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anti-Semitism and Christianophobia. To that end, working with the UNESCO Centre
in Catalonia, he plans to organize a high-level seminar of experts in Barcelona and
to use the results of the seminar as a basis for his reports.
IV. Action taken or planned by Governments, judicial
authorities or other bodies
A.
Canada
41. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the new plan of action against racism which
the Canadian Government transmitted to him after his visit and is currently
finalizing. The plan encourages closer cooperation among governments, community
organizations, public institutions and individuals. It covers seven priority areas:
recognition of the past, help for vulnerable groups and victims of racism and related
discrimination, innovative approaches to combat racism and integrate diversity,
strengthening the role of civil society, strengthening regional and international
cooperation, educating children and young people about combating racism, and
combating hate and prejudice. The Government agreed to a follow-up visit, which
the Special Rapporteur will use to ensure that the plan of action is in line with his
own report and recommendations.
B.
Switzerland
42. In July 2003, the Federal Court issued a ruling which would end the practice of
voting on applications for naturalization. The Court’s intention was to ensure
compliance with the Constitution, which prohibits any discrimination in
naturalization procedures. The Swiss Federal Commission against Racism believes
that this decision will help to prevent discrimination and rejection of applicants for
Swiss citizenship on racist grounds. The Court is also requiring, as an additional
guarantee, that decisions rejecting applications for naturalization should be
substantiated in writing.
43. The Swiss Federal Commission against Racism (CFR) has published a series
of posters for use as teaching aids, focusing on practical issues and dealing with
various forms of racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. They encourage pupils and
teachers to confront racism head-on by taking a self-critical look at their own
behaviour.
C.
The Netherlands
44. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the adoption on 10 February 2004 of a law
establishing that individuals must receive equal treatment, regardless of their racial
or ethnic origin, and providing a framework for equal treatment in recruitment and
professional matters. The Netherlands has also made changes to its Criminal Code,
introducing harsher maximum penalties for institutional race discrimination. The
Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned, however, about the effect on combating
racism, discrimination and xenophobia of the Government’s proposed strict
deportation plans for illegal immigrants, and he is appealing to the Government to
re-examine the suitability of those proposals in the light of its avowed commitment
to countering racism.
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