A/HRC/42/27 particular the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, including on social media platforms. The exercise of freedom of expression should not detract from the rights and freedoms of others, including the right to equality and non-discrimination of any kind. Racist hate speech potentially silenced the free speech of the victims. On the other hand, the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression could also play a positive role in combating racial hatred and misinformation, which needed to be better explored by Governments and societies. 30. Another delegate said that countries should pay more attention to the role of social media and the impact they could have on the increase in racial discrimination and xenophobia. While recognizing the need to promote and protect freedom of expression, both online and offline, there was still a need to remain vigilant in order to avoid the misuse of new technologies which could undermine core human rights values. 31. The representative of one non-governmental organization (NGO) stated that in order to effectively counter hateful propaganda which posed a threat to democracy and fuelled racial discrimination and intolerance, overarching approaches must be adopted, including the enactment and meaningful implementation of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. One of the main challenges in this area was the abuse of freedom of speech in political campaigns by hate-mongering demagogues. Election campaign speeches that exploited racial hatred were unaccounted for in many countries. That was posing a significant challenge for civil society in promoting an inclusive and democratic society. 32. Another representative of an NGO stated that hatred of Jews had been a disease in all societies throughout the centuries and regrettably that virus was only getting stronger. Some did not consider Jews to be equal citizens. The Holocaust was denied and trivialized, the facts were obfuscated, and historical memory evaporated. He proposed that acts of antiSemitism be condemned whenever and in whatever form they might occur; that education about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism be integrated into national curricula; that national legislation be adapted to respond to current manifestations of anti-Semitism and manifestations of anti-Zionism that directly and negatively targeted Jewish communities; that a national action plan for combating anti-Semitism be developed and a national coordinator against anti-Semitism appointed; that funding be provided for the security of Jewish communities; and that the definition of anti-Semitism elaborated by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance be adopted in its totality. 33. Many delegates expressed concern regarding the rise of extremist political parties, movements and groups that sought to normalize racism, xenophobia and related intolerance, particularly against migrants and refugees. They stated that it was important to deal with the root causes of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. 34. Several delegates noted that hate speech, both online and offline, continued to play an immoral role in public discourse and must be uprooted. They emphasized that it was important to be focused on ways and means to address the issue, while at the same time bearing in mind that there was a very thin line between incitement to hatred and the right to freedom of expression and speech. The incompatibility between democracy and racism arose from a lack of respect and responsibility towards those freedoms. 35. Concerns were also expressed at the use of political platforms to stir up discrimination, hate speech and ideas of racial superiority in many parts of the world. Of particular concern was the fact that persons belonging to groups in vulnerable situations, such as migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, continued to suffer the main burden of such prejudices. In that regard, States should take policy and legal measures in accordance with article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which called on States parties to, inter alia, punish incitement to hatred and racial discrimination, prohibit racist organizations and condemn hateful messages by public authorities. 36. Participants pointed out that the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was still of great relevance to the United Nations and the human rights system, as racism was still entrenched as a distinctive feature of the political and social lives of many countries. 6