A/HRC/26/50 21. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the impact of racist and xenophobic ideas and values on some of the most vulnerable groups in society who have been most affected by the current financial and economic crisis. Young people and impoverished citizens who are experiencing unemployment and cuts in social services often do not see any opportunity for improvement in life choices in the regions and countries hardest hit by the crisis, especially in Eastern and Southern Europe. Extremist ideologies grow easily in such a fertile climate of discontent. 22. The Special Rapporteur recalls the importance of education in order to counter the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and to promote the values of equality, non-discrimination, diversity, democracy and respect for all, as detailed in his 2013 report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/23/56). The State has an inherent role and responsibility in that area, but the position of parents and families in fostering a culture of tolerance and respect is also fundamental. 23. The Special Rapporteur expresses his concern at the rise in some countries of xenophobic and right-wing tendencies among young people and at the reported growth in outreach activities by extremist organizations using the Internet and social media to disseminate their propaganda, specifically among young people. That is a major concern as young people are particularly vulnerable to extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis, skinhead groups and similar extremist ideological movements. 24. The Special Rapporteur welcomes information provided about campaigns launched in schools by the State as well as civil society organizations to raise awareness about neoNazi ideology. He emphasizes that human rights education is a key tool in countering the rise of extremist political parties, movements and groups among the younger generation, and in building a society based on pluralism, tolerance, and respect for cultural diversity, multiculturalism and non-discrimination. Furthermore, it is equally essential to raise awareness among parents and teachers, as young people are influenced by ideas at home and at school. III. Cyberracism and hate propaganda disseminated in social media by extremist political parties, movements and groups 25. With the rapid development of new technologies, the Internet and social media have been used as instruments for the dissemination of ideas, including the dissemination of racist ideas and hate speech under the supposed anonymity provided by online forums. 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. Civil society organizations also provided information about the increased use of the Internet by individuals and groups closely linked to extremist movements. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur would like to express his concern about the increased use of the Internet to propagate racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance. 26. Reports received confirm that extremist political parties, movements and groups are still actively present on the Internet and social media networks, including through material published on their websites or those of sympathetic organizations which promote and incite racial discrimination and violence. Furthermore, the Internet and social media not only remain important channels for extremist movements and groups to spread hate speech and incite racial violence and abuse against specific groups of individuals, but they use them as a means of expanding their networks of individuals and groups worldwide. It was also 7