A/HRC/20/33 E. Civil society 35. The importance of the role and involvement of civil society in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance has been recognized in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 36. The Special Rapporteur is of the view that civil society has an essential role to play by holding Governments accountable. Furthermore, in various countries, civil society groups have built up vast experience and expertise in working with victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. This experience and expertise should be tapped by States to assist in developing and implementing laws, regulations, policies and actions directed at the prevention of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 37. The complex and multifaceted nature of racism and racial discrimination requires a diversity of expertise that civil society is able to provide. Civil society actors can contribute to research and policy analysis by collecting relevant data and identifying trends on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. They can also provide training to law enforcement officials, legal aid and capacity building to groups or individual victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and undertake awarenessraising activities. The Special Rapporteur believes that civil society actors are key in preventing and combating racism and intends in future reports to examine in more specific terms some of the models that can be replicated elsewhere as good practices. V. Further tools to be considered in the prevention of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance A. New information technologies including the Internet 38. The Internet has become a global and public online space for exchanging information and ideas and an indispensable tool which offers individuals the means to make their voices and demands heard. It is undoubtedly now one of the most important vehicles by which individuals exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression. Thus, notwithstanding the adverse effects of the Internet such as its use by some individuals to disseminate racist ideas, hate messages and to incite racial hatred and violence, the Internet can be a useful preventive tool in combating racist and xenophobic ideologies and attitudes. In this regard the Special Rapporteur strongly encourages States to use the opportunities provided by the Internet to counter the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred; promote equality, non-discrimination and diversity; improve mutual understanding; and build a culture of peace. Given the insidious intersection of poverty and discrimination mentioned earlier, victims of racial discrimination are more likely to lag behind in digital connectivity and access to the Internet. The absence of their voices in digital conversations leaves racist ideas unchallenged. He shares the view that States should adopt effective and concrete policies and strategies to make the Internet widely available, accessible and affordable to all, based on the principles of non-discrimination of any kind, including on the grounds of race, colour, descent, ethnic or national origin. 39. Promoting more speech via the use of the Internet therefore remains an effective approach to preventing racism while fully implementing articles 19 to 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Special Rapporteur reiterates the opinion of his predecessor that the determination of which acts or expressions may meet the thresholds in the above-mentioned articles is ultimately a 12