A/53/269 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 52/109 of 12 December 1997 concerning measures to combat contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the General Assembly took note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur and welcomed his recommendation to convene, without further delay, a world conference on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The General Assembly recognized that the increasing gravity of different manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia in various parts of the world required a more effective approach on the part of the relevant mechanisms of United Nations human rights machinery; accordingly, it requested the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session. 2. The present report is chiefly a response to the request set out in the General Assembly resolution quoted above, and it takes account of the pertinent elements of the relevant Commission on Human Rights resolution. Its three main sections deal respectively with the Special Rapporteur’s activities since the last report to the General Assembly, contemporary manifestations of racism and racial discrimination, measures taken or envisaged by Governments and legislative and judicial bodies and other authorities. It ends with conclusions and recommendations. II. Activities of the Special Rapporteur A. Participation in the work of the Commission on Human Rights 3. From 20 to 23 March 1998, the Special Rapporteur participated in the work of the fiftyfourth session of the Commission on Human Rights, at which he presented a written report on the situation relating to racism and racial discrimination in the world (E/CN.4/1998/79) and an oral report on his recent visit to South Africa. 4. Following consideration of his reports, the Commission adopted resolution 1998/26, in which it expressed its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur and for its continuation; called upon all Governments, intergovernmental organizations and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations, to supply information to the Special Rapporteur; urged all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur with a view to enabling him to fulfil his mandate to examine incidents of contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, any form of discrimination, inter alia , against Blacks, Arabs and Muslims, xenophobia, Negrophobia, anti-Semitism and related intolerance; it also requested the Special Rapporteur to make the fullest use of all appropriate sources of information, including country visits and evaluation of the mass media, and to elicit responses from Governments with regard to allegations. 5. The Commission commended those States that had so far invited and received the Special Rapporteur and encouraged them to consider ways to implement the recommendations contained in his reports; it also requested him to include in his report to the Commission at its fifty-fifth session, under the same agenda item, information on the measures taken to implement those recommendations, and to undertake follow-up visits, if necessary. B. Missions undertaken or under consideration by the Special Rapporteur 3