A/HRC/56/67 as established under the Constitution, was also referred to as playing an essential role in safeguarding human rights, including to equality and non-discrimination. H. Lebanon 26. Information provided by Lebanon was focused on the general legislative framework in the country to combat all forms of extremism, violence and discrimination against any groups in the country. Lebanon expressed its commitment to combating terrorist crimes, extremist ideology and all forms of violence, in line with the Charter of the League of Arab States, the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, according to the information provided. It was also noted that Lebanon was a party to the Convention of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Combating International Terrorism and to the Arab Convention to Combat Terrorism. 27. Lebanon reported that its Constitution provided for equal respect and guarantee of rights without any form of discrimination, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion and/or national origin, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Penal Code reportedly established penalties for crimes relating to incitement to sectarian or racial conflict. Law No. 62 of 2016 established the National Commission for Human Rights, which aimed to protect and promote human rights in accordance with the Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international human rights treaties. In addition to such legal measures, Lebanon reported that it had adopted a national strategy for preventing violent extremism, setting out a long-term vision for preventing and addressing violent extremism with Lebanon and seeking to coordinate government action in that area. I. Lithuania 28. Lithuania reported on several legal provisions in place to provide protection from discrimination. For example, article 29 of the Constitution of Lithuania reportedly established that all people were equal before the law, the courts and other State institutions. According to such constitutional provisions, a person cannot have their rights restricted in any way or be granted any privileges on the basis of his or her sex, race, nationality, language, origin, social status, religion, convictions or opinions. Article 170 of the Criminal Code reportedly provided protection from incitement against any national, racial, ethnic, religious or other group of persons. There were also provisions within the Criminal Code that criminalized the creation and activities of the groups and organizations aiming at discriminating or inciting hatred against groups protected under anti-discrimination provisions. The Criminal Code also criminalized the condoning of international crimes that took place during the Second World War. 29. Lithuania also provided information about trends in increasing online hate speech. According to the information provided, most crimes reported under article 170 of the Penal Code occurred online. Attacks on the basis of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex status and race have been reportedly the most common. Particular attention had been given to strengthening law enforcement authorities’ capacities to recognize and effectively investigate, prosecute and adequately sentence hate crime and hate speech cases. For example, in 2020, a working group to promote an effective response to hate crimes and hate speech in Lithuania had reportedly been established by the Minister of the Interior. In 2021, a Virtual Patrol Unit tasked with preventing online crimes had been established in the Lithuanian Police. In addition, the website nepyka.lt had been launched by the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson in 2021 to provide information for hate crime victims on accessible support and their rights in the criminal justice system, according to the information provided. The website reportedly included links for reporting hate crime and hate speech to the police or non-governmental organizations involved in the monitoring of such phenomena. The Government was also reportedly finalizing an interinstitutional memorandum on strengthening the response to hate speech and hate crimes. 6 GE.24-08848