RES/18/27 From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

GE.General Assembly resolution 66/3. 1- 16790

Human Rights Council Eighteenth session

Agenda item 9

Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

form of intolerance, follow-up and implementation

of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council*

18/27 From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/266 of 27 March 2002, in which the

Assembly endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002, in which

the Assembly assigned responsibilities to the relevant United Nations institutions to ensure

the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the

international level,

Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of 25 April

2002 and 2003/30 of 23 April 2003, and Human Rights Council resolution 9/14 of 24

September 2008,

Welcoming General Assembly resolution 65/36 of 6 December 2010, containing the

programme of activities for the International Year for People of African Descent,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 65/240 of 24 December 2010,

Underlining the fact that the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban

Declaration and Programme of Action represents an important opportunity for the world

community to reaffirm its political will and commitment to the eradication of racism, racial

discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that maximum efforts should be

made to celebrate the anniversary in all regions through a wide range of activities,

* The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of

the Council on its eighteenth session (A/HRC/18/2), chap. I.

Welcoming 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, adopted on 22 September 2011,1 which reaffirmed the political

commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and

Programme of Action and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, and

their follow-up processes at the national, regional and international levels,

Stressing the importance of a consistent global effort to inform the public about the

contribution that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action has made in the

struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Appreciating the contributions of the Durban follow-up mechanisms to the tenth

anniversary commemorations as well as the contributions of non-governmental

organizations, which were broad-based, regionally balanced and consistent with the

objectives of the commemoration,

1. Welcomes the efforts made by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the

Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in its

constructive work aimed at the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and

Programme of Action, as well as the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference,

including by increasing efforts to complement the work of other Durban follow-up

mechanisms with a view to achieving better coordination and synergy with other human

rights mechanisms, thereby avoiding duplication of initiatives;

2. Takes note of the report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the

Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;A/HRC/16/64.

3. Welcomes and acknowledges the importance and significance of the work of

the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent in examining the current

situation and conditions and the extent of racism against Africans and people of African

descent and, in this regard, takes note of the report of the Working Group;A/HRC/18/45.

4. Welcomes the political declaration adopted by the General Assembly during

its High-level Meeting to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban

Declaration and Programme of Action,1 held in New York on 22 September 2011, which

reaffirmed the political commitment to and mobilized the political will for the full and

effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

5. Calls for renewed efforts to mobilize political will for the full and effective

implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;

6. Requests the Secretary-General and the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights to implement fully paragraphs 53 and 57 of General

Assembly resolution 65/240, on the establishment of an outreach programme and a public

information campaign for the commemoration and follow-up thereto, including by

distributing copies of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action widely and with

translations thereof;

7. Decides that the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective

Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action should convene its

tenth session from 8 to 19 October 2012;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to make available to the Human Rights

Council at its twentieth session his progress report submitted to the General Assembly

pursuant to Assembly resolution 65/36;

9. Encourages the High Commissioner to initiate consultations with various

international sporting and other organizations, enabling them to contribute to the struggle

against racism and racial discrimination;

10. Invites Member States, the United Nations system and all relevant

stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, to intensify their efforts in

building support for the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the follow-up to

the commemoration of its tenth anniversary;

11. Decides to remain seized of this important issue.

38th meeting

30 September 2011

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 35 to 1, with 10 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile,

China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, Guatemala, India,

Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania,

Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian

Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay

Against:

United States of America

Abstaining:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Republic of

Moldova, Romania, Spain, Switzerland]