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08Sep01

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Report of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Durban, 31 August - 8 September 2001
(Durban Declaration and Programme of Action)

Contents:

I. DOCUMENTS ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE

II. ATTENDANCE AND ORGANIZATION OF WORK

III. GENERAL DEBATE
IV. REPORT OF THE MAIN COMMITTEE
V. REPORT OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE
VI. REPORT OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE
VII. ADOPTION OF THE FINAL DOCUMENT AND THE REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE
VIII. CLOSURE OF THE CONFERENCE

ANNEXES

A/CONF.189/12
Durban, 31 August - 8 September 2001

CHAPTER I.
DOCUMENTS ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE

Declaration

Having met in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,

Expressing deep appreciation to the Government of South Africa for hosting this World Conference,

Drawing inspiration from the heroic struggle of the people of South Africa against the institutionalized system of apartheid, as well as for equality and justice under democracy, development, the rule of law and respect for human rights, recalling in this context the important contribution to that struggle of the international community and, in particular, the pivotal role of the people and Governments of Africa, and noting the important role that different actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, played in that struggle and in ongoing efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Recalling that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights in June 1993, calls for the speedy and comprehensive elimination of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/74 of 18 April 1997, General Assembly resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997 and subsequent resolutions of those bodies concerning the convening of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and recalling also the two World Conferences to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held in Geneva in 1978 and 1983, respectively,

Noting with grave concern that despite the efforts of the international community, the principal objectives of the three Decades to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination have not been attained and that countless human beings continue to the present day to be victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Recalling that the year 2001 is the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, aimed at drawing the world's attention to the objectives of the World Conference and giving new momentum to the political commitment to eliminate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Welcoming the decision of the General Assembly to proclaim the year 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, which underlines tolerance and respect for diversity and the need to seek common ground among and within civilizations in order to address common challenges to humanity that threaten shared values, universal human rights and the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, through cooperation, partnership and inclusion,

Welcoming also the proclamation by the General Assembly of the period 2001-2010 as the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World, as well as the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration and Plan of Action on a Culture of Peace,

Recognizing that the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in conjunction with the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, presents a unique opportunity to consider the invaluable contributions of indigenous peoples to political, economic, social, cultural and spiritual development throughout the world to our societies, as well as the challenges faced by them, including racism and racial discrimination,

Recalling the United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 1960,

Reaffirming our commitment to the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Affirming that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance constitute a negation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the principles of equality and non-discrimination in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,

Convinced of the fundamental importance of universal accession to or ratification of and full implementation of our obligations arising under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as the principal international instrument to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Recognizing the fundamental importance for States, in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to all relevant international human rights instruments, with a view to universal adherence,

Having taken note of the reports of the regional conferences organized at Strasbourg, Santiago, Dakar and Tehran and other inputs from States, as well as the reports of expert seminars, non-governmental organization regional meetings and other meetings organized in preparation for the World Conference,

Noting with appreciation the Vision Statement launched by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa under the patronage of The Honourable Nelson Mandela, first President of the new South Africa, and at the initiative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference, and signed by seventy-four heads of State, heads of Government and dignitaries,

Reaffirming that cultural diversity is a cherished asset for the advancement and welfare of humanity at large and should be valued, enjoyed, genuinely accepted and embraced as a permanent feature which enriches our societies,

Acknowledging that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid and slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments,

Having listened to the peoples of the world and recognizing their aspirations to justice, to equality of opportunity for all and everyone, to the enjoyment of their human rights, including the right to development, to live in peace and freedom and to equal participation without discrimination in economic, social, cultural, civil and political life,

Recognizing that the equal participation of all individuals and peoples in the formation of just, equitable, democratic and inclusive societies can contribute to a world free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Emphasizing the importance of the equitable participation of all, without any discrimination, in domestic as well as global decision-making,

Affirming that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, where they amount to racism and racial discrimination, constitute serious violations of and obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights and deny the self-evident truth that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, are an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations among peoples and nations, and are among the root causes of many internal and international conflicts, including armed conflicts, and the consequent forced displacement of populations,

Recognizing that national and international actions are required to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights, economic, social, cultural, civil and political, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and to improve the living conditions of men, women and children of all nations,

Reaffirming the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Acknowledging that xenophobia, in its different manifestations, is one of the main contemporary sources and forms of discrimination and conflict, combating which requires urgent attention and prompt action by States, as well as by the international community,

Fully aware that, despite efforts undertaken by the international community, Governments and local authorities, the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance persists and continues to result in violations of human rights, suffering, disadvantage and violence, which must be combated by all available and appropriate means and as a matter of the highest priority, preferably in cooperation with affected communities,

Noting with concern the continued and violent occurrence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that theories of superiority of certain races and cultures over others, promoted and practised during the colonial era, continue to be propounded in one form or another even today,

