A/HRC/21/27 Descendant Forum in the United Nations to serve as a mechanism for consulting, coordinating, tracking and monitoring for Afro-descendants. Germany [Original: English] [18 April 2012] 11. In its submission, Germany reported that the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany enshrined the equality of all before the law and prohibited discrimination on account of sex, parentage, race, language, homeland and origin, faith, or religious or political opinions. That was complemented by the General Equal Treatment Act which extended protection against discrimination to a number of private law fields as well as to public employment. 12. Section 86 of the Criminal Code criminalized dissemination of propaganda by unconstitutional organizations. The crime of incitement (section 130), which also covered incitement to racial hatred, was one of the most important provisions in the Criminal Code for combating right-wing extremism and xenophobia. Organizations based on racist ideas or which justified or attempted to foster racial hatred and racial discrimination faced criminal prosecution under sections 129 and 129a of the Criminal Code. 13. Germany reported that its laws prohibited political parties and groups that fall short of constitutional requirements. Under the Basic Law (art. 9) and the Law on Private Associations, societies and associations other than political parties may be banned when the competent authority determines that its aims or activities contravene the criminal law or are directed against the constitutional order or against the concept of international understanding. 14. German authorities had adopted a multidimensional approach in combating racism, xenophobia and right-wing extremism. Measures intended to counter the activities of rightwing extremists were complemented by efforts to address the root causes of extremism. Emphasis was placed, for instance, on financing local initiatives to strengthen democratic civil society and improving the situation of minority groups. 15. Germany reiterated its belief in the free, democratic basic order and a rejection of extremism and racism in all forms. Germany reported that its strategy against extremism, combines preventive and punitive elements. That was based on four pillars of intervention thus: strengthening civil society, encouraging people to have the courage to stand up for their convictions, promoting the integration of foreigners, and implementing measures directed at perpetrators and their environment. Greece [Original: English] [20 April 2012] 16. Greece reported that its constitutional law provided for the protection of life, dignity and freedom without discrimination due to nationality, race, language and religious or political beliefs. Incitement to racial hatred and violence, establishment or participation in organizations with racial objectives or that engaged in racial propaganda and official expression of racist ideas were criminalized. Racial motives were considered an aggravating factor when evaluating the penal value of a crime. Certain bodies were established by law to deal with labour-related discrimination, including the Ombudsman, the Labour Inspectorate and the Committee of Equal Treatment. To facilitate integration, foreigners legally resident in Greece were permitted to take part in local elections and the process of naturalization by third and second-generation immigrants had been simplified. A 5