E/CN.4/1995/78/Add.1 page 28 There are five primary agencies in the United States whose activities are aimed at the examination and elimination of various forms of racial discrimination and segregation. Employment, educational and housing discrimination are each handled by separate offices or agencies. 95. The principal civil rights enforcement agency in the United States is the Department of Justice, which has singular as well as overlapping enforcement authority regarding a number of different statutes which involve coordination with a broad range of other federal agencies. The Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing statutes guaranteeing the right to register and vote without discrimination or intimidation, which includes assigning federal personnel to conduct voter registration and determine whether changes in voting provisions are discriminatory. They also litigate cases of employment discrimination by public sector employers. In addition, the Department of Justice has a unit which represents the federal Government in school desegregation law suits based on Title IV, other statutory grounds, or on the Constitution. This unit also monitors court orders. The Housing and Civil Enforcement Division at the Department of Justice is responsible for bringing suits relating to patterns and practices of discrimination prohibited by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 and by fair lending statutes. 96. Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation. The law states that all persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations of any place of public accommodations without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, colour, religion or national origin. 97. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in all federally-assisted programmes and activities based on race, colour or national origin. The law states that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, colour or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any programme or activity receiving federal financial assistance. 98. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, colour, religion, national origin or sex. Employers covered include those persons with 15 or more employees, as well as state and local governments. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is an independent agency which enforces all aspects of Title VII, except litigation involving state and local governments, which is handled by the Department of Justice. EEOC handles all complaints of employment discrimination and funds many state and local government agencies to investigate and process such cases. 99. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 guarantees the right to register and vote without discrimination or intimidation. Under the Voting Rights Act, the Department of Justice is responsible for preventing government officials and private parties from using voting practices to exclude minorities from full participation in the electoral process. 100. Title VIII of the Housing Act of 1968 prohibited discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex or national origin in the sale, rental,