E/CN.4/1999/15/Add.1 page 22 80. From 13 to 15 June 1997 the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with Western Cape University and UNHCR, held an international conference on xenophobia which highlighted the problems facing South African society in its relations with foreigners. The Minister of Justice used the occasion to put forward a series of proposals -concerning research into the causes of xenophobia, legislation, education and information- intended to strengthen the fight against racism and xenophobia: (a) With regard to the laws against discrimination, the Minister stated that it was “critical that refugees be specifically regulated under domestic law rather than treated as ordinary aliens”, and that, whilst general discrimination was largely addressed, particular forms of discrimination should be rendered unlawful – i.e. racist and xenophobic offences as well as discrimination in employment and the supply of goods and services; (b) With regard to education and information, the Minister emphasized that they could be used to intensify the fight against racism and xenophobia. “School curricula should be targeted in the field of history and research should be promoted into the nature, causes and manifestations of racism and xenophobia at local, national and regional levels. Training courses should be set up to promote cultural sensitivity, awareness of prejudice and knowledge of legal aspects of discrimination, for those responsible for recruitment and promotion procedure, and for those who have direct contact with the public or are responsible for ensuring that the persons in the organization comply with standards and policies of non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Finally, there should be mechanisms and instruments for independent inquiry into incidents and areas of conflict.” Proposals of this nature should help to establish a new human rights culture in South Africa that will be conducive to better treatment for foreigners. V. ACTION BY CIVIL SOCIETY 81. Civil society is beginning a new conversion process, in order to progress from a strategy of combating apartheid and preparing for the arrival of democracy to adopting the vital role of watching over the government and taking action for the instilment of human rights in South African society. Nevertheless, organizations in civil society still pay insufficient heed to the human rights of foreigners. The church representatives whom the Special Rapporteur met acknowledged the need to extend a welcome to the nationals of other African countries. Owing to lack of resources, the churches are unable to launch anti-xenophobia awareness campaigns, external sources of funding having dried up since the end of apartheid. Moreover, they feel that the more urgent need is to improve the living conditions of South Africans. 82. Organizations such as the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) provide a continuing forum for ideas from which emerge programmes aimed at developing democratic awareness among the South African population. IDASA also runs a critical eye over the government’s administrative activities, and is not slow to submit proposals for improving its economic and social policy.