A/71/301
designing and implementing comprehensive policies and legislation to combat
racism and all forms of discrimination. The membership of the National Committee
comprises State institutions; social organizations; rural indigenous organizations;
intercultural and Afro-Bolivian communities; organizations defending the rights of
women, young people, children and adolescents, persons with disabilities and
vulnerable segments of society; and other human rights institutions and
organizations and civil society organizations, as well as the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Plurinational State of Bolivia
and the Office of the Ombudsman of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, which act as
observers and provide technical support.
66. Denmark informed the Special Rapporteur that although it does not currently
have an overarching national action plan, it has developed two specialized action
plans, one in 2003 to promote equal treatment and diversity and combat racism, and
another in 2010 to promote ethnic equal treatment. Denmark indicated that its
Constitution guarantees “full enjoyment of civil and political rights” to all persons
and that the Criminal Code penalizes discriminatory or threatening communications
against particular identity groups, and a discriminatory motive is an aggravating
circumstance. Denmark also submitted information on its national specialized
bodies: the Board of Equal Treatment, a “predominantly quasi-judicial body” that
receives complaints from parties alleging discrimination, makes determinations
regarding those complaints and may go to court on behalf of the complainant if
necessary; and the Danish Institute for Human Rights, a “promotion-type” body that
promotes equal treatment through monitoring activities, recommendations and
independent projects.
67. Greece informed the Special Rapporteur that in 2015 it established the
National Council against Racism and Intolerance in orde r to develop a national
action plan against racism and intolerance and coordinate the relevant actors to
implement that strategy. Participants in the National Council include the National
Commission for Human Rights, the Racist Violence Recording Network ( with the
participation of 36 NGOs), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees and the Ombudsman of Greece. It held its inaugural meeting on 20 April
2016, when it “started planning strategic objectives and set short and midterm
goals”. This example was highlighted by the Special Rapporteur in his report on his
visit to Greece in 2015 (see A/HRC/32/49/Add.1).
68. Namibia informed the Special Rapporteur that the Office of the Ombudsman
was charged with the development of a national human rights action plan pursuant
to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Development of the action
plan began in 2009, and the draft was submitted to the Cabinet on 30 September
2014. The action plan enumerates seven guiding principles for implementation:
participation, accountability, transparency, non-discrimination, human dignity,
empowerment and rule of law. Its focus is on seven specific human rights that
required strengthening: health, education, water and sanitation, housing, land,
access to justice and non-discrimination. For each area, shortcomings were
identified, key intervention areas were developed and government ministries were
assigned to lead each intervention.
69. Saudi Arabia informed the Special Rapporteur that Royal Decree No. M/12 of
19 August 1997 provided for accession to the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and for the implementation of its
16-13565
17/21