A/HRC/7/19/Add.4 page 9 Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).3 Most notably, Lithuania has also recently ratified the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. 17. At the European level, Lithuania has yet to become a party to other legal instruments that are relevant for questions of racism and discrimination, including Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights on general non-discrimination, the European Convention on Nationality, the Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Local Public Life at Local Level and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.4 E. Methodology 18. The Special Rapporteur carried out extensive meetings with authorities at the executive, legislative and judiciary branches to collect their views and opinions as well as information concerning government programmes, legislation, judicial decisions, etc. Additionally, an agenda for meeting with civil society organizations, communities and associations representing minority groups, victims of discrimination, journalists and student leaders was organized. 19. In order to objectively and comprehensively assess the situation of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, the Special Rapporteur structured his meetings with interlocutors around three questions: (a) Is there racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in Lithuania?; (b) If so, who are their main victims and what are the main manifestations and expressions?; (c) What are or should be the governmental policies and programmes to fight these phenomena at the political, legal and cultural levels? 20. Chapter II of this report analyses the political and legal strategy adopted by State institutions in Lithuania, emphasizing the perceptions of State officials concerning racism and discrimination in the country. Subsequently, chapter III introduces the views of civil society organizations, representatives of minorities and victims of discrimination. This is followed by an analysis by the Special Rapporteur of chapter IV and his recommendations to both the Government of Lithuania and civil society organizations in chapter V. 3 Lithuania is also a party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its two Optional Protocols. It has also signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocols. Lithuania is not a party of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 4 European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Third report on Lithuania, adopted on 24 June 2005.