E/CN.4/1992/52 page 171 apply to the unions and associations of jurists, lawyers and sociologists, or to the Human Rights Association. In Tunisia, conciliation might be requested from the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights and the Association for the Defence of Human Rights and Public Freedoms. The Government of New Zealand stated that victims of religious intolerance and discrimination could seek redress with the Human Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Tribunal. The Government of the United States of America indicated that the Commission on Civil Rights had a broad mandate to investigate and study discrimination, including that based on religion. 159. According to the answers received, conciliation may be sought through parliamentary human rights commissions in a number of countries. The Government of Luxembourg stated that there was a Petitions Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and a Litigation Committee of the Council of State. The Turkish Government indicated that there was a Human Rights Commission in the Grand National Assembly. According to the Government of the Ukrainian SSR, legislation on the freedom of conscience and religious organization was supervised by the Soviets of People's Deputies. The Romanian Government indicated that there was a Commission for Human Rights, Worship and the Problem of National Minorities, as well as a Commission for the Investigation of Abuses and for Petitions. Conciliation relating to religious activity is reportedly also dealt with by the Secretariat of State for Worship. The Government of Guinea stated that victims may address themselves to the Transitional National Recovery Council. In its answer to the questionnaire, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that the Court of Administrative Justice investigated the complaints, grievances and objections of the people with respect to government officials and institutions. Few countries have established the institution of ombudsman. Portugal has a parliamentary ombudsman, while in Israel, the State Comptroller functions as the "Commissioner for Complaints from the Public". (j) Desirability of revising national legislation 160. The overwhelming majority of Governments that responded to the questionnaire stated that they considered national legislation already to be in line with international human rights standards and that the existing mechanisms were adequate and effective in dealing with incidents of religious intolerance. A number of Governments stated that changes in national legislation to that effect had already taken place. However, the Special Rapporteur is particularly pleased to note that the countries which contemplated changes in legislation also welcomed the opportunity to avail themselves of the technical assistance provided by the Centre for Human Rights, especially with regard to training courses and seminars and have welcomed such initiatives as useful. Numerous Governments which thought their legislation to be in keeping with the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief thought that advice from the Centre for Human Rights would further strengthen the free practice of religion in the country. The Governments of Cuba and Israel placed the services of their officials and experts at the disposal of the Centre for Human Rights.

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