A/HRC/23/56/Add.1
international standards in procedures for determining refugee status, exclusion clauses and
documentation. In recent years, capacity-building and training initiatives for the National
Commission for Refugees, relevant Government officials, border agents and human rights
institutions have been implemented in collaboration with UNHCR.
70.
Despite such positive legal and policy measures, the Special Rapporteur was
informed that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance against refugees
and migrants, including irregular migrants, persist. According to some interlocutors,
negative stereotypes of refugees and migrants are deeply entrenched in the general public.
Refugees and migrants often experience racial discrimination and xenophobia on a regular
basis, especially in employment, health, housing and education, as well as from the police
and immigration services. In addition, the media have, on occasion, stigmatized the
immigrant population, refugees and asylum seekers by stereotyping them as responsible for
certain types of common crimes reported throughout the country.
E.
Role of the media
71.
Various interlocutors pointed out that some organizations, journalists and media
outlets have, at times, disseminated racist hate speech and messages of racial superiority, as
well as racial stereotypes and expressions of hatred against indigenous, original campesino
peoples and nations and Bolivians of African descent. It was also noted that indigenous,
original campesino peoples and nations and Bolivians of African descent continue to be
underrepresented in the media, which also impede their political participation and inclusion,
given that many media outlets still discriminate against them.
72.
The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that it is important that the media
take responsibility in combating racism and racial discrimination, and contribute to
eradicating the prejudices and stereotypes existing in society and persistent tensions, all of
obstruct intercultural acceptance and the creation of an inclusive and pluralistic society.
According to the Government, self-regulation by media outlets has not been sufficiently
effective in eliminating racist contents and coverage, and progress has been poor in this
regard. The Government has often called upon mass-media outlets to refrain from
disseminating offensive expressions based on racial hatred, colour and origin, and is willing
to enter into dialogue and discussion with media outlets on cases where racist content or
messages have been disseminated.
73.
Article 16 of Law No. 045 against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination
prohibits and criminalizes the dissemination of racist expressions through the media.
Concerns were expressed by media representatives that these provisions of Law No. 045
may impede the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and opinion by leading to
media censorship. Although some media outlets have undertaken awareness-raising
programmes about Law No. 045, disseminated messages to promote values of respect and
equality and devoted a certain amount of coverage to anti-racism programmes, much
remains to be done in this area. The Government authorities informed the Special
Rapporteur that measures had been taken to increase the visibility of indigenous peoples in
audiovisual and print media, and a monitoring system has been established to ensure
compliance of media outlets with the relevant obligations set out in Law No. 045.
F.
Role of education
74.
The authorities pointed out that important aspects of the new Plurinational State
Constitution – respect for indigenous communities, the principle of non-exclusion, the full
recognition of interculturality and multilinguism – had been incorporated into the current
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