A Global Call for Concrete Action for the 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/80/193View PDF

Who created this mandate?

A document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 69bComprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, published in 2025.

What other versions does this mandate have?

5 versions · 2022–2025

2025A/RES/80/193A global call for concrete action for the 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
2024A/RES/79/161A global call for concrete action for the 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
2023A/RES/78/234A global call for concrete action for the 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
2023A/RES/77/205A global call for concrete action for the 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
2022A/RES/76/226A global call for concrete action for the 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

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

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

2 entities

Extracted automatically from each entity’s budget submission.

What subjects does this mandate have?

9 topics

Anniversaries Anti-Discrimination Measures Information Dissemination People of African Descent Programme Implementation Programmes of Action Racial Discrimination Trust Funds Xenophobia

What does this mandate say?

66 operative paragraphs

I

Reaffirms the paramount importance of universal adherence to and the full and effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 2106 A (XX) of 21 December 1965, in addressing the scourges of racism and racial discrimination;

Underscores that 2025 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

Calls upon States that have not done so to accede to and/or ratify the Convention, and States Parties to consider making the declaration under article 14 of the Convention;

Calls upon all States that have not yet done so, and consistent with paragraph 75 of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, to consider withdrawing their reservations to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

Expresses concern at the underreporting by States Parties on measures they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention and in line with their obligations under its article 9;

Notes the work undertaken by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to recommend legal and policy measures, through its general recommendations, to address racism and racial discrimination, in particular on the follow-up on the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and, recently, on equality and freedom from racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;

Urges States to prevent discrimination, protect individuals against harm and promote dignity and equality for all members of society by combating structural inequalities through comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of health inequities and promote social justice, equality and inclusion;

Underlines that certain provisions of the Convention do not respond effectively to contemporary manifestations of racial discrimination, in particular in relation to xenophobia and related intolerance, which is recognized as the rationale behind the convening of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001;

Takes note of the acknowledgement by the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary structures of the existence of both procedural and substantive gaps in the Convention, which must be filled as a matter of urgency, necessity and priority;

Also takes note of the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which, at its fifteenth session, continued discussions on the elaboration of a draft additional protocol to the Convention to fill existing gaps through the development of new normative standards aimed at combating all forms of contemporary and resurgent scourges of racism, and further takes note of the report on the fifteenth session of the Committee in this regard;

Decides that the Chair-Rapporteur of the Ad Hoc Committee may request that the annual session of the Ad Hoc Committee be split into two full one-week segments;

Requests the Chair-Rapporteur of the Ad Hoc Committee to present a progress report to the General Assembly at its eighty-first session and carry out consultations with New York-based delegations and stakeholders in order to continue progress in the elaboration of complementary standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

II.Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Reiterates that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination provide a comprehensive United Nations framework and solid foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Calls upon States to strengthen independent national human rights institutions, where they exist, and ensure that they are mandated to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, have the capacity to address complaints and are provided with adequate financial, technical and human resources to enable the effective fulfilment of their mandate;

Stresses the need to promote an integrated approach to eliminating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, inter alia, by adopting and enforcing comprehensive anti‑discrimination legislation, adopting and implementing national action plans, ensuring access to justice and effective remedies, promoting education and awareness-raising, and combating racial stereotypes, combating hate speech and incitement to racial hatred, promoting international cooperation and implementing targeted special measures in line with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

Encourages the collection of data disaggregated, in accordance with national legislation, by race, national or ethnic origin, sex, age and other characteristics relevant in national contexts, to inform laws, policies and practices and to monitor their impact;

Acknowledges and profoundly regrets the untold suffering and evils inflicted on millions of men and women and children as a result of the historical injustices of slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid, genocide and past tragedies, noting that some States have taken the initiative to apologize and have paid reparations, where appropriate, for grave and massive violations committed, further calls upon those that have not yet expressed remorse or presented apologies to find some way to contribute to the restoration of the dignity of victims, and calls upon all the relevant States that have not already done so to dispense reparatory justice, including finding ways to remedy historical racial injustices, contributing to the development and recognition of the dignity of the affected States and their people;

Encourages States to challenge biases and address contemporary manifestations of racism, and historical racial injustices, through quality education and the development of relevant educational materials at school to reinforce anti‑discrimination and anti‑racism components, based on the principles of non‑discrimination, mutual respect and tolerance;

Takes note that the African Union dedicated the year 2025 to the theme “Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations” and, building on this theme, proclaimed a decade for reparations;

Takes note with appreciation of the initiatives taken by the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and anti‑racism human rights mechanisms calling for effective remedies and reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent;

