A/HRC/4/50 page 4 12. The Penal Code criminalizes incitement to racial, ethnic or religious hatred and the dissemination of depictions of obscenities, prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, and protects ethnic and religious groups or comparable groups should they be threatened, defamed or insulted. 13. The Act on the Exercise of Freedom of Expression in Mass Media (2003) prohibits the dissemination of racist and xenophobic ideas. Guidelines for Journalists have been elaborated to provide guidance for reporting on these issues. 14. A national network of stakeholders advocating against racism and xenophobia operates under the patronage of the Government. Since 2001, various training courses for public authorities have been organized to increase awareness and sensitize officials about different aspects and grounds of discrimination. Training of prosecutors on the principle of equality and training of policemen on ethnically motivated offences have also been organized. 15. The Government of France gives high priority to the fight against all forms of discrimination. Several institutional reforms were put in place in order to strengthen efforts to combat racism and discrimination. In 2003, the Comité interministériel de lutte contre le racisme et l’antisémitisme (Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Fight against Racism and anti-Semitism), presided over by the Prime Minister, was created to define government policy in combating racism. It developed guidelines for police in the fight against racism and nominated magistrates to act as focal points in courts. The following year, the Haute autorité de lutte contre les discriminations et pour l’égalité (High Authority on the Fight against Discrimination and for Equality) was founded as an independent administrative authority to deal with cases of discrimination in all its forms and the promotion of equality. The Government, at the initiative of the President, has re-established two institutions whose focus is the integration of immigrants - the Conseil à l’integration (Council for Integration) and the Comité interministériel à l’intégration (Inter-Ministerial Committee for Integration). 16. French law protects freedom of expression and, in so doing, protects freedom of opinion and conviction and condemns all forms of discrimination. The Penal Code of 1 March 1994 and the Law on the Freedom of the Press of 29 July 1881 punishes the dissemination of racist and xenophobic messages. Incitement to discrimination, violence or racial hatred, defamation and insult of a racist or discriminatory character, as well as the denial of crimes against humanity are considered violations of French law. Law No. 2004-669 of 9 July 2004 amended the law of 30 September 1986 relative to the freedom of communication, allowing the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel to collect all necessary information from satellite network operators, punish them accordingly and seize the Conseil d’État (Council of State) of the matter. 17. With regard to housing, law No. 2002-73 of 17 January 2002 on social modernization amended former legislation to benefit victims of discriminatory practices. 18. The Government of France affirms that public schools are neutral institutions where equality between the sexes must be ensured. Law No. 2004-228 of 15 March 2004 provides that in public schools all ostentatious religious symbols or dress are forbidden. Discreet religious symbols are permitted.