A/HRC/21/27 sexual orientation, age and transgender identity or expression. The Swedish Penal Code criminalized discrimination and required that discriminatory motives should be considered an aggravating factor in assessing the penal value of a crime. 54. Combating hate crime had been ascribed a high priority by judicial, prosecutorial and police authorities. The police and prosecutorial authorities had developed guidelines, databases and training manuals to facilitate uniformity of practice in responding to racism and racial discrimination. The State provided funding to NGOs working against discrimination, racism, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. 55. The languages of five national minorities, Jews, the Roma, the Sámi, the Swedish Finns and the Tornedalers, were recognized as national languages. Additionally, the Sámi were recognized by the Riksdag as only indigenous people of Sweden and as a people by the Constitution. A Sámi Parliament had been in existence since 1993. 56. There are no “ethnic quotas’’ or equivalent measures in place as regarded representation in the State’s democratically elected assemblies or its legal system. A number of provisions in Swedish law, notably the provisions prohibiting “incitement against a national or ethnic group” and “unlawful military activity” and provisions on conspiracy, preparation, attempt and complicity in crimes, meant that organizations engaged in racist activities could not pursue such activities without breaking the law. 57. A national action plan for safeguarding democracy and fighting violent extremism had recently been adopted for the period 2012–2014 and contained a range of measures to enhance knowledge and awareness of violent extremism, discourage recruitment to violent, extremist groups and help members of such groups to disengage from them. The national action plan also contained measures, which aimed at increasing coherence and cooperation among various Government agencies involved in the fight against violent extremism. 58. The Discrimination Ombudsman and the Forum for Living History undertook a range of measures to fight intolerance and raise awareness of human rights. The Government has recently launched a website aimed at dispelling prejudice and false information, including so-called “Internet myths”, relating to immigration, immigrants and persons belonging to minorities. 59. Sweden noted that freedom of expression, and in particular free and independent media, was a necessary precondition for combating racism and xenophobia. Abuse, wrongdoing and intolerance typically festered in areas less exposed to scrutiny and free debate. A strong legal framework enforced by an independent and efficient legal system was necessary to protect individuals from discrimination, hate speech and other racist crimes. All sections of society had a shared responsibility to combat racism and intolerance, and promote awareness and respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Switzerland [Original: French] [19 April 2012] 60. Switzerland reported that the constitutional provision prohibiting discrimination on grounds of origin, race, language or religious belief was reflected in article 261 bis of the Criminal Code and article 171 (c) of the Military Criminal Code. The law punished anyone who publicly incited hatred or discrimination against people because of their race, ethnicity or religion, violated human dignity, refused to provide a public service or propagated a racist ideology. That provision implied that freedom of expression was not absolute and could be subject to constraints, especially in relation to protecting the dignity and honour of others. The Confederation also takes preventive measures, such as information and 14