E/CN.4/1996/72/Add.2 page 6 III. ACTION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AUTHORITIES IN THE LANDER 27. The German authorities have worked hard to restore the image of a peaceful, liberal, cosmopolitan and democratic Germany. Large-scale action has been taken, particularly in the fields of prevention and punishment, but also in amendments to the law. A variety of similar, concrete steps have been taken in parallel by the Länder and the communes. A. Political and intellectual reaction to extremism, xenophobia and violence 28. All activities at the Bund (federal), Land (provincial) and communal levels emphasize political action to address anti-constitutional trends in extremist circles on the fringes of political life. Such political activity includes extensive information campaigns on the nature and scope of the dangers inherent in political extremism. While it is emphasized that the Federal Republic of Germany has for decades been a solid democracy grounded in the Basic Law, the risks and threats that violence, extremism, intolerance and xenophobia, fervid nationalism and fundamentalism represent are brought to the fore. 29. Public information activities consist, on the one hand, in making the public aware of the values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity, and on the other hand, in fostering determination to defend the Federal Republic's liberal, democratic regime. 30. Such political and intellectual action covers the following four points: (a) Protection of the Constitution through information, by means of booklets dealing with extremism, violence, terrorism and xenophobia and through seminars for teachers, the authors of scholarly journals, journalists, and people responsible for adult education; (b) An information campaign against extremism and xenophobia; (c) Social research projects concerned with internal security; (d) The causes of, and action to combat, violence. 31. As regards internal security, particular priority has been given to a joint information campaign by the Federal and Land ministries of the interior against extremism and xenophobia. The campaign was launched in March 1993 under the slogan “Understanding and respect for human dignity - no to xenophobia”. 32. The campaign had two objectives: to inform and to motivate. It was aimed particularly at young people, but also at the public at large, and dealt with the reasons, underlying causes and extent of violence, xenophobia and extremism. Young people were also encouraged to reflect on their own behaviour towards foreigners and the opportunities they had to confront violence and xenophobia.