Encourages States and regional formations to engage with and support the plans, strategies, programmes and initiatives of the African Union and of the Caribbean Community relating to reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent, with a view to identifying and fulfilling their responsibilities concerning reparations for the historical injustices of slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide in Africa and throughout the African diaspora, further notes the review of the Caribbean Community Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, and looks forward to the updated version;

Encourages States to place victims, survivors, their descendants and communities of the historic and contemporary racial injustice associated with colonialism and slavery at the centre of processes designed to seek remedies and to address historical injustices;

Urges Member States and the international community to honour the memory of the victims of the past tragedies of slavery, the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, apartheid and genocide, by considering a structural and comprehensive approach to restore the dignity of the victims, and calls upon those States to take appropriate and effective measures to halt and reverse the lasting consequences of those practices, including the persistent structures and inequalities of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

III.International Decade for People of African Descent

Recalls that the proclamation of the International Decade for People of African Descent, as contained in its resolution 68/237 of 23 December 2013, was a milestone in the common fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Welcomes the proclamation of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent as contained in its resolution 79/193 of 17 December 2024, focusing on consolidating past gains, expanding the reach and scope of contemporary opportunities for development, inclusion and peace, and anticipating emerging risks and threats;

Also welcomes the ongoing work of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, established through its resolution 75/314 of 2 August 2021, which determines its mandate and composition, as a consultative mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders and as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent, as well as an advisory body to the Human Rights Council;

Further welcomes the convening of the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and the large participation of civil society and people of African descent from around the world;

Welcomes the request made by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 60/16 of 7 October 2025 for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to invite the submission of written contributions in order to propose recommendations on the modalities of the Permanent Forum, and to prepare a report thereon, and further complete an evaluation, and requests their submission to the General Assembly at its eighty-first session, in accordance with Assembly resolution 75/314, in which the Assembly decided that after four annual sessions of the Permanent Forum, an evaluation of the Forum’s modalities was to be carried out by the Assembly on the basis of an evaluation made by the Human Rights Council in the light of the experience gained;

Notes the ongoing work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on the elaboration of the draft United Nations declaration on the respect, protection and fulfilment of the human rights of people of African descent, requests the Working Group to continue to devote at least half of its annual session to this process and to present a status report on the elaboration of the draft declaration to the General Assembly for its consideration at its eighty-first session, and invites the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, in accordance with their respective mandates, to contribute to the elaboration of the draft declaration;

Recalls the programme of activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent as an instructive framework in which all the initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of people of African descent are anchored, also recalls that the Second International Decade presents a vital opportunity for States and the international community to accelerate progress in the areas of recognition, justice and development for people of African descent, and reaffirms the extension of the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent adopted by the Assembly in its resolution 69/16 of 18 November 2014, during the Second International Decade;

Welcomes the convening of a high-level international event marking the closure of the Decade in 2024 and the final assessment of the Decade;

Takes note of the report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, invites the Human Rights Council, through the Chair of the Working Group, to continue to submit a report on the work of the Working Group to the General Assembly, and in this regard invites the Chair of the Working Group to engage in an interactive dialogue with the Assembly under the item entitled “Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance” at its eighty-first session;

Stresses that everyone, including people and communities of African descent, should be able to participate in an inclusive manner and guide the design and implementation of processes that contribute to halting, reversing and repairing the lasting consequences and ongoing manifestations of systemic racism, and notably acknowledges the important role that young people have played and should continue to play in these processes;

Encourages States to examine the extent and impact of systemic racism and to adopt effective legal, policy and institutional measures that address racism beyond a summation of individualized acts, recommends that progress be measured according to indicators grounded in impact rather than intent, and further calls for the recognition of the impact of racial discrimination and inequality experienced by children and youth of African descent in all areas of life, including the administration of justice, law enforcement, education, health, family life and development;

Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat to continue awareness-raising efforts and public information campaigns in support of racial justice and equality and the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, notably with regard to the effective promotion of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Second International Decade for People of African Descent and other relevant instruments, processes and mechanisms through the use of social networks and digital media, including the wide distribution of user-friendly, concise and accessible versions of material in this regard, and further requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources in this regard;

IV.Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Notes the limited resources available in support of the United Nations human rights mechanisms addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages further enhancement of the operational and programmatic support to be provided to fully support the respective mandates;

Acknowledges the role of the United Nations human rights mechanisms of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council on actions to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and reaffirms the interconnected value of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards, the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in addressing the multiple forms of discrimination and systemic racism and racial discrimination;

Requests the Secretary-General and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the resources necessary for the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the United Nations human rights mechanisms of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council on actions to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including by ensuring the participation of experts in each session of those follow-up mechanisms in order to provide advice on the specific issues under discussion and assist the mechanisms in their deliberations and the adoption of action-oriented recommendations in relation to the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action;

