A/HRC/26/50
54.
The Special Rapporteur recommends that States strengthen the capacity of law
enforcement agents and members of the judiciary through mandatory human rights
training with a focus on crimes motivated by racist or xenophobic attitudes. Law
enforcement agents should be provided with the necessary instructions, procedures
and resources to identify, investigate and register racist and xenophobic crimes.
Echoing the words of his predecessor, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes that States
should also ensure that law enforcement agents engage with vulnerable groups and
minorities who are at particular risk of racist or xenophobic crimes, in order to
reduce their fear, restore confidence in law enforcement officers and allow for better
reporting of racist crimes.
55.
It is of utmost importance that States ensure that the perpetrators of crimes
motivated by racism or xenophobia are prosecuted and adequately sanctioned.
Prompt, thorough and impartial investigations are crucial as a first step towards
ensuring justice for victims and fighting impunity. In that regard, States have the
responsibility to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes motivated by racism or
xenophobia and to fight against impunity for such crimes.
56.
The Special Rapporteur recommends that law enforcement agencies and
national human rights institutions collect statistics on racist and xenophobic crimes
and ensure that their data collection systems identify the types of offences committed
and the characteristics of the victims and perpetrators, including whether they are
affiliated with an extremist political party, movement or group. Such statistics would
allow for an accurate assessment of the effectiveness of measures taken to address
racist crimes.
57.
Efforts made by States to counter extremist political parties, movements and
groups, including neo-Nazis, skinhead groups and similar extremist ideological
movements should be enhanced through the replication of good practices. In that
regard, it is important that the sharing of good practices increase among all relevant
stakeholders. Indeed, as stated in the outcome document of the Durban Review
Conference, a broad sharing of best practices in all regions of the world aimed at
preventing, combating and eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance can assist Governments, parliaments, the judiciary, social partners
and civil society with the effective implementation of the provisions of the Durban
Declaration and Programme of Action.
58.
The Special Rapporteur would like to recall the importance of cooperating
closely with civil society and international and regional human rights mechanisms to
effectively counter extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neoNazis, skinhead groups and similar extremist ideological movements. National human
rights institutions should develop appropriate programmes to promote tolerance of
and respect for all, and should be encouraged to collect relevant information.
59.
The Special Rapporteur recalls that education remains one of the most effective
means of countering the negative influence that extremist political parties, movements
and groups may have on young people. Reiterating the call in paragraph 136 of the
Durban Programme of Action, he urges States to ensure that education and training,
especially teacher training, promote respect for human rights and the fight against
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that
educational institutions implement policies and programmes on equal opportunities,
anti-racism, gender equality and cultural, religious and other diversity, with the
participation of teachers, parents and students.
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