A/HRC/20/38 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 66/143 on the inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in which the Assembly requested the Special Rapporteur to prepare for submission to the Human Rights Council at its twentieth session a report on the implementation of that resolution. 2. The Special Rapporteur notes that a report including contributions received from States and other stakeholders on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 66/143 will be submitted to the Assembly at its sixty-seventh session, in accordance with paragraph 24 of said resolution. 3. In chapter II of the present report the Special Rapporteur addresses the human rights and democratic challenges posed by extremist political parties, movements and groups in the context of the current economic crisis. He examines the use of the Internet and social media by extremist political parties, movements and groups in chapter III and considers the adverse effects of such phenomena on youth in chapter IV. In chapter V, the Special Rapporteur raises the need for preventive measures to address extremism in sport, while chapter V contains his conclusions and recommendations. II. Addressing the human rights and democratic challenges posed by extremist political parties, movements and groups in the context of the current economic crisis A. Democratic challenges posed by extremist political parties, movements and groups in the context of the current economic crisis 4. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that the current economic and financial crisis and its consequences on poverty and unemployment may have further contributed to the rise of extremist political parties, movements and groups, and exacerbated identity-related issues. Indeed, societies have become more and more diverse in terms of cultural and ethnic origin and religious affiliation, and in some instances, such diversity has led to identityrelated tensions that have been exploited in the context of the current economic crisis by some extremist political parties to incite discrimination and hatred against specific groups. In some countries, it has been reported that the financial aspects of the crisis have rekindled old negative stereotypes and racial prejudices against members of minorities such as the Roma. Furthermore, in some regions, fear and discontent occasioned by social and economic problems such as pauperisation, unemployment and budget cuts in social benefits have manifested themselves in votes in favour of extremist political parties, including those with racist and xenophobic programmes. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that in some instances this has led to the electoral success of such political parties, which are, for the first time, gaining seats in national parliaments. For instance, it was reported that this year, far-right political parties, which did not previously enjoy representation in national parliaments, have managed to obtain seats in the context of austerity policies and measures implemented in response to the economic crisis at the national level. In other countries, extremist political parties have become the third political party, with an increased number of seats in national parliaments, which gives them more influence in the political arena and the national legislature. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that in this context vulnerable groups have been particularly targeted and stigmatized. Indeed, reports received indicate that the tendency of political leaders to promote their platforms in ethnic terms, while 3