Proposes that particular attention be given by all relevant actors to enhancing the contribution of the treaty bodies monitoring the implementation of the core human rights conventions to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including through a systemic approach leading to more intensive cooperation among them;

Stresses the importance of consolidating all efforts aimed at combating racism under a single anti‑racial discrimination unit, including on the issues of racial equality and justice;

V

Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Takes note of the report of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on its eleventh session, held from 28 April to 1 May 2025;

Recalls its resolution 77/205 and the recommendations contained therein with regard to the Group of Independent Eminent Experts, and welcomes the appointment by the Secretary-General of the remaining Eminent Experts, noting that each region is represented, as requested by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 51/32 and by the General Assembly in its resolution 77/205, thereby ensuring that the Group can fulfil its mandate;

Takes note of the comprehensive study of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

Requests the Group of Independent Eminent Experts to prepare an annual input for the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution, on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action so as to provide thematic analysis and guidance in the global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

VI

Trust fund for the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

Recalls the establishment by the Secretary-General, in 1973, of the trust fund for the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination as a funding mechanism that has been utilized for the implementation of the activities of the three Decades for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination declared by the General Assembly, and in this regard appreciates the fact that the trust fund has also been utilized for the subsequent programmes and operational activities transcending the three Decades;

Requests the Secretary-General to include, in his report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its eighty-first session, a section outlining the progress in the implementation of paragraph 18 of its resolution 68/151 of 18 December 2013 regarding the revitalization of the trust fund for the purpose of ensuring the successful implementation of the activities of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent and enhancing the effectiveness of the comprehensive follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

Strongly appeals to all Governments, intergovernmental and non‑governmental organizations and individuals, as well as other donors in a position to do so, to contribute generously to the trust fund, and to that end requests the Secretary-General to continue to undertake appropriate contacts and initiatives to encourage contributions;

VII.Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

Takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages the Special Rapporteur, within her mandate, to continue to focus on the issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and incitement to hatred, which impede peaceful coexistence and harmony within societies, and to submit reports in this regard to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly;

Also takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur that address issues relating to the measurement and monitoring of racial equality, and encourages States to share information on the same for inclusion in forthcoming reports;

VIII.Commemoration of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Emphasizes the critical importance of increasing public support for the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the participation of civil society and other relevant stakeholders in its realization, and requests the United Nations system to strengthen its awareness-raising campaigns to increase the visibility of the message of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, its follow-up mechanisms and the work of the United Nations in the fight against racism;

Underlines that the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action represents an important opportunity for States to reaffirm their strong commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including with a view to mobilizing global public support for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

Invites Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organizations, civil society, including non‑governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to organize and support various high-visibility initiatives, aimed at effectively increasing awareness at all levels, to commemorate the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

Welcomes the ongoing work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to commence preparations for the high-level event, to be held in 2026, to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, including public outreach for the commemoration;

Decides to hold a one-day high-level meeting to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, to be convened by the President of the General Assembly in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and at the level of Heads of State and Government, by no later than the last day of the general debate of the Assembly at its eighty-first session, on the theme “Mobilizing global public support for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”, and to adopt a succinct political declaration aimed at mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels for the full and effective implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

Recommends that the President of the General Assembly appoint two co‑facilitators to present options and modalities for the high-level meeting, as well as the political declaration;

Requests the Secretary-General to establish a programme of outreach, with the involvement of Member States and United Nations funds and programmes, as well as civil society, including non‑governmental organizations, to appropriately commemorate the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

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;

Expresses its appreciation for the continuing work of the mechanisms mandated to follow up on the World Conference and the Durban Review Conference;

IX.Follow-up and implementation activities

Acknowledges the guidance and leadership role of the Human Rights Council, including through its resolution 60/16, and encourages it to continue to oversee the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome documents of the Durban Review Conferences;

Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide the Human Rights Council with all the support necessary for it to achieve its objectives in this regard;

Welcomes the decision by the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 60/16, to extend, until the end of 2027, the two-year comprehensive communications strategy to continue to raise awareness about and mobilize global public support for racial justice and equality and the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, notably with regard to the effective promotion of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Second International Decade for People of African Descent and other relevant instruments, processes and mechanisms, and also welcomes in this regard the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on the communications strategy;

Also welcomes the commemorative event held on 21 March 2025 to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;

Takes note with appreciation of the commemorative plenary meeting of the General Assembly held on 25 March 2025 to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, on the theme “Acknowledge the past. Repair the present. Build a future of dignity and justice”;

Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its eighty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution;

Requests the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Human Rights Council to continue to convene annual commemorative meetings of the Assembly and the Council during the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, with the appropriate focus and themes, and in this context encourages the participation of Member States, eminent personalities active in the struggle against racial discrimination, and civil society organizations in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Assembly and the Council, respectively;

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

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