E/CN.4/1994/66 page 8 41. For example, one may wonder why some immigrants in some European countries are forbidden to wear specific signs or symbols. Does the ban on wearing the chador in schools have a racial, religious or cultural origin or motivation? The Rapporteur and the Commission will certainly be able to put to the best possible account the scholarly publications and UNESCO’s most recent scientific studies on race and culture. It may be asked whether at least one dimension - the right to be different - of the doctrine of the affirmation of cultural identities universally recognized by the World Conference on Cultural Policies in Mexico in 1982 has not been skilfully exploited, thus strengthening apartheid. It may further be asked whether it is not currently serving the theories of ethnic cleansing and national preference, the skinhead movement and religious fundamentalism? 42. This latter aspect also involves the collection and analysis of legal and administrative provisions enacted by Governments, including legal decisions with reference to human rights and the provisions of the Constitution. Generally speaking, the Constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination, and even makes provision for bodies to protect human rights in the form of a constitutional court or council or through an ombudsman. However, some political parties circumvent the prohibition by advocating racist ideologies or discrimination. The Constitution itself, by means of skilfully-worded provisions, may also generate discrimination, for example, in its ethnic or religious aspect. A questionnaire will therefore be sent to Governments, non-governmental organizations, and specialized agencies (see annex). The Special Rapporteur hopes that the members of the Commission may possibly be able to add to the substance of the questionnaire in the course of the discussions. 43. The Special Rapporteur considers, pursuant to resolution 1993/20, that he should undertake missions in the field, either on his own initiative, alone or together with one or more rapporteurs dealing with topics similar to his own mandate, or at the request of Governments. To begin with, he envisages three ordinary missions annually, as well as emergency missions. 44. In view of the number of special procedures in existence, such as enforced or involuntary disappearances, torture, religious intolerance, etc, it would be appropriate to set up machinery for regular consultation and dialogue between special rapporteurs. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the projected meeting which the special rapporteurs requested in the Vienna Joint Declaration. Priority should also be given to dynamic and efficient machinery for intersectoral cooperation between the various branches and sectors of the Centre for Human Rights. 45. Similarly, systematic cooperation in the form of regular consultations and joint studies should be arranged with the other specialized agencies of the United Nations system such as UNICEF, ILO and UNESCO (cf. the Convention on the Rights of the Child) and the Commission on Human Rights. Pursuant to resolution 1993/20, cooperation should also be developed with the international development agencies in a combined quest for effective solutions to the economic and social aspects of the contemporary forms of racial discrimination.

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