The Incompatibility Between Democracy and Racism

A/RES/58/159No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 115aElimination of racism and racial discrimination, published in 2004.

What other versions does this mandate have?

5 versions · 2004–2023

This is an older version — the most recent is A/HRC/RES/53/21

2023A/HRC/RES/53/21The incompatibility between democracy and racismLatestCompare with previous version
2018A/HRC/RES/38/19The incompatibility between democracy and racismCompare with previous version
2015A/HRC/RES/29/20The incompatibility between democracy and racismCompare with previous version
2011A/HRC/RES/18/15The incompatibility between democracy and racismCompare with previous version
2004A/RES/58/159The incompatibility between democracy and racism

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What does this mandate say?

15 operative paragraphs

Condemns political platforms and organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as incompatible with democracy and transparent and accountable governance;

Affirms that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance condoned by governmental policies violate human rights and may endanger friendly relations among peoples, cooperation among nations, international peace and security and the harmony of persons living side by side within one and the same State;

Affirms also that any form of impunity condoned by public authorities for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy and tends to encourage the recurrence of such acts;

Condemns the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial or national prejudice, and states that these phenomena can never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances;

Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Arab, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent and other communities;

Emphasizes that the elimination of all forms of discrimination, especially gender, ethnic and racial discrimination, as well as diverse forms of intolerance, the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons of indigenous origin and members of indigenous communities and migrants, and respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity contribute to strengthening and promoting democracy and political participation;

Urges States to reinforce their commitment to promote tolerance and human rights and to fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as a way to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and transparent and accountable governance, and in that regard recommends measures such as introducing or reinforcing human rights education in schools and in institutions of higher education;

Also urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society;

Underlines the key role that political leaders and political parties can and ought to play in strengthening and promoting democracy by combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages political parties to take concrete steps to promote solidarity, tolerance and respect, inter alia, by developing voluntary codes of conduct, including internal disciplinary measures for violations thereof, so their members refrain from public statements and actions that encourage or incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Invites the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other relevant inter-parliamentary organizations to encourage debate in, and action by, parliaments on various measures, including laws and policies, to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Invites the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the treaty bodies to continue to pay particular attention to violations of human rights stemming from the rise of racism and xenophobia in political circles and in society at large, with due consideration to a gender perspective, especially as regards their incompatibility with democracy;

Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the incompatibility between democracy and racism;

Also takes note of the outcome of the expert seminar on the interdependence between democracy and human rights, held by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Geneva on 25 and 26 November 2002;

Invites the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to submit to the General Assembly the study on the issue of political platforms that promote or incite racial discrimination, as requested by the Commission in its resolution 2003/41,6 and updated and expanded as appropriate;

Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled “Elimination of racism and racial discrimination”.

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The Incompatibility Between Democracy and Racism

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