E/CN.4/2002/24/Add.1 page 51 113. Statistics relating to complaints dealt with by the human rights institutions in the various states and territories in 1999 and 2000 for various types of discrimination (sex, race, handicap) were also brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur. Complaints relating to racial discrimination generally account for the largest proportion. Table 8 State and Territorial Equal Opportunity/Anti-Discrimination Commission complaints statistics, 1999/2000 States and territories New South Wales Queensland Victoria South Australia Western Australia Tasmania Northern Territory Australian Capital Territory Total Number of complaints of racial discrimination 259 172 482 35 91 9 96 Percentage of total complaints received 19 13 12 18 21.6 4.7 26 10 1 066 114. In the State of Victoria, the complaints received were made under that State’s equal opportunity law enacted in 1995 and mainly related to discrimination in employment (77 per cent). The government of Victoria plans to strengthen its legislation against racial discrimination by adopting “a racial and religious vilification act which will make unlawful any verbal or physical conduct which communicates serious racial and religious intolerance. Vilification includes communications which speak ill of, malign, abuse or make derogatory comments about other people, groups or communities in terms of their racial or religious affiliations. It can include intimidation or damage to property, graffiti, expressions of hatred or contempt”. III. ACTIVITIES OF CIVIL SOCIETY 115. In Australia, associations are very numerous and diversified, indeed as diversified as Australian society itself. A distinction may be drawn between ethnic organizations or associations which conform to the Australian social pattern while preserving a cultural area of their own, organizations offering a service, in particular those which encourage the integration of the various immigrant communities and contribute to the preservation of social harmony, and organizations for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commonwealth Government and local governments provide material support for these organizations when their activities contribute to the strengthening of the Australian ideal, notably by promoting multiculturalism and democracy. The Special Rapporteur met representatives of associations belonging to each of these categories and learned a great deal about Australian society from them.