RES/30/16 From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

Human Rights Council Thirtieth session

Agenda item 9

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 2 October 2015

30/16. From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action

against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and

related intolerance

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions on 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,

Recalling also the General Assembly resolutions in this regard, and emphasizing the

imperative need for their full and effective implementation,

Concerned that many years have lapsed since the adoption of the Durban

Declaration and Programme of Action, and regretting in this regard that its objectives have

not been met,

Concerned also, in the above context, at the increasing incidents of racially

motivated hatred in all its forms and manifestations, some of which have taken violent

forms with concomitant racial profiling,

Underlining the importance of removing legal obstacles and eliminating

discriminatory practices that hamper individuals and groups of individuals from

participating fully in the public and political life of the countries in which they live,

including the lack of the exercise of their full citizenship rights,

1. Welcomes the adoption of the programme of activities for the implementation

of the International Decade for People of African Descent;See General Assembly resolution 69/16.

2. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in his

capacity as coordinator of the Decade, to submit an update on his activities in the follow-up

to the implementation of the programme of activities within the framework of the Decade

to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-first session;

3. 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 on article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Racial Discrimination and articles 18, 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights, as these reservations are contrary to the objects and purposes of these core

instruments;

4. Calls upon all States to end posturing and denialism about the existence of

racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

5. Underscores the importance of political will and commitment to eliminate all

forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

6. Underlines in the above context the primacy of maintaining a racial equality

index under the custodianship of the High Commissioner;

7. Requests the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective

Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to commence

preparations for the commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of the

Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and to present a report thereon to the

Council at its thirty-first session;

8. Requests the General Assembly, in view of the fifteenth anniversary of the

adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, to dedicate a theme on its

full and effective implementation, including the universal ratification of the International

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the withdrawal of

reservations to article 4 of the Convention, the submission of declarations to article 14 of

the Convention and the development of national action plans exclusively dedicated to the

total eradication of all scourges of racism at the high-level segment of the seventy-first

session of the General Assembly;

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

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

building support for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and

Programme of Action in the follow-up to the commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary

of its adoption;

10. Decides to remain seized of this important issue.

42nd meeting

2 October 2015

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 32 to 12, with 3 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of ), Botswana,

Brazil, China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gabon,

Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco,

Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra

Leone, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic

of), Viet Nam

Against:

Albania, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Montenegro, Namibia,*

Netherlands, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America

Abstaining:

Japan, Portugal, Republic of Korea]

* The delegation of Namibia subsequently stated that there had been an error in its voting and that it

had intended to vote in favour of the draft text.