A/57/204 assimilate other individuals or groups into their own culture, to exclude them or to eliminate them; (d) The acknowledgement that effective action to combat racism and racial discrimination requires a combination of educational, penal, economic and social measures; and (e) The acknowledgement that changing racist mentalities requires education, notably an educational process that notes the evils of racism and racial discrimination while praising human and cultural diversity and encouraging interpersonal and intercultural exchanges. 14. The Special Rapporteur is convinced that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action constitute a fundamental document which should be further developed and implemented without delay in the interest of mutually supportive and effective action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, through human rights education and economic, social and cultural development measures designed to correct persistent forms of structural racism and eradicate the social inequalities which represent the legacy of racism and feed poverty. 15. During his participation in the work of the Commission on Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur also emphasized manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia which had targeted persons of Muslim faith or Arab origin in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The Commission, concerned to find a solution to this alarming situation, adopted resolution 2002/9, entitled “Combating defamation of religions”, in which it requested the Special Rapporteur to examine the situation of Muslim and Arab peoples in various parts of the world with special reference to physical assaults and attacks against their places of worship, cultural centres, businesses and properties in the aftermath of the events of 11 September. 16. As regards his mission to Australia, the Special Rapporteur noted the substantial efforts made by the Australian Government to end racism and racial discrimination. A number of institutions — anti-discrimination commissions or human rights and equal opportunity commissions — have been established at the federal level and in the federated states to combat these phenomena. Programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of the indigenous peoples exist, even if they have not yet succeeded in producing the desired results. Recognition of ethnic diversity and the promotion of inter-ethnic harmony undoubtedly constitute an ideal policy for consolidating the Australian nation, provided it does not waver under the influence of electoral considerations. 17. He also stated that the question of reconciliation with the Aboriginal peoples remains outstanding, because it affects the foundations of the Australian State and conflicting cultural values. For the Aboriginals, despite the democratic foundations of the Australian State and its desire to incorporate all its ethnic components on an egalitarian basis, this State is a manifestation of colonization, whose consequences remain to this day, notably through the limitation of their land rights, the tragedy of the abducted children, cultural clashes and highly precarious living conditions outside the wealth of the majority of Australians. In their view, the resolution of conflicts is dependent on negotiation on equal terms between Australia’s governors and those who originally possessed the continent, the eminent owners of the 7