A/HRC/53/62
occupation regime, an act of aggression, genocide, a crime against humanity or a war crime.
Owners of the land on which the monuments with prohibited symbols are located must make
authorities aware of such monuments within six months. On 7 March 2023, the President of
Estonia rejected the bill and sent it back for legal revision. However, 25 memorials have
reportedly been destroyed.
39.
The Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian
Federation, as part of its work to suppress the glorification of Nazism, has reportedly
completed an investigation into 12 criminal acts that took place between 2020 and 2022. The
acts involved posting photographs on the Internet of Nazi invaders and traitors committing
crimes, as defined by the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. Guilty verdicts were
rendered in all 12 cases. In 2022, the Office of the Prosecutor General sent 1,321 requests to
the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass
Communications to restrict access to the information disseminated in violation of the law.
Overall, the Office removed or blocked more than 184,500 pieces of information.
40.
According to the information provided, the Office of the Prosecutor General, together
with other federal government bodies, is implementing a project entitled “No statute of
limitations” aimed at preserving the historical memory of the tragic impact of war crimes
perpetrated by the Nazis and their accomplices on the civilian population between 1941 and
1945. The project is also aimed at establishing the circumstances of newly discovered crimes,
including identifying the perpetrators. The Investigative Committee of the Russian
Federation is investigating a criminal case, initiated on 11 August 2020, involving crimes
falling under article 357 of the Criminal Code, which defines “genocide”. This investigation
concerns the alleged mass extermination of peaceful citizens and prisoners of war in 24
regions of the former Soviet Union, according to the information provided.
Saudi Arabia
41.
Islamophobia is reportedly one of the contemporary trends of racism and intolerance.
The information provided described numerous incidents of offending Islamic symbols or the
Qur’an, such as burning and tearing copies of the Qur’an, in several European countries. The
Muslim World League, of which Saudi Arabia is a member, has launched a campaign entitled
“Reject Hate” aimed at seeking to influence social networks and combat online hate speech
against Islam. The League also endeavours to provide and develop programmes, initiatives
and conversations worldwide for the containment and treatment of hate speech against Islam.
42.
As a State party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination, Saudi Arabia has taken several steps to combat all forms of racism. It
reportedly guarantees the conformity of school curricula with national and international
human rights standards, ensuring that they do not include anything that could lead to racial
discrimination, racism, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. Saudi Arabia has also
enhanced the rights of foreign labourers by launching a mechanism to receive complaints
from migrant workers, including complaints relating to racial discrimination. A wage
protection system has reportedly been launched to guarantee pay for migrant workers. In
addition, Saudi Arabia has enhanced awareness-raising on combating all forms of racism and
racial discrimination. The Human Rights Commission has implemented symposiums,
workshops and training courses, including for judges, public prosecutors, law enforcement
officials and civil society representatives, aimed at providing information about the
provisions included in the Convention.
43.
Saudi Arabia has reportedly approved several procedures for preventing and
combating propaganda and organizations based on concepts or theories advocating the
superiority of any race, group, colour or ethnic origin. The prevention of the promotion of
racial discrimination by public authorities or institutions is stipulated under article 2 of Royal
Decree No. 43 of 17 June 1958. That law includes penalties for the exploitation of position
or the abuse of power leading to human rights violations, abuse or coercion.
44.
Measures to combat hate speech reportedly include article 5 of the Media Law, which
prohibits actions that incite racist sentiment, discrimination and hatred among citizens.
Several governmental and non-governmental institutions, including the Human Rights
8