Global Efforts for the Total Elimination of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Comprehensive Implementation of and Follow-Up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

A/RES/67/155No PDF available

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 67bComprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, published in 2013.

What other versions does this mandate have?

11 versions · 2004–2014

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/68/151

2014A/RES/68/151Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionLatestCompare with previous version
2013A/RES/67/155Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionCompare with previous version
2012A/RES/66/144Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionCompare with previous version
2011A/RES/65/240Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionCompare with previous version
2010A/RES/64/148Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionCompare with previous version

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

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

2 reports of the Secretary-General submitted under this mandate, 2013.

2013A/68/564Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action report of the Secretary-General
2013A/67/879How to make the International Decade for People of African Descent effective report of the Secretary-General

Identified automatically from the metadata in each report’s UN Digital Library catalogue record.

What does this mandate say?

81 operative paragraphs

I.General principles

Recognizes and affirms that a global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and all their abhorrent and evolving forms and manifestations is a matter of priority for the international community;

Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments;

Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form;

Re-emphasizes that international cooperation is a key principle in achieving the goal of the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive follow-up to and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionError: Reference source not found in this regard;

Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to that end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure the full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations in this regard contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as well as in the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference,Error: Reference source not found and in this regard welcomes the steps taken by numerous Governments;

Expresses deep concern at inadequate responses to emerging and resurgent forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and urges States to adopt measures to address those scourges vigorously with a view to preventing their practice and protecting victims;

Underlines the imperative need to also address all the contemporary forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which include incitement to such hatred, racial profiling and the propagation of racist and xenophobic acts through cyberspace, with a view to maximizing protection for victims, providing legal remedies and combating impunity;

Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling;

Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations;

Also recognizes that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds, such as sex, language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, social origin, property and birth or other status;

Reaffirms that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law, and also reaffirms that the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, or incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts, shall be declared offences punishable by law, in accordance with the international obligations of States, and that those prohibitions are consistent with freedom of opinion and expression;

Underlines the imperative need to address all the contemporary forms and manifestations of racial discrimination, taking into account the object and purpose of the provisions of article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationError: Reference source not found and general recommendation XV (42) of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;

Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law;

Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments;

Calls upon all States, in accordance with the commitments undertaken in paragraph 147 of the Durban Programme of Action, to take all measures necessary to combat incitement to violence motivated by racial hatred, including through the misuse of print, audiovisual and electronic media and new communications technologies, and, in collaboration with service providers, to promote the use of such technologies, including the Internet, to contribute to the fight against racism, in conformity with international standards of freedom of expression and taking all measures necessary to guarantee that right;

Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for all cultures, civilizations, religions, peoples and countries, as well as information on the follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective into the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men;

II.International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Reaffirms that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination are of paramount importance for the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world;

Notes with appreciation the thematic discussion on racist hate speech held during the eighty-first session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;

Expresses grave concern that universal ratification of the Convention has not yet been reached, despite commitments under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and calls upon those States that have not yet done so to accede to the Convention as a matter of urgency;

Urges, in the above context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain on its website and to issue regular updates on a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention and to encourage those countries to ratify it at the earliest possible time;

Expresses concern at the serious delays in the submission of overdue reports to the Committee, which impede the effectiveness of the Committee, makes a strong appeal to all States parties to the Convention to comply with their treaty obligations, and reaffirms the importance of the provision of technical assistance to requesting countries in the preparation of their reports to the Committee;

Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention on the financing of the Committee, and calls for adequate additional resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully;

Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 5 of the Convention;

Recalls that the Committee holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration and in article 5 of the Convention;

Welcomes the work of the Committee in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the measures recommended to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee;

Encourages all Member States to consider verifying whether the absence of complaints of racial discrimination is not the result of the victims’ lack of awareness of their rights, fear of reprisals, limited access to remedies or lack of confidence in the law enforcement authorities, or the lack of attention or sensitivity on the part of the law enforcement authorities to cases of racial discrimination, and to pay particular attention to the challenges faced by victims in accessing justice;

Calls upon Member States to do their utmost to ensure that their responses to the current financial and economic crisis do not lead to increased poverty and underdevelopment and, potentially, a rise in racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against foreigners, immigrants and persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities all over the world;

