment and threats of a discriminatory nature at workplaces or occupational training institutions, in the media and in certain political organizations; Violence between young people of different nationalities and origins. 9. In comparison with other German cities, Berlin has a modest rating for acts of violence directed against foreigners or asylum-seekers. This is due to a number of factors: A very long-standing tradition of cohabitation between Berliners of various nationalities and origins in West Berlin; A municipal policy that accords much attention to aliens and to their integration into German society; A public relations effort admired by other cities; A large number of counselling centres and mutual aid organizations that deal with the problems specific to various non-German groups and subscribe to the ideals of intercultural understanding; The preventive measures put into effect by the police and the readiness displayed by them to provide effective protection for premises housing asylum-seekers when threatening situations arise. 10. In spite of these relatively positive influences, the fact that foreign companies and businessmen continue to express worries about their safety in Germany cannot be glossed over. Particularly important for Berlin, it shows that, alongside objective safety, it is also essential to strengthen the subjective perception of safety among aliens in the city. That depends not only on effective protection by the police in threatening situations; it also requires tolerance and clear evidence of acceptance of foreigners in everyday life situations. 11. The Commissioner for Aliens recently expressed concern at the number of reports received concerning incidents in which non-Germans had been ill-treated or insulted, because of their ethnic origin, by Berlin police officials on duty - in one case anti-Semitic insults were cited. The Commissioner demanded an immediate explanation from the parties responsible. Judicial inquiries are being conducted, but have so far produced no result. Such incidents jeopardize the efforts exerted, with the Commissioner's backing, by the Berlin police to establish relations of mutual trust with the non-German population.