A/HRC/25/69 needed to be addressed through the elaboration of norms and strengthening of national mechanisms against racial discrimination and xenophobic expressions. 28. Morocco aligned itself with the statements of Pakistan on behalf of OIC and that to be made by Gabon on behalf of the African Group, and expressed its concern with regard to the rise of xenophobic tendencies and intolerance towards different racial, religious and cultural groups, characterized by appalling violence and inexplicable and unacceptable impunity, especially in the context of economic and financial crises. In that context, the work of the Committee was primarily in response to the need for the development of complementary standards to meet the gaps in legislation against all forms of contemporary racism, including racial and religious hatred. Morocco emphasized the importance of a concept focused on the victims, including an emphasis on dangers due to the rise of racist acts that continued to impinge on the rights of individuals globally. Minorities, such as migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, were most affected by that phenomenon. It was therefore necessary to embark on the elaboration of complementary standards in order to protect the rights of victims, further adding that it was imperative to demonstrate the political will to address the various forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to ensure necessary reparation and compensation for victims. 29. Ethiopia suggested that additional questions might be forwarded to Member States in order that they reflect on the need to define xenophobia as well as on measures at the national, regional and international levels. It would also enable those Member States, including Ethiopia, which had not submitted responses to the questionnaire to provide responses before the next session. It added that there were no gaps in the Convention, but there was a problem with implementation; although complementary standards were still required to address manifestations of xenophobia. There was wide consensus that the manifestations of xenophobia were different from racial discrimination, as the former involved greater hostility. It would be important to approach the definition of xenophobia cautiously, as it might be too broad or too narrow. 30. Gabon, on behalf of the African Group, stated that whether there was a need or not to develop complementary standards did not even merit questioning, since consensus documents such as paragraph 199 of the DDPA and the Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference, as well as many resolutions, already mandated doing so. It was widely accepted that instruments had gaps which required filling. That was particularly the case with regard to the concept of xenophobia, including its manifestations and forms, which should be defined. According to the African Group, xenophobia had not been precisely defined in article 1 of the International Convention, and therefore the elaboration of complementary standards was imperative to address that new manifestation. 31. Sri Lanka stated that new trends in racism and related intolerance were being witnessed in many parts of the world and it welcomed discussion on those issues. The DDPA and the Convention constituted the basis and guiding principles upon which action could be initiated to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. As a country which recently emerged from a 30-year protracted conflict, and with an ongoing reconciliation process, Sri Lanka was acutely aware of the manner in which racism could be manipulated by extremist elements and terrorist groups seeking to foster separatist agenda and engender hatred and intolerance. The delegate noted that national human rights mechanisms and institutions needed to promote human rights while taking into consideration the specificities of their respective national contexts. Sri Lanka was in the process of implementing the recommendations of its domestic process of reconciliation to promote tolerance and unity among communities in the post-conflict context, including through language, sport, youth engagement and cultural expression. 32. South Africa aligned itself with the statement made by Gabon on behalf of the African Group and reiterated that the Committee’s mandate, as contained in Council 8