A/HRC/28/81 on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence was seen as a useful basis for further discussions. 13. The Ambassador of Algeria stated that Algeria supported the statements made by the representative of Ethiopia and the Ambassador of Pakistan, who had spoken on behalf of the African Group and of OIC, respectively. He noted an increase in xenophobia and racist acts, and their impact on migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The phenomenon of xenophobia was spreading worldwide, and the number of victims was also increasing; he emphasized that victims were affected in a “moral” as well as in a “physical” sense. Algeria supported the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee and urged a victim-centred approach to its work. It would be important to look at the specificity of existing instruments. 14. The representative of Morocco stated that Morocco supported the statements made on behalf of the African Group and on behalf of OIC. Morocco attached particular importance to the work of the Committee. He noted an upsurge in racist and xenophobic thinking and actions worldwide and cautioned against a one-directional approach to the Ad Hoc Committee’s work. He noted a substantial threat to the framework already in place and said that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, along with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, served as important sources of information. The delegate referred to a need to bring equilibrium to the international community, and thanked delegations that had contributed positively to the work of the Committee. The Rabat Plan of Action provided a solid approach to issues being addressed by the Committee. 15. The representative of the European Union stated that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance ran counter to the principles that underlay the European Union and that were common values of all European Union member States, namely, respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. She quoted the declaration made by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the European Union on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: “We must act more resolutely to tackle all forms of intolerance, racism, xenophobia and other types of discrimination. In times of economic crisis, the dangers of rising racism and xenophobia, fuelled in part by increasing unemployment, and insecurity about the future, are very real. It is in these challenging times that our commitment to combating racism must be relentless.” Priority should be given to the effective implementation of existing international human rights law, in particular the Convention. 16. The representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela offered his country’s support for the work of the Ad Hoc Committee and expressed regret that some countries still did not support the Committee. He urged the endorsement and implementation of what had been agreed by consensus in paragraph 199 of the Durban Programme of Action, in order to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance worldwide. 17. The representative of Switzerland, on behalf also of Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Japan, Mexico and Uruguay, expressed appreciation for the intersessional preparations and support for the programme of work and the use of expert presentations during the session. He emphasized the importance of the Convention and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to the work of the session, and said that the delegations on whose behalf he spoke would engage constructively in determining whether there were gaps in the normative framework and how they would be addressed at the session. 5