E/CN.4/2001/21 page 15 assist by monitoring developments, providing resources for knowledge centres and organizing conferences for the dissemination of ‘best practices’. For example, the Public Prosecution Service’s Expertise Centre, the police and the local anti-discrimination centres are to cooperate more closely on the preparation of cases involving discrimination, so that there is a reasonable chance of their leading to convictions. In addition, sentences for racially motivated crimes are to be increased; codes of conduct are to be encouraged in both the private and the public sector, and attempts will be made to extend the geographical coverage and increase the professionalism of local anti-discrimination centres in order to guarantee the public easy access to information and complaints facilities. The new completed merger of several NGOs to produce a new unitary National Bureau against Racism with a broad purview is also part of this approach.” 28. This very thorough paper gives detailed information on planned activities in the areas of employment, education and justice. It includes the statement that: “It is also worth noting that there has been a perceptible decline of extreme right-wing parties in the Netherlands. They now have no seats in parliament and hardly any on municipal councils. In the elections for the European Parliament, only 0.5 per cent of the Dutch electorate voted for parties on the extreme right. On 1 July 1999, new legalisation came into force on the funding of political parties. This contains provisions under which parties can lose their right to subsidies and air-time if the courts find them guilty of racist offences. In addition, research shows that racism is declining amongst young people and that they are increasingly interested in people of different cultural backgrounds. Nevertheless, racism and discrimination persist and their eradication demands continuing effort. To keep track of developments, an annual survey of racism and extreme right-wing activity is conducted and report submitted to parliament each year. In addition, the Government commissions more special studies. Examples include the evaluation of the Equal Treatment Act and a study of private-sector recruitment and solution practices in relation to people with a non-Dutch cultural background focusing on the extent to which such practices involve discrimination. Finally, the Internet Discrimination Hotline keeps a close eye on overt expressions of racism on the Web.” E. Qatar 29. The State of Qatar has sent the Special Rapporteur the following statement: “Orthodox Islam is opposed to racist incidents, xenophobia and discriminatory practices, since it considers all persons equally, without distinction on grounds of race, sex or colour. Similarly, article 9 of the Amended Provisional Constitution of the State of Qatar stipulates that all persons enjoy equal public rights and are subject to equal public duties, without distinction on grounds of race, sex or religion. In addition the State of Qatar has adopted penal, administrative and judicial measures to combat racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to guarantee for all parties in a trial a fair, non-discriminatory judgement. It may be pointed out that the lack of information regarding the implementation of that resolution is due to the fact that incidents of that kind do not occur in the State of Qatar.”