E/CN.4/1999/15 page 13 E. Lebanon 45. The preamble to the Lebanese Constitution stipulates that Lebanon is a democratic republic founded on respect for public freedoms, in particular freedom of opinion, freedom of belief, social justice and equality of the rights and duties of all citizens without distinction or preference. It also lays down that the Lebanese State subscribes to the principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and applies them in all fields without exception. 46. Lebanon acceded to the Convention against Discrimination in Education adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris on 14 December 1960 (Law No. 16/64 of 19 February 1964). It has also acceded to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Law No. 44/71 of 24 June 1971). 47. The Criminal Code prescribes one to three years’ imprisonment and a fine for any act, written material or speech intended to provoke sectarian or racist reaction or encourage conflicts between the different faiths and components of the nation. Any member of an association having the same aims as those referred to above is liable to the same penalty. 48. In the light of the aforementioned, Lebanese law guarantees the exercise of the fundamental human rights contained in the international instruments ratified by Lebanon, free of all discrimination. F. Mexico 49. The Government of Mexico stated that it attaches special importance to combating racial discrimination, contemporary forms of racism and all forms of discrimination and intolerance. 50. Article 1 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States stipulates that “everyone shall enjoy the guarantees afforded by this Constitution”, in other words, the State shall protect its nationals regardless of race, sex or any other circumstance. 51. The Government of Mexico recalled that, in various forums, it has expressed its concern at the growing racist practices against migrants. They have, in particular, affected a large number of Mexican migrant workers, who have been the victims of racist incidents of various kinds. The Government of Mexico stressed that migration between Mexico and the United States has been the subject of an increasingly anti-immigrant attitude. The expressions of xenophobia encouraged by political initiatives such as S.O.S. (Save Our State), later Proposition 187, set the standard in turning the subject of migration, and the anti-immigrant initiatives that went with it, into a national issue. Such signs of racism have been directed at Latin American migrants in general and at Mexican migrants in particular. The anti-immigrant platform is being used for both political and electoral purposes and to justify xenophobic actions by individuals and civil