A/HRC/59/63 60. The Castan Centre provided information about laws in Australia against hate speech and vilification, noting that several had been swifty enacted in response to rising violence and antisocial conduct. In its submission, the Castan Centre advocated for balancing freedom of expression with protection from hate speech and stressed the need for stronger public education and prevention, alongside legal protections. Concerned Citizens for Democracy 61. The submission from Concerned Citizens for Democracy focused on the United States of America, reporting on a regression in democratic norms, and executive actions, that had emboldened neo-Nazi, white supremacist and authoritarian ideologies. In its submission, Concerned Citizens for Democracy reported that officials had spread information targeting immigrants and minorities, fuelling Islamophobia, antisemitism and racism, and that universities faced censorship and funding threats for tolerating pro-Palestinian protests or dissenting views. It reported that the Government had revoked executive orders on racial equity and diversity, attacked diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and promoted English-only policies. It also reported that extremist content, shared and amplified via online platforms and private messaging channels such as X and Telegram, radicalized youth. 62. In its submission, Concerned Citizens for Democracy called for widespread education on the dangers of neo-Nazism and white supremacy. It urged the promotion of accurate historical accounts and diverse critical perspectives, including critical race theory, at all levels of education. Council of Europe 63. The Council of Europe highlighted the First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime concerning the criminalization of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems (ETS No. 189). It also referred to European Court of Human Rights fact sheets containing case law on hate speech and hate crimes. Furthermore, it highlighted two non-binding recommendations of the Committee of Ministers: CM/Rec(2022)16 on combating hate speech and CM/Rec(2024)4 on combating hate crime. 64. In its submission, the Council of Europe reported that the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance had observed positive developments among member States in combating the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other totalitarian regimes, as well as related crimes. In Lithuania, there were reportedly more than 150 tolerance education centres providing education on crimes committed under Nazi and Soviet regimes, and on the prevention of crimes against humanity. 65. It was also noted that public marches supporting Nazi collaborators – previously flagged by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance as major sources of hate speech – had ceased. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance also cited a 2023 declaration of intent on combating antisemitism in football, with signatories committing to eliminating antisemitic and Nazi symbols from sports events, strengthening accountability for antisemitic behaviour by club members and supporters, expressing solidarity with victims, and raising awareness. Curating Tomorrow 66. Curating Tomorrow asserted that museums and cultural institutions were well placed to promote human rights, education and social cohesion, but were often underutilized, underinformed, and increasingly vulnerable to political pressure – especially amid rising extremism and nationalism and shrinking civic space. 67. Curating Tomorrow reported an increasing normalization of extreme right-wing ideologies in media and politics; vilification of human rights defenders, asylum-seekers and minorities; misuse of “freedom of speech” to defend hate speech while suppressing dissent; continued commercialization and underregulation of online radicalization (misogyny, homophobia and racism); and suppression of protest and public participation, including in democracies such as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Curating Tomorrow also expressed concerns about referring to radical right-wing views as “populist”. 10 GE.25-07709