A/49/677 English Page 10 person, to combat racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia and to develop the solidarity called for by the interdependence of the world’s peoples and civilizations in which human rights have become the ultimate universal referent. 36. Negrophobia can be seen today in the labelling of Africans as the source of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Africa is presented as the land of plagues without a future, while no analysis is made or indication given of the real, objective causes of the disasters, famines and armed conflicts afflicting the continent. 15/ 37. Anti-Semitism is the despising of Jews. 16/ This sentiment can be considered to be one of the root causes of racial and religious hatred. It has served to convey a set of beliefs, myths, fears and fantasies that have fired the imaginations of generations of men, women and children. Pseudo-scientific anti-Semitism has been spread for the past 150 years, reaching its zenith in Nazi anti-Semitism and genocide. The anti-Semitism which has stamped in people’s minds caricatures and hateful images of Jews, traditionally linked physically to Satan, usurers, exploiters and conspirators 17/ is the product of the Christian doctrine which in the Middle Ages accused the Jews of deicide specifically, the killing of Jesus Christ. Certain adherents of Judaism continue to treat Christ as an impostor. However, this is a complex and difficult question which should be left to theologians and the competent clergy. 38. Having outlined this broad conceptual framework, the Special Rapporteur would now like to indicate the source materials on which he drew. B. Sources 39. In the aforementioned resolution 1994/64, the Commission on Human Rights called upon all Governments, intergovernmental organizations and relevant organizations of the United Nations system, as well as the non-governmental organizations, to supply information to the Special Rapporteur. It also requested the Special Rapporteur to use any information that he might deem relevant to his mandate as established in Commission resolution 1993/20 of 2 March 1993. 40. On the basis of those recommendations, the Special Rapporteur on 11 February 1994 sent to States Members of the United Nations and to other States a detailed questionnaire with a view to informing them of his mandate and collecting information. The Secretary-General then sent a note verbale and letters dated 31 May 1994 to States, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations. 41. The following countries provided information in response to either the Special Rapporteur’s questionnaire or the Secretary-General’s note verbale, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/64: Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ghana, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, Yemen and Zambia, a total of 30 States. /...