United Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 72bComprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, published in 2021.

What other versions does this mandate have?

2 versions · 2011–2021

2021A/RES/76/1United Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related IntoleranceLatestCompare with previous version
2011A/RES/66/3United against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

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

What subjects does this mandate have?

6 topics

Anniversaries Anti-Discrimination Measures Declarations (Text)Programmes of Action Racial Discrimination Xenophobia

What does this mandate say?

19 operative paragraphs

Adopts the following political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action:

United against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

We, Heads of State and Government and representatives of States and Governments, gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 22 September 2021, on the occasion of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,

Reaffirm that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in 2001, and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, adopted in 2009, as well as the political declaration on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, provide a comprehensive United Nations framework and solid foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and reaffirm our commitment to their full and effective implementation;

Also reaffirm that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance constitute a negation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles of international law;

Recall the importance of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as the principal international instrument to prevent, combat and eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as of universal ratification and effective implementation of the Convention;

Reaffirm our commitment to leave no one behind and, to that end, the urgency for all countries to come together to fulfil the promise of the United Nations and our determination to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in full and on time, as well as our commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism and to build trust to ensure the future we want by, inter alia, preventing human rights violations and abuses and addressing the root causes of discrimination in all its forms, and of inequalities within and among countries, as well as their growing manifestations, which contribute to acts of xenophobia, racism, intolerance, hate speech and disinformation;

Acknowledge and profoundly regret the untold suffering and evils inflicted on millions of men, women and children as a result of slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, genocide and past tragedies;

Welcome the progress made in many parts of the world in the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance since 2001, while acknowledging with concern that, in spite of concerted efforts by the international community in the past 20 years, building on efforts of the past decades, the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their new forms and manifestations, still persists in all parts of the world and countless human beings continue to be victims to the present day;

Acknowledge with deep concern the rise in discrimination, hate speech, stigmatization, racism, systemic racism, stereotypes, racial profiling, violence, xenophobia and intolerance, both in person and online, directed against, inter alia, Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, indigenous peoples, Roma and persons belonging to other racial, ethnic, linguistic or religious minorities, as well as motivated by prejudices against persons based on their religions or beliefs, such as, among others, Islamophobia, antisemitism and Christianophobia, and against women and children, migrants, refugees, forcibly displaced persons, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, older persons, youth and other persons in vulnerable situations;

Note with concern the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the existing inequalities within our societies and regret that, in that context, persons belonging to racial and ethnic minorities and to other groups, including Asians and people of Asian descent, especially women and girls, have been victims of racist violence, threats of violence, discrimination and stigmatization;

Resolve to pursue our common goal of ensuring the effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including for victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in all societies, while continuing to promote respect for human rights and to enhance democratic governance, the rule of law, independent judicial institutions and the fight against impunity nationally and internationally;

Recall the proclamation of 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and welcome the proclamation of 31 August as the International Day for People of African Descent;

Welcome the establishment of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, which will serve as a consultation mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent;

Reiterate that the primary responsibility for effectively combating acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States and affirm that, whenever such acts occur, they must be condemned and their reoccurrence prevented, and urge States to take appropriate preventive measures, including legislative measures, in this regard;

Note with appreciation the adoption of legislative measures and the establishment of specialized national mechanisms to combat racism and all forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and recognize the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action in order to address multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination;

Aim to ensure that people of African descent have full access to effective protection and remedies through the competent national tribunals and other State institutions against any acts of racial discrimination, and the right to seek from such tribunals just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination;

Recall Human Rights Council resolutions 43/1 of 19 June 2020 and 47/21 of 13 July 2021, and take note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Africans and of people of African descent against excessive use of force and other human rights violations by law enforcement officers and the annex thereto, entitled “Four-point Agenda towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality”, submitted pursuant to resolution 43/1;

Firmly believe that sustainable development and the respect, promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, as well as the implementation of international human rights obligations and commitments in accordance with international human rights law, are crucial to prevent acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and commit to promoting measures to counter and address those acts, including through education, the media and sports;

Call upon all States, the United Nations system and international and regional organizations and invite all relevant stakeholders, including parliaments, civil society, the private sector and academia, to fully commit themselves and to intensify their efforts for the elimination of all racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to continue cooperation with all relevant United Nations human rights bodies, and welcome the continued engagement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in mainstreaming the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action into the United Nations system;

Proclaim together our strong determination to mobilize political will at the national, regional and international levels and to accelerate momentum to make the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the protection of the victims thereof, a high priority for our countries.

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What does this mandate say?

United against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

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