A/HRC/32/29 racial, religious and political differences was among the objectives of democratic societies, thus individuals had to be provided with full and equal protection. 8. The Deputy High Commissioner also underlined that education had a fundamental role in eliminating racial and other negative stereotypes and encouraged States to use all opportunities, including those provided by the Internet and social media, to counter the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and to promote the values of equality, non-discrimination, diversity and democracy. 9. Effective judicial protection and remedies for victims of racial discrimination were also fundamental. States had the obligation to duly prosecute and sanction those responsible for racist and xenophobic violence. They should also introduce provisions that indicated that the commission of an offence with a racist or xenophobic motivation or aim constituted an aggravating circumstance would result in heavier sanctions. Moreover, all racial, national and ethnic groups should be represented in all local and national institutions. 10. The Deputy High Commissioner highlighted the responsibility of political parties, platforms and organizations to take decisive action against racist discourse and encouraged them to develop internal disciplinary measures against public statements and actions that encouraged or incited racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 11. Lastly, the Deputy High Commissioner urged all States to demonstrate both political and moral leadership in fighting racial discrimination and xenophobia more vigorously. States should promote diversity as the greatest force for the enrichment of humanity as a whole that enabled the foundation for freedom and co-existence. III. Statements by panellists 12. The panellists emphasized that racism and racial discrimination were serious obstacles to the full enjoyment of human right for minorities and vulnerable groups and stressed that preserving and consolidating democracy was essential in order to prevent and combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 13. Mr. Barros focused on Brazil’s experiences and challenges in combating discrimination. He highlighted that racism was an ideological structure and that any form of discrimination was incompatible with democracy. 14. Mr. Barros underscored the importance of the black movement in Brazil. He gave an historical overview of how Brazilian racist practices were addressed over the last 80 years in the country. He noted a number of achievements included in the new Constitution that was adopted in 1988, exactly 100 years after slavery had been abolished in Brazil. According to the new Constitution, every citizen was equal before the law and entitled to security, property and freedom of every sort. Article 68 of the Constitution also granted ownership of the lands to the remnants of quilombo communities. More than 50 per cent of the Brazilian population was made up of people of African descent and they were the main beneficiaries of public policies to reduce poverty. He further noted that poverty was reduced by 86 per cent in 10 years. He stressed that the Brazilian Government also strived to ensure a greater rate of participation of people of African descent in public offices and in schools. So far, 1.3 million black citizens had attended public colleges, mainly owing to the system of quotas. 15. Mr. Barros concluded by highlighting achievements made over the last 13 years in promoting racial equality policies, not just for the black population, but also for other minorities, youth and women. This had led to the creation of the Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality on 21 March 2003, whose policies were aimed at reversing 3