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12. The Human Rights Commissioner promotes the human rights and freedoms
guaranteed in national legislation and international agreements, such as the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,
to which Azerbaijan is a State party. The Human Rights Commissioner has made
proposals for the ratifications of the Convention against Discrimination in Education
and the Council of Europe Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (signed on 12 November 2003, but not
yet ratified). In addition, the Commissioner carries out awareness-raising activities,
such as those identified in the national plan of action established by a presidential
decree of 27 December 2011. Some of the activities identified in the national plan of
action are public hearings regarding the importance of non-discrimination, which
are held for a broad range of stakeholders, such as government officials, local
non-governmental organizations, the media, refugees and internally displaced
persons.
C.
Belarus
13. The Government referenced several articles of the civil, criminal, criminal
procedure, administrative offences and electoral codes as containing provisions
relevant to tackling racism. It also mentioned a number of laws, including acts on
languages, national minorities, freedom of conscience and religious organizations,
the legal status of foreign nationals and stateless persons in Belarus, voluntary
associations, political parties, public events, the implementation procedure for
citizens’ right to initiate legislation, preventing money-laundering and the financing
of terrorist activities, counter-terrorism, anti-corruption, anti-extremism and
organized crime. In addition, it mentioned three presidential decrees: Nos. 300 of
1 July 2005, 302 of 1 July 2005 and No. 575 of 9 November 2010.
14. To strengthen inter-ethnic and interfaith tolerance, the Office of the
Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs developed and began implementing
in 2011 a programme to enhance the religious sphere and promote inter-ethnic
relations and cooperation with compatriots abroad.
15. Belarus is a party to the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace
and Development, the Conference on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace
and a member of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations.
D.
Burkina Faso
16. Burkina Faso is faced with neo-Nazi and neo-fascist acts as described by the
resolution. It has, however, put in place legislative and other measures designed to
combat all forms of discrimination.
17. Article 1 of the Constitution provides that discrimination of all sorts,
especially based on race, ethnicity, region, colour, sex, language, religion, caste,
political opinions, fortune and birth is prohibited.
18. Political leaders and parties are prohibited from inciting racial discrimination,
xenophobia and violence. Article 13 of the Constitution proscribes the formation of
political parties based on tribalism, regionalism, racism or sectarianism.
Furthermore, article 4 of the charter for political parties and groups provides that
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