E/CN.4/2002/24 page 38 89. Egypt fulfils all the obligations incumbent on it under the international instruments to combat racial discrimination which it has ratified. In this connection, it submits periodic reports to the United Nations treaty bodies, the most recent being the report which was considered by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination from 13 to16 August 2001. During the discussion, the Committee welcomed the legislative measures taken by Egypt and the relevant decisions of the Supreme Constitutional Court. In Egypt, the fundamental human rights and freedoms are constitutional rights. It follows that the rights and freedoms in question have primacy over any other legislative provision originating from parliament or any other national body; the authorities are therefore required to comply scrupulously with them. Under article 57 of the Constitution, any infringement of one of the rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution constitutes an imprescriptible offence and the victims must be compensated by the State. In practice, as the above-mentioned judgements affirm, the Supreme Constitutional Court has handed down numerous decisions based on these principles in connection with disputes relating to the exercise of the right to equality before the law and to non-discrimination. 89 bis In addition, the Egyptian legislature has made it an offence to propagate discriminatory and xenophobic ideas: (a) The Criminal Code (Act No. 58 of 1937): It is a criminal offence to establish, found, organize or administer an association, institution, organization, group or gang which in any way advocates violation of the constitutionally and legally recognized personal liberty or other public rights or freedoms of citizens, or which seeks to prejudice national unity or social harmony. Such acts are punishable by imprisonment and the penalty for heading such associations is a term of imprisonment with hard labour art. 86 bis); (b) The Political Parties Act (No. 50) of 1977: In conformity with article 4 of this Act, one of the conditions for the establishment of a party is that neither its principles, programmes or activities nor the election of any of its members may be based on discrimination on grounds of sex, origin, religion or belief. Persons committing such offences are liable to a penalty of imprisonment and/or a fine; (c) The Press Act (No. 96) of 1996: Pursuant to the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Egyptian legislature, in adopting this Act, made it an offence to advocate or disseminate racist ideas. Under the terms of article 20 of the Act, journalists have an obligation to refrain from endorsing racist propaganda which denigrates religions, advocates hatred of religions, detracts from the beliefs of others or seeks to promote discrimination against, or contempt for, any particular faith; (d) Racial discrimination and incitement to such discrimination are prohibited: the Constitution and the law prohibit racial discrimination in all its forms, irrespective of the reasons for it; in addition, it has been made a criminal offence to perpetrate acts of racial discrimination. 90. Lastly, the Egyptian Government has described arrangements and measures concerning teaching, publicity and information activities intended to increase awareness of human rights principles and the prohibition of racial discrimination. Particular stress is laid on human rights education at the basic levels of education (primary and preparatory), and in universities, police training colleges and specialized research training centres.