A/HRC/14/43 State actors, non-State actors and the international community, including the United Nations. 63. Since racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may lead to genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, in particular in the context of conflicts, these recommendations should also be seen as a contribution to the implementation of the responsibility to protect populations from these crimes, which requires the combination of preventive, reactive and supportive measures by a broad range of actors. 64. Each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations from the four aforementioned crimes; this entails prevention measures, including the prevention of incitement to such crimes. The responsibility to protect, as an obligation of the international community, including the United Nations, should also be stressed. The international community has the duty to provide assistance to the State when requested, but it also has the obligation to do so in cases where the State fails or refuses to protect its population. Measures to be taken by the international community may include public statements expressing concern at the deteriorating situation and reminding the State about its responsibility to protect; the participation in, or conduct of, mediation efforts to reach a political settlement ensuring power sharing; the establishment of international fact-finding missions and accountability mechanisms; the promotion of the reconciliation process; analyses about the root causes of the conflict, as well as the formulation of concrete recommendations aimed at preventing the resurgence of violence among certain groups of the population. Before conflict 65. In order to prevent the eruption of a conflict, it is of utmost importance to identify early warning signs to help recognize and acknowledge situations which might lead to conflict. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur recommends that all relevant stakeholders give due attention to and closely monitor the issues discussed in chapter II, such as the way in which the concept of national identity is debated within a given country, the presence of socio-economic discrimination against members of specific groups of the population, as well as political manipulation of racist or nationalist ideology. All of these issues, if unaddressed or dealt with in an inappropriate manner, might contribute to tensions and eventually to conflict. 66. While the debates surrounding the concept of so-called “national identity” may focus on how to provide individuals and groups of individuals with a sense of belonging, which helps to build a cohesive nation with shared values and ideals, it should not be used as a tool to create artificial differences among some groups of the population. In the current context of globalization, migration and multiculturalism, the Special Rapporteur recommends that the concept of national identity be handled in an inclusive manner so as to allow individuals who do not identify with, for instance, cultural or historical elements of a given country, to nonetheless get a sense of belonging and avoid being treated as the outsiders. Moreover, the Special Rapporteur recommends that State actors and non-State actors ensure that any debate on national identity follows a participatory approach in order to enable meaningful participation of civil society. Such debate should also take into account the multiplicity of identities of each individual and therefore avoid the trap of defining identity by relying on the grounds of one sole element, such as ethnicity or nationality. 67. Discriminatory socio-economic practices targeting members of specific groups of the population may, in the long term, contribute to the triggering of conflict along group lines. The Special Rapporteur believes that one effective way to prevent and address the eruption of a conflict is to ensure the equality of all individuals and equal 18 GE.10-12566