Reaffirms that deprivation of citizenship on the basis of race or descent is a breach of State parties’ obligations to ensure non-discriminatory enjoyment of the right to nationality;

III

Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and follow-up to his visits

Takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages relevant stakeholders to consider implementing the recommendations contained therein;

Welcomes Human Rights Council resolution 16/33 of 25 March 2011, by which the Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a period of three years;

Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, and calls upon States to consider responding favourably to his requests for visits so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively;

Reaffirms 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;

Emphasizes the obligations of States under international law to exercise due diligence to prevent crimes against migrants perpetrated with racist or xenophobic motivations, to investigate such crimes and to punish the perpetrators and that not doing so violates, and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of, the human rights and fundamental freedoms of victims, and urges States to reinforce measures in this regard;

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

Calls upon States parties to fully implement legislation and other measures already in place to ensure the elimination of all forms of racism, notably against people of African descent;

Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur;

Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the human and financial assistance necessary to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session;

Requests the Special Rapporteur, within his mandate, to continue giving particular attention to the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights;

Invites Member States to demonstrate greater commitment to fighting racism in sport by conducting educational and awareness-raising activities and by strongly condemning the perpetrators of racist incidents, in cooperation with national and international sports organizations;

Strongly condemns all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief, as well as violations of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief;

Recommends that States engage in broad efforts to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promote respect for cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, and in that regard emphasizes the crucial role of education, including human rights education, training and learning, and a variety of awareness-raising measures that contribute to the creation of tolerant societies in which mutual understanding may be ensured;

Also recommends that all States give due attention to and closely monitor the way in which the concept of national, cultural and religious identity is debated within their societies, with a view to preventing it from being used as a tool to create artificial differences among some groups of the population;

Expresses concern at recent deeply marked tendencies within numerous societies to characterize migration as a problem and a threat to social cohesion, and in this context notes the numerous human rights challenges in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Recommends that States conduct human rights training, including on the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, for law enforcement officials, especially immigration officials and border police, so that they may act in conformity with international human rights law;

Also recommends that States consider collecting ethnically disaggregated data with a view to setting up concrete targets and designing appropriate and effective anti-discrimination legislation, policies and programmes aimed at promoting equality, and preventing and eliminating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and in this regard, any such information should, as appropriate, be collected with the explicit consent of individuals, based on their self-determination and in accordance with provisions of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as data protection regulations and privacy guarantees, and this information must not be misused;

Invites the Special Rapporteur to consider examining national models of mechanisms that measure racial equality and their added value in the eradication of racial discrimination and to report on such challenges, successes and best practices in his next report;

Encourages those States that have not adopted legislation to combat and prevent racial, ethnic and xenophobic hatred to consider doing so, in conformity with international standards on freedom of expression and taking all measures necessary to guarantee that right, taking into account that combating the use of the Internet to propagate racist, ethnic hatred and xenophobic content and incitement to violence requires a multi-stakeholder approach;

Encourages States to promote the opportunities provided by the Internet and social media to counter the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and to promote equality, non-discrimination and respect for diversity;

Strongly condemns any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or electronic media or any other means, and in this regard emphasizes that respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief, and for cultural and religious diversity is an essential element for creating an environment free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contributes to the global efforts to combat all forms of discrimination;

IV

Outcomes of the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, the 2009 Durban Review Conference and the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2011)

Reaffirms that the General Assembly is the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters relating to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with its resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and that, together with the Human Rights Council, it shall constitute an intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Welcomes the adoption of the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, whose aim is to mobilize political will at the national, regional and international levels and to implement the Programme of Action;

Reaffirms the political commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, and their follow-up processes, at the national, regional and international levels, in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Calls upon all States that have not yet elaborated their national action plans on combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to comply with their commitments undertaken at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of 2001;

Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay, at the national, regional and international levels, policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations;

Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies or centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such bodies in all regions where they do not exist;

Calls upon those States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the instruments enumerated in paragraph 78 of the Durban Programme of Action;

Emphasizes the fundamental and complementary role of national human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working jointly with States, towards the elimination of all forms of racism and, in particular, towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in this regard;

Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in helping States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation;

Reaffirms its commitment to eliminating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of related intolerance against indigenous peoples, and in this regard notes the attention paid to the objectives of combating prejudice, eliminating discrimination and promoting tolerance, understanding and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

Acknowledges that the World Conference of 2001, which was the third world conference against racism, was significantly different from the previous two conferences, as evidenced by the inclusion in its title of two important components relating to contemporary forms of racism, namely, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Also acknowledges that the outcomes of the World Conference and the Durban Review Conference, in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, have the same status as the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields;

Notes efforts to increase public support for the role of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the involvement of relevant stakeholders in its realization;

Welcomes the compilation elaborated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to compile and disseminate, from within existing resources, in a single combined publication, the political declaration on the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, with a view to increasing global support for and awareness of these documents, as well as to establish a programme of outreach through public information campaigns at all levels, and encourages them to intensify efforts to enhance global support for and awareness of these documents;

Calls upon Member States and the United Nations system to intensify efforts to widely distribute copies of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and encourages efforts to ensure its translation and wide dissemination;

Endorses the laudable initiative led by the States members of the Caribbean Community and other Member States for the establishment of a permanent memorial at the United Nations to the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as a contribution towards the fulfilment of paragraph 101 of the Durban Declaration, expresses its appreciation for contributions made to the voluntary fund established in this regard, and urges other countries to contribute to the fund;

Notes the work of the mechanisms mandated to follow up on the World Conference and the Durban Review Conference, and underlines the importance of improving their effectiveness;

Calls upon the Human Rights Council to ensure that, upon the consideration and adoption of the conclusions and recommendations of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the recommendations are brought to the attention of the relevant United Nations agencies for adoption and implementation, within their respective mandates;

Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue mainstreaming the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference throughout the United Nations system and, in accordance with paragraphs 136 and 137 of the outcome document, which call for the establishment of an inter-agency task force, to update the Human Rights Council in this regard;

Acknowledges the central role of resource mobilization, effective global partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158 of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of commitments undertaken at the World Conference, and notes the mandate of the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, especially in mobilizing the political will necessary for the successful implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action;

Requests the Secretary-General to provide the resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards;

Expresses concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some governing bodies of the various sporting codes to combat racism, and in this regard invites all international sporting bodies to promote, through their national, regional and international federations, a world of sport free from racism and racial discrimination;

Expresses serious concern at past and recent incidents of racism in sport and at sporting events, and in this context welcomes efforts of sports governing bodies to combat racism, including by pursuing anti-racism initiatives and by developing and applying disciplinary codes that impose sanctions for racist acts;

Expresses its appreciation, in this context, to the International Federation of Association Football for the initiative to introduce a visible theme on non-racism in football, and invites the Federation to continue this initiative at the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament to be held in Brazil;

Calls upon States to take advantage of mass sporting events as valuable outreach platforms for mobilizing people and conveying crucial messages about equality and non-discrimination;

Urges States, in cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, the International Olympic Committee and international and regional sports federations, to intensify the fight against racism in sport by, among other things, educating the youth of the world through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires human understanding, tolerance, fair play and solidarity;

Acknowledges the guidance and leadership role of the Human Rights Council, encourages it to continue overseeing the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide the Council with all the support necessary for it to achieve its objectives in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

V.Follow-up activities

Reiterates its recommendation that future meetings of the Human Rights Council and its relevant mechanisms focusing on the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action be scheduled in a manner that allows broad participation and avoids overlap with the meetings devoted to the consideration of this item in the General Assembly;

Requests the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with Member States, relevant United Nations programmes and organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to launch an informal consultative preparatory process for the proclamation of the International Decade for People of African Descent, with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”, with a view to proclaiming the International Decade in 2013, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Assembly before the end of its sixty-seventh session on the practical steps to be taken to make the International Decade effective;

Commends the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent for its work during its tenth session, and invites its Chair to participate in the proclamation of the International Decade and to report to and engage in an interactive dialogue with the General Assembly in that respect, under the item entitled “Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, at its sixty-eighth session;

Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixty-eighth session under the item entitled “Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”.

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