RES/36/23 Mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

GE.17-17694(E)



Human Rights Council Thirty-sixth session

11–29 September 2017

Agenda item 9

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 29 September 2017

36/23. Mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of

African Descent

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, reaffirming the

commitments contained therein with regard to people of African descent; Assembly

resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002, in which the Assembly invited all relevant organs,

organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up

to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related

Intolerance; and all previous Human Rights Council resolutions on the comprehensive

follow-up to the World Conference and the effective implementation of the Durban

Declaration and Programme of Action,

Recalling also all previous resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the

Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the elimination of racism,

racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular Commission

resolutions 2002/68 of 25 April 2002 and 2003/30 of 23 April 2003, and Council

resolutions 9/14 of 18 September 2008, 18/28 of 17 October 2011 and 27/25 of 26

September 2014 on the mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of African

Descent,

Reaffirming the obligations of States under relevant international human rights

instruments, in particular the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Racial Discrimination adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 2106 (XX) of 21

December 1965,

Underlining that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the

World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related

Intolerance, remains the only instructive outcome of the World Conference against Racism,

Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance that prescribes comprehensive

measures and remedies for the effective combating of all the scourges of racism at all

levels,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, on institution-building of the

Council, and resolutions 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate

Holders of the Council, both of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall

discharge his/her duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

Alarmed at the resurgent violent manifestations of racism, racial discrimination,

xenophobia and related intolerance precipitated by scientifically false, morally

condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous ideologies, such as white supremacy, as well

as by extremist nationalist and populist ideologies, and underlining in this respect that

human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone has the right

to life, liberty and security of person,

Stressing the imperative need for the Working Group of Experts on People of

African Descent to accomplish its mandate,

1. Decides to extend the mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of

African Descent for a further period of three years, in accordance with the terms of

reference contained in Human Rights Council resolution 9/14;

2. Also decides that the Working Group shall undertake a minimum of two

country visits per year;

3. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Working Group in the

discharge of its mandate, including by responding promptly to the Working Group’s

communications and by providing the information requested;

4. Requests the Working Group to submit an annual report to the Human Rights

Council on all activities relating to its mandate, and to the General Assembly in the context

of the International Decade for People of African Descent;

5. Also requests the Working Group to pay special attention in its annual report

to the rising tide of racism and racial hatred, as evidenced by the resurgence of white

supremacist ideologies, and extremist nationalist and populist ideologies, and to make

specific recommendations in this regard;

6. Requests States, non-governmental organizations, relevant human rights

treaty bodies, special procedures and other mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, and

national human rights institutions, international financial and development institutions, and

specialized agencies, programmes and funds of the United Nations to collaborate with the

Working Group, including by, inter alia, providing it with the necessary information and,

where possible, reports in order to enable the Working Group to carry out its mandate,

including with regard to field missions;

7. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner

for Human Rights to provide the Working Group with all the human, technical and

financial assistance necessary for the sustainable and effective fulfilment of its mandate;

8. Recalls the establishment of a voluntary fund to provide additional resources

for, inter alia, the participation of people of African descent, representatives of developing

countries, especially the least developed countries, non-governmental organizations and

experts in the open-ended sessions of the Working Group, and invites States to contribute to

that fund;

9. Decides to remain seized of this important issue.

42nd meeting

29 September 2017

[Adopted without a vote.]