A/HRC/7/19/Add.5 A/HRC/7/23/Add.3 Page 12 3. Policies and measures to combat racism and racial discrimination 28. In responding to the Special Rapporteur’s three main questions, Government officials noted that, given the absence of Government manifestations and expressions of racism and racial discrimination, there were no policies or programmes addressed at directly fighting these phenomena, be it at the political, legal or cultural levels. 29. Regarding the presence and influence of African heritage, representatives of the Ministry of Culture referred to the formulation, for the first time in the country’s history, of a cultural policy that acknowledges the African contribution in the Dominican Republic. Representatives of that Ministry also highlighted several cultural activities organized jointly with their counterparts in Haiti, such as a project between Dominican and Haitian historians to reflect on and review the way in which history books have presented the relations between the two countries, or invitations systematically being extended to Haitian representatives on the occasion of relevant cultural events. Representatives from the Ministry of Education noted that significant efforts have been carried out over the past years in order to reflect in school textbooks the importance of African heritage in the building of Dominican identity. B. Views of civil society and communities concerned 1. Concerns in response to the State’s strategy, perceptions and reactions 30. In contrast with the position expressed by Government officials, representatives of NGOs dealing with issues of racism and racial discrimination met by the experts mostly noted that these phenomena are deeply rooted in the Dominican Republic. That position was shared by numerous intellectuals and academics, some media professionals and representatives from trade unions. 31. Some sectors within the Catholic Church, especially those directly providing services to the most marginalized groups in the population, clearly and openly referred to the problem of racism as being a profoundly entrenched reality in Dominican society. This position was in marked contrast to the public declarations of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Dominican Republic, Cardinal Nicolás López Rodríguez , on the occasion of the experts’ visit, when he stated that “It is not only useless, but hardly serious and irresponsible on the part of the United Nations and of whomever to send people to investigate alleged racism and xenophobia in the Dominican Republic.” 32. Many intellectuals, academics and other civil society actors noted that racism and racial discrimination in the Dominican Republic have deep historical and cultural roots, which go beyond the socio-economic situation of the country. Its manifestations and expressions profoundly affect blacks in all spheres of life and can be found in a high degree of anti-black societal prejudice, which finds its basis in a value system that supports and allows for discriminatory actions against certain marginalized communities, and in policies and practices that directly or indirectly discriminate against certain parts of the population because of their skin colour. 33. In spite of provisions in the legislation promoting equality and prohibiting racial discrimination, civil society organizations noted the lack of a comprehensive anti-discrimination