E/CN.4/1999/15 page 17 way, and it commends all States which opt to penalize harmful propaganda, including propaganda disseminated by electronic means, thereby helping to combat racist opinions. 66. Another cause for concern is the rise of racist and xenophobic ideas in the political field: in Europe, some political parties are making increasing use of such ideas, particularly targeted at migrant workers. If unchecked, this emerging trend might become strong enough to provide a solid base for making racism a legitimate official doctrine, even in the post-apartheid era. I. Yugoslavia 67. Yugoslavia drew attention to its constitutional and legal provisions prohibiting racism, racial discrimination and other forms of discrimination on the basis of nationality, gender, language, religion, political or other beliefs or social origin. Article 20 of the Constitution stipulates, in particular, that citizens are equal irrespective of their nationality, race, sex, language, faith, political or other beliefs, education, social origin, property or other personal status. Everyone is equal before the law. Each person is duty-bound to respect the rights and freedoms of others and is responsible for them. The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia (art. 20) and the Constitution of the Republic of Montenegro (art. 15) contain similar provisions which basically take up the same concepts concerning the equality of citizens. All the freedoms and rights recognized and guaranteed under the Constitution of Yugoslavia enjoy judicial protection. 1. Rights of members of national minorities 68. Apart from universal freedoms and human and citizen’s rights, under the Constitution members of national minorities enjoy special rights, the exercise of which is specifically provided for. The Constitution contains nine provisions directly relating to the members of national minorities, covering the following rights and freedoms: right to equality, regardless of nationality; right to preserve, develop and express ethnic, cultural, linguistic and other characteristics; right to use national symbols; right of members of national minorities to official use of their language in spoken and written form together with the Serbian language, in the regions where they live; freedom to express or not to express their nationality and freedom to express their national culture; right to the use of their mother tongue in spoken and written form and to an interpreter in court proceedings and other administrative proceedings; right to education in their mother tongue; right to information media in their mother tongue; right to establish educational and cultural organizations or associations; right to establish unhindered relations with co-nationals within Yugoslavia and in other States and to take part in international non-governmental organizations, provided those relations are not detrimental to Yugoslavia or to a member republic. 69. Under article 50 of the Constitution, members of national minorities are entitled to special protection and it is prohibited and punishable to incite or encourage national, racial, religious or other hatred and intolerance. Such acts are considered to be criminal offences (Penal Code, art. 134): instigating national, racial and religious hatred, enmity or intolerance is punishable by five years’ imprisonment. If such criminal offences are