A/67/326 C. Frameworks and initiatives at the national level 41. To date, the issue of racism and incitement to racial hatred and violence on the Internet has largely been addressed through national and regional frameworks. According to information provided by States, 14 a number of measures have been undertaken, including prohibiting Internet content that incites extremism and xenophobia; ensuring collaboration among relevant law enforcement agencies; creating designated units or services for combating cybercrime, including the incitement to racial hatred and violence; creating Internet resources on the prevention of extremism and the promotion of respect for multiculturalism and ethnic diversity; criminalizing acts of incitement to racial hatred and violence committed through the Internet; prohibiting dissemination of racist and Nazi materials; monitoring Internet content; and setting up online complaint filing mechanisms. 15 In some countries, national human rights institutions are also handling an increasing number of complaints related to allegations of hate speech and incitement to racial hatred and violence disseminated on the Internet. In addition, private and quasi-private organizations, including service providers, have developed codes of conduct, end-user rules and guidelines for business practices to prevent inappropriate or illegal racist content (see A/64/294, paras. 27-31 and 73). 42. The Special Rapporteur believes that in combating racism and incitement to racial hatred and violence on the Internet, a comprehensive approach is needed. Laws, regulations and prosecutions adopted at the national level may have limited impact owing to the transborder and decentralized nature of the Internet as well as to differing national approaches, laws and policies, particularly with regard to the legality of acts of dissemination of racist ideas, incitement to racial hatred and violence on the Internet. 16 Therefore, additional measures in the form of self- and co-regulatory initiatives such as codes of conduct, end-user rules and others developed by private and quasi-private organizations, including those that create online content and provide web-hosting services, can be useful in making the efforts more effective. Furthermore, as stated in paragraph 141 of the Programme of Action, education about racist content on the Internet and about ways to foster tolerance is another important tool for combating this phenomenon. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur concurs with the views expressed by the previous mandate holders on the importance of education and awareness-raising in combating ideas and concepts that may incite or legitimize racism, racial discrimination or xenophobia, in particular via the Internet (A/HRC/4/19, para. 61). V. Combating the use of the Internet for propagating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance A. Legislative, policy and other measures 43. There are a number of legal, policy, and programmatic measures that may be taken to combat racism and incitement to racial hatred and violence on the Internet. __________________ 14 15 16 12-46982 See A/64/295, A/65/323 and A/66/312. See, for example, A/65/323, para. 69. E/CN.4/2006/WG.21/BP.1. Available from http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/groups/ docs/e_cn4_2006_wg21_bp1.doc. 15