E/CN.4/1996/72/Add.3 page 38 Annex III JUDICIAL MEASURES TAKEN TO COMBAT RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA The main legal development in 1994 was the entry into force of the new Penal Code on 1 March 1994, as a result of Acts No. 92-683, No. 92-684, No. 92-685 and No. 92-686 of 22 July 1992 and No. 92-1336 of 16 December 1992. The new legislation in force does not apply to press offences, as provided for in the Act of 29 July 1881 on Freedom of the Press, but it does increase the penalties for some racist offences (racial discrimination, aggravated desecration of graves, criminal responsibility of corporate bodies) and creates new offences (non-public racial incitement, non-public racial defamation and insult). In addition, Act No. 93-128 of 6 December 1993 on Security during Sporting Events makes it an offence to display an acronym associated with a racist ideology during a sporting event. Following these changes, the anti-racist legislation now in force has had to be re-evaluated. Chapter I contains a full inventory of anti-racist laws, while chapter II describes the judicial measures taken. CHAPTER I STATUS OF AND PROSPECTS FOR FRENCH LEGISLATION ON RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA IN 1994 I. STATUTORY AND JUDICIAL PREVENTION OF RACIST OFFENCES To prevent racist offences from being committed, the authorities have two effective instruments: administrative prohibitions and interim relief proceedings in the civil courts. A. Administrative prohibitions under criminal law In order to maintain public order, legislative provisions allow the administrative authorities to take the following measures in respect of groups and publications based on racist ideologies. (a) Dissolution of de facto associations and groups advocating hatred and racial violence Act No. 72-545 of 1 July 1972 on Action to Combat Racism supplemented article 1 of the Act of 10 January 1936 on Combat Groups and Private Militias by adding a sixth case of dissolution by means of a decree of the President of the Republic adopted in the Council of Ministers. This measure can apply to de facto associations and groups which incite discrimination, hatred or violence against a person or a group of persons on account of their origin or because they belong or do not belong to a