E/CN.4/1997/71 page 38 origin”. In this context, two cases were brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur. One is that of a Ghanaian citizen who was beaten by police officers at Leonado Da Vinci International Airport at Fiumicino while in transit between Denmark and Ghana; another is the case of a woman, an Italian citizen of Nigerian origin, who alleged that police officers had physically assaulted her and that there was a “xenophobic” aspect to their behaviour. She claimed that when she stated that she was an Italian citizen she was told that a ”black woman cannot be an Italian citizen”. 2. Special Rapporteur's observations 129. As in similar cases which he has brought to the attention of the Government of Italy (see A/51/301, para. 8), the Special Rapporteur hopes that the Italian authorities will once again cooperate in helping to clarify these matters so that he may inform the Commission at its next session, in March 1997. V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 130. Once again, the Special Rapporteur finds that racism and racial discrimination persist in various regions of the world both in their structural, economic and social form and in the form of xenophobia. Theories of racial inequality are raising their head while at the same time modern communication technologies, especially the Internet, are being perniciously employed to foment racial hatred, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. 131. In earlier reports the Special Rapporteur made a number of recommendations which have been approved by the General Assembly and the Commission. He would like to see them translated into action, in particular in the fields of education in human rights, acceptance of others, and tolerance for the sake of peace. 132. He nevertheless wishes to reiterate his recommendation (a) to convene a world conference on racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, with the question of immigration and xenophobia appearing on the agenda; and (b) to consider action at the international level - beginning studies, research and joint action immediately - over the use of the Internet as a vehicle for racist propaganda. 133. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur would appreciate it if, as the General Assembly recommended yet again in its resolution 51/79, the resources he requires to discharge his mandate were made available.