A/HRC/21/27 Mexico [Original: Spanish] [24 April 2012] 21. Mexico reported that racism and racial discrimination was prohibited under article 1 of the Constitution and article 4 of the Federal Law for prevention and elimination of discrimination. In its submission, Mexico conceded that it faced structural problems in sufficiently developing institutions to fight racial discrimination. While the Penal Code did not cover discrimination, the trend among State-level institutions was towards criminalization. The Government was still working on developing a national penal definition of racial discrimination. 22. The National Council to Prevent Discrimination had been created in 2003 to assist in realization of the protection against discrimination and to promote inclusion. The Council had developed guidelines for public administration and the promotion of the equal treatment and inclusion of the Afro-descendants. 23. The Constitution provided for a multicultural society and the National Institute for Indigenous Languages had been established with the objective of protecting and developing indigenous languages. Mexico reported that it had realized the need to develop a national legal framework to promote and protect Afro-descendants. The adverse effects on immigrant and indigenous peoples of the activities of organized criminal groups remained a challenge. Mexico also reported that it had commenced a legal assistance programme to protect its citizens living across the border from discrimination. Several initiatives had been undertaken to create awareness specifically in three areas, namely research, educational and public activities. Mexico concluded by underlining that a democratic society was impossible without real and effective inclusion of all groups. That could be achieved through deepening cooperation and a strong policy of multiculturalism. The most effective solutions must include recognition of the identity of the constituent ethnic nationalities, social awareness and recognition of the contributions of the ethnic groups, investigation and analyses of the situation of the groups, inclusion of all groups on an equal basis in the process of nation-building, training for public servants and law enforcement personnel on the specific needs of the different ethnic groups, combating racism and racial discrimination in the media and public places and promotion of citizen participation in governance. Norway [Original: English] [24 April 2012] 24. Norway reported that its domestic laws complied with the prohibition of discrimination under the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was also fully incorporated in the Norwegian Anti-Discrimination Act. The latter prohibited direct and indirect discrimination. Norwegian anti-discrimination laws avoided the use of race, which was seen as anachronistic since human race could not be divided into races. Discrimination based on perception of race was already fully covered within the meaning of ethnicity in the Anti-Discrimination Act. The anti-discrimination legislation was enforced by the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud and the Norwegian Equality Tribunal. Extremely serious forms of discrimination were criminalized and enforceable by prosecuting authorities. Norway also reported that its Action Plan to promote equality and prevent ethnic discrimination during 2009–2012 incorporated 66 different measures with the engagement of 8 Government ministries. The Government of Norway had taken measures to promote the increased participation of persons with immigrant backgrounds in the electoral process. They included public awareness activities and other specific measures, including recruitment of employees with minority 7