Background

Since 2012, the General Assembly has adopted annual resolutions mandating the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to prepare two reports per year, one to the Human Rights Council and one to the General Assembly, on the implementation of General Assembly resolutions on combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Call for Written Submissions

In resolution 77/204 of 15 December 2022 on combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the General Assembly mandated the Special Rapporteur to prepare reports on the implementation of this resolution (para. 69). The resolution requests the Special Rapporteur to seek and take into account the views of Governments and non-governmental organizations (para. 67). The resolution further encourages Member States and non-governmental organizations to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur (para. 71).

In her report to the 78th session of the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur intends to highlight new trends and manifestations of extremist political parties, movements, ideologies and groups of a racist or xenophobic character, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups. Based on information received from Governments and civil society organizations, she will evaluate measures adopted by Member States, in law and policy, with a view to countering extremist political parties, movements, ideologies and groups of a racist or xenophobic character, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups and similar extremist ideological movements.

The Special Rapporteur invites interested stakeholders to make written submissions on this topic. The Special Rapporteur believes that wide participation is vital for ensuring the quality and usefulness of her reports. For this reason, she welcomes submissions from stakeholders who can share experience and knowledge that can inform her report.

The Special Rapporteur hopes to receive submissions from, among other stakeholders, Member States, civil society organizations, private companies, academics, policy researchers, and relevant experts.

For this report, the Special Rapporteur would especially appreciate submissions that provide information about:

• The effectiveness of measures adopted by States – in law and policy – with a view to preventing and combating such incidents and manifestations, in conformity with international human rights obligations, in particular article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;
• Comments on measures adopted to prevent and counter hate speech, including online, and incitement to violence based on racial superiority and hatred against persons or groups of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities;
• The efficacy of measures taken by States to promote political, social and cultural tolerance and prevent the promotion of hate speech, including online, or incitement to violence based on racial superiority and hatred against persons or groups of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities in political or public discourse;
• Any civil society led initiatives to address Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;  
• Lessons learned, both positive and negative, from measures taken to combat and eliminate any form of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance;
• Disaggregated data on the victims, perpetrators and incidence of hate speech, including online, hate crime and other violent activities based on racial superiority and hatred against persons or groups of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities.