A/HRC/23/24 A. Protecting and consolidating democracy and human rights 7. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that, as noted in his previous report to the Human Rights Council on this issue,1 the ongoing economic and financial crisis and its consequences on unemployment and poverty has further contributed to the rise of extremist political parties, movements and groups, and exacerbated identity-related issues. As societies have become increasingly diverse in terms of cultural and ethnic origin and religious affiliation, such diversity has led in some instances to identity-related tensions that have been exploited in the context of the economic and financial crisis by certain extremist political parties to incite discrimination and hatred against specific groups. The Special Rapporteur learned that, in some countries, the economic and financial crisis has revived old, negative stereotypes and racial prejudice against members of minority populations. In some regions, those hardest hit by the current crisis have expressed their frustration by voting in favour of extremist political parties, including those with racist and xenophobic programmes, in a climate of fear and discontent as pauperization, unemployment and budget cuts in social benefits have continued. Furthermore, with the development of new technologies, the Internet has been used as an instrument for the dissemination of ideas. Indeed, the Special Rapporteur is concerned that some extremist groups may have moved their activities to the Internet and social media networks to spread their ideas and propaganda with relative impunity. 8. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the stigmatization and targeting of vulnerable groups in the context of the economic downturn. Reports received indicate the growing tendency of political leaders to promote their agenda in ethnic terms, while stigmatizing certain groups and blaming them for any problems endured. In this regard, it appears that extremist political parties have effectively succeeded in putting the burden of the negative consequences of the crisis on minorities, foreigners, migrants, including irregular migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. These groups have been labelled a threat to the standard of living of the general population, and blamed for being responsible for the rise in unemployment and State debt. Reports received indicate that citizens from the Muslim and Jewish faiths, as well as from the Roma communities, have been singled out and stigmatized in particular, especially during electoral campaigns carried out in some countries, including at the highest level. 9. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that some mainstream political parties that have been in power for long periods have engaged in a rhetoric similar to that of extremist political parties, and have also treated vulnerable groups as scapegoats. The Special Rapporteur recalls that finding scapegoats and using stereotypes create a climate of general hostility in which intolerant and negative rhetoric increasingly becomes the norm. It is of outmost importance that traditional political parties and politicians, including high-level political leaders, clearly and unequivocally condemn such discourse and rhetoric. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to note that, in some instances, colleagues from the same party or coalition have been quick to condemn the use of populist rhetoric language targeting and scapegoating migrants and minorities to secure re-election. The absence of condemnation could send the wrong signal, namely, that ideas promoted by extremist political parties are acceptable, while they actually represent a danger to democracy and to social cohesion. The Special Rapporteur urges all politicians and political parties to break out of the spiral of intolerant, racist and xenophobic discourse that seeks to inflame tensions rather than build mutual understanding and respect. He also emphasizes that it is in addition important that such a stance be taken by traditional political parties against expressions of intolerance, racism and xenophobia when these originate from their own ranks. 1 4 A/HRC/20/38.