Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 86 Implementation of the Programme of Action for the 2nd Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, published in 1984.

What other versions does this mandate have?

15 versions · 1983–2002

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/56/265

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2002	A/RES/56/265	Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination	634	19%Compare
1997	A/RES/51/81	Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination	1,595	71%Compare
1996	A/RES/50/136	Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination	1,374	31%Compare
1995	A/RES/49/146	Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination	3,613	79%Compare
1994	A/RES/48/91	Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination	4,023	—

What subjects does this mandate have?

6 subjects

Apartheid International Decades Migrant Workers' Families Programmes of Action Racial Discrimination Treaties

What’s in this document?

17 operative paragraphs

Reaffirming its objective contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cul tural or humanitarian character. and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race. sex, lan guage or religion,

Reaffirming its firm determination and its commitment to eradicate totally and unconditionally racism in all its forms, racial discrimination and apartheid,

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,4 the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 5 the International Con vention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid6 and the Convention against Discrimination in Education adopted by the United Nations Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organization on 14 December 1960,7

Recalling also its resolution 3057 (XXVIII) of 2 November 1973, on the first Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, and its resolution 38 14 of 22 November 1983. on the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,

Recalling further the two World Conferences to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held at Geneva in 1978 and I 983, respectively,

/'aking note once again of the Report of the Second World Confereni·c to Comhat Racism and Racial Discrimination, 8

Convinced that the Second World Conference repre sented a positive contribution by the international com munity towards attaining the objectives of the Decade, through its adoption of a Declaration and an operational Programme of Action9 for the Second Decade to Combat Racial Discrimination.

Noting with concern that. despite the efforts of the inter national community, the first Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination did not attain its principal objertives and that millions of human beings continue to this clay to be the victims of varied forms of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid.

Emphas1::.ing the necessity of attaining the obJectives of the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,

Convinced of the need to take more effective and sus tained international measures for the elimination of all forms of racism and racial discrimination and the total eradication of apartheid in South Africa.

I.

Resolves once again that all forms of racism and racial discrimination. particularly in their institutionalized form. such as apartheid, or resulting from official doctrines of racial superiority or exclusivity. are among the most serious violations of human rights in the contemporary world and must he combated by all available means;

' Appeals to the international community, in general. and the United Nations. in particular. to continue to give the highest prionty to programmes for combating racism, racial discrimination and apartheid, and to intensify its own efforts. during the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, to provide assistance and relief to the victims of racism and all forms of racial discrimina tion and apartheid, especially in South Africa and Namibia and in occupied territories and territories under alien domination.

Appeals to all Governments and to international and non-governmental organizations to increase and intensify their activities to combat racism, racial discrimi nation and aparihe1d and to provide relief and assistance to the victims of these evils;

Appeals to all Governments to review their laws and enact appropriate legislation with a view to ensuring that any victim ofracism or racial discrimination has adequate protection. avenues of recourse and assistance:

invites tht" concerned organs of the United Nations. 111 particular the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, as well as the relevant specialized agencies. to continue exercising vigilance in identifying actual or emergent situations of racism or racial discrimi nation. to draw attention to them where discovered and to suggest appropriate remedial measures;

lnl'ites the Secretary-General to proceed immedi ately with the implementation of the activities outlined in

his report on the plan of activities for the period 1985- 1989; 1°

Requests the Secretary-General to give the highest priority to actions to combat apartheid in the implementa tion of the plan of activities;

Further requests the Secretary-General, in imple menting the plan of activities, to take fully into account the following elements:

Universal recognition and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and other related international instruments;

Assistance from the United Nations and the spe cialized agencies to States in their efforts to embark on concrete programmes to eradicate racial discrimination;

Study of the effects of racial discrimination in the field of education, training and employment as it affects the children of minorities, in particular, those of migrant workers;

Calls upon the Secretary-General to maintain close contacts with the Special Committee against Apartheid, the United Nations Council for Namibia and other relevant United Nations committees and international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, as to their respective roles in implementing the plan of activities;

Requests Governments to forward a report every two years on the action taken under the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, 11 on the basis of a questionnaire circulated by the Secretary-General, which reports shall be transmitted to the Economic and Social Council for its consideration;

Requests the Economic and Social Council, during the period of the Decade, to submit an annual report to the General Assembly, containing, inter alia:

An enumeration of the activities undertaken or contemplated to achieve the objectives of the Second Dec ade, including the activities of Governments, United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and other interna tional and regional organizations, as well as non-govern mental organizations;

A review and appraisal of those activities;

Its suggestions and recommendations;

Invites the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fortieth session on the implemen tation of the present resolution;

Decides to keep the item entitled "Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination" on its agenda throughout the Second Decade and to consider it as a matter of the highest priority at its fortieth session.

7 1 st plenary meeting

23 November 1984 '-8_7 -

4 Resolution 217 A (111).

7 l lmted Nations Educational. Scientitic and ( ·ultural Organ11.atwn. 5 Resoh•'••)O 2106 A (XX)

illCX f§cconh o(rlw ( ien(',,J/ Conll'rencc f."levcnth .'-Jt>sswn. Rcsolw1011s. p_ 119 6 Resolu.um 3068 (XXVIII 8 t1nited NatmnD 1i11hhcatton. '-;ak:-. Nti. F.81 XIV 4 and rorrigcndum rnnc·,

'l/hrd,chap !I

10AfJ9/167-E/1984/33 and Add.I and 2.

11see A,38131 I-S:15883. annn. 11 Resolution 38/14, annex.

14sre A 191450.s,107k6 12 See Report of the International Conference in Support of the Struggle of the Namibian People for Independence.

Paris, 25-29 April 1983 (A/CONF. 120/ l 3), part three

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

I.

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