E/CN.4/2002/24 page 6 Introduction 1. This report has been submitted in accordance with resolution 2001/5 (III) adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-seventh session. It should be read in conjunction with the study on political platforms which promote or incite racial discrimination, submitted to the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance at its second session (A/CONF.189/PC.2/21). 2. In preparing this document, the Special Rapporteur has used information transmitted by Governments (Germany, Brazil, China, Egypt, Spain, Israel, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Japan, Latvia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand), and intergovernmental organizations (Commission of European Committees, European Commission against Racism, European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia). He also based his report on information received from reliable non-governmental organizations (Amnesty International, International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, European Roma Rights Centre). Lastly, he has used the Internet for research purposes and continues to pay attention to the development of the world situation as reported in the media, which he has used to advantage. 3. This report is submitted in a tense international context in which people remain affected by the terrorist attack of 11 September 2001 in the United States and conscious of the need to combat terrorism in all its forms. The Special Rapporteur’s mandate did not escape the consequences of the 11 September tragedy, whether because of the racist or xenophobic reactions which that event sparked off or because of a so-called “war of civilizations” unleashed by the explosions in the World Trade Center towers in New York. In this disturbing context the importance of the mechanisms whose role it is to ensure respect for human rights by shedding objective light on the irrational events and reactions that lead to discrimination is more apparent than ever. 4. The report comprises six chapters and contains information on the activities of the Special Rapporteur in 2001 (chap. I); on contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (chap. II); on the replies to allegations communicated to Governments (chap. III); and on the follow-up of field visits and the legislative, judicial or other measures taken or envisaged by Governments (chap. IV). The Special Rapporteur presents his conclusions in chapter V and makes recommendations in chapter VI. I. ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR A. Participation in the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance 5. The Special Rapporteur was in Durban from 31 August to 8 September, and participated actively in both the preparatory process for the World Conference and the Conference itself. In particular, he submitted to the Preparatory Committee at its second session a study on political platforms which promote or incite racial discrimination (A/CONF.189/PC.2/21). At the plenary meeting of 6 September 2001, he spoke about the issues being addressed by the Conference and proposed measures to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance.