A/HRC/20/33 these countries before the end of 2012. The Special Rapporteur has also renewed the formal request sent by the previous Special Rapporteur to the Government of South Africa to visit the country. 45. The Special Rapporteur would like to acknowledge the letter of invitation extended by Honduras. While he has not yet been able to honour this invitation, the Special Rapporteur hopes that he will be able to do so. 46. From 23 to 27 May 2011, the previous Special Rapporteur visited Hungary. The Special Rapporteur would like to reiterate the sincere gratitude expressed by his predecessor to the Government of Hungary for its cooperation and openness in the preparation and conduct of the visit. The report containing the observations and conclusions of the then Special Rapporteur on the visit is included in document A/HRC/20/33/Add.1 and the observations of the Government contained in an addendum to this report. B. Other activities 47. The Special Rapporteur participated in the High-Level Thematic Debate on the Achievement of the Goals and Objectives of the International Year for People of African Descent held in New York on 6 December 2011, for the closure of the Year. He also attended the first meeting of the special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Special Mechanisms of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 18 to 19 January 2012. The meeting aimed at exploring ways to improve cooperation and coordination in promoting and protecting human rights in Africa. 48. On 21 March 2012, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination the Special Rapporteur issued a joint press release with the Independent Expert on Minorities Issues, which stressed that racism is still fuelling violence and conflict. VII. Conclusions and recommendations 49. The Special Rapporteur is aware of efforts made by States to prevent and combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including through building a legal framework to punish racism and racial discrimination. He however notes that the prevention framework both at national and international levels remains weak and that consequently human rights violations persist with regard to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He points out that the importance and value of preventive measures cannot be overemphasized. Indeed there is a significant need to further reinforce and implement preventive measures for more progress in the elimination of all the manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In this respect the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, which underscore the need for States to adopt appropriate preventive measures, constitute the most comprehensive framework. 50. While measures taken to sanction racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance can be considered as an aspect of prevention, they cannot be effective unless other equally robust preventive measures and mechanisms are developed and implemented. In this regard the Special Rapporteur recalls that preventing and combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance is a primary responsibility of States. He therefore encourages States to 14