A/HRC/21/27 municipal-level Migrant Integration Council existed to assist migrants. Greece also reported that it had taken measures to protect vulnerable groups against racism including the establishment of the SOS telephone hotline and email to provide information round-theclock to immigrants in different languages. That work was complemented by several Government-funded projects implemented by departments or NGOs aimed at supporting vulnerable immigrant groups. The Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights was currently developing a system for collection of data on hate crimes. Beyond the statutory requirement for political parties to affirm under oath that their operations served the free functioning of democracy, the State was not permitted to intervene in their internal affairs. Japan [Original: English] [17 April 2012] 17. According to information provided by Japan, its Constitution guaranteed equality to all and prohibited any form of “discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin”. Racist or xenophobic attacks were not specifically outlawed but offences might be punishable as defamation, intimidation or violence occasioning bodily harm. The human rights organs of the Ministry of Justice addressed violations of human rights in accordance with the Investigations and Treatment Regulations of Human Rights Infringement Incidents and the Civil Liberties Commissioners Law. Human Rights Counselling Offices for Foreign Nationals existed in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Takamatsu, Kobe and Matsuyama to provide human rights assistance to foreigners and respond to complaints against discrimination. 18. The right to participate in the political process was guaranteed to all nationals in accordance to law and without discrimination due to race or ethnicity. The human rights organs of the Ministry of Justice undertook a variety of awareness activities based on the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Human Rights Education and Encouragement, including issuance of posters, leaflets and organization of promotional activities, symposia and debates. Madagascar [Original: French] [18 May 2012] 19. Madagascar noted that the preamble of its Constitution recognized the International Bill of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which were considered to be an integral part of Madagascan law. The Constitution also recognized that international treaties and agreements, which have been lawfully ratified or approved, shall, as from their publication, have higher authority than national laws. That entailed that Madagascan law was in conformity with the provisions of article 1 of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 20. Madagascar referred to article 8 of its Constitution, which provided that citizens were equal before the law and enjoyed the same fundamental freedoms under the protection of the law without discrimination on the basis of sex, level of education, financial situation, origin, race, religious belief or opinion, and to article 14 which enunciated the freedom to create associations and political parties, except for those which undermined the unity of the nation or advocate totalitarianism or ethnic, tribal or religious segregation. 6