Alarmed by the emergence and continued occurrence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their more subtle and contemporary forms and manifestations, as well as by other ideologies and practices based on racial or ethnic discrimination or superiority,

Strongly rejecting any doctrine of racial superiority, along with theories which attempt to determine the existence of so-called distinct human races,

Recognizing that failure to combat and denounce racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance by all, especially by public authorities and politicians at all levels, is a factor encouraging their perpetuation,

Reaffirming that States have the duty to protect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all victims, and that they should apply a gender |1| perspective, recognizing the multiple forms of discrimination which women can face, and that the enjoyment of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights is essential for the development of societies throughout the world,

Recognizing both the challenges and opportunities presented by an increasingly globalized world in relation to the struggle to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Determined, in an era when globalization and technology have contributed considerably to bringing people together, to materialize the notion of a human family based on equality, dignity and solidarity, and to make the twenty-first century a century of human rights, the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the realization of genuine equality of opportunity and treatment for all individuals and peoples,

Reaffirming the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and recalling that all individuals are born equal in dignity and rights, stressing that such equality must be protected as a matter of the highest priority and recognizing the duty of States to take prompt, decisive and appropriate measures with a view to eliminating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Dedicating ourselves to combating the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance fully and effectively as a matter of priority, while drawing lessons from manifestations and past experiences of racism in all parts of the world with a view to avoiding their recurrence,

Joining together in a spirit of renewed political will and commitment to universal equality, justice and dignity, we salute the memory of all victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance all over the world and solemnly adopt the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, |2|

General issues

1. We declare that for the purpose of the present Declaration and Programme of Action, the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are individuals or groups of individuals who are or have been negatively affected by, subjected to, or targets of these scourges;

2. We recognize that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds such as sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, property, birth or other status;

3. We recognize and affirm that, at the outset of the third millennium, a global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and all their abhorrent and evolving forms and manifestations is a matter of priority for the international community, and that this Conference offers a unique and historic opportunity for assessing and identifying all dimensions of those devastating evils of humanity with a view to their total elimination through, inter alia, the initiation of innovative and holistic approaches and the strengthening and enhancement of practical and effective measures at the national, regional and international levels;

4. We express our solidarity with the people of Africa in their continuing struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and recognize the sacrifices made by them, as well as their efforts in raising international public awareness of these inhuman tragedies;

5. We also affirm the great importance we attach to the values of solidarity, respect, tolerance and multiculturalism, which constitute the moral ground and inspiration for our worldwide struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, inhuman tragedies which have affected people throughout the world, especially in Africa, for too long;

6. We further affirm that all peoples and individuals constitute one human family, rich in diversity. They have contributed to the progress of civilizations and cultures that form the common heritage of humanity. Preservation and promotion of tolerance, pluralism and respect for diversity can produce more inclusive societies;

7. We declare that all human beings are born free, equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. Any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and must be rejected along with theories which attempt to determine the existence of separate human races;

8. We recognize that religion, spirituality and belief play a central role in the lives of millions of women and men, and in the way they live and treat other persons. Religion, spirituality and belief may and can contribute to the promotion of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person and to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

9. We note with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion;

10. We reaffirm that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which all human rights can be fully realized for all, without any discrimination;

11. We note that the process of globalization constitutes a powerful and dynamic force which should be harnessed for the benefit, development and prosperity of all countries, without exclusion. We recognize that developing countries face special difficulties in responding to this central challenge. While globalization offers great opportunities, at present its benefits are very unevenly shared, while its costs are unevenly distributed. We thus express our determination to prevent and mitigate the negative effects of globalization. These effects could aggravate, inter alia, poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, cultural homogenization and economic disparities which may occur along racial lines, within and between States, and have an adverse impact. We further express our determination to maximize the benefits of globalization through, inter alia, the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation to increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable development, global communications through the use of new technologies and increased intercultural exchange through the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity, which can contribute to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Only through broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future based upon our common humanity, and all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable;

12. We recognize that interregional and intraregional migration has increased as a result of globalization, in particular from the South to the North, and stress that policies towards migration should not be based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

13. We acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, were appalling tragedies in the history of humanity not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms of their magnitude, organized nature and especially their negation of the essence of the victims, and further acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so, especially the transatlantic slave trade and are among the major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences;

14. We recognize that colonialism has led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of colonialism and continue to be victims of its consequences. We acknowledge the suffering caused by colonialism and affirm that, wherever and whenever it occurred, it must be condemned and its reoccurrence prevented. We further regret that the effects and persistence of these structures and practices have been among the factors contributing to lasting social and economic inequalities in many parts of the world today;

15. We recognize that apartheid and genocide in terms of international law constitute crimes against humanity and are major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and acknowledge the untold evil and suffering caused by these acts and affirm that wherever and whenever they occurred, they must be condemned and their recurrence prevented;

16. We recognize that xenophobia against non-nationals, particularly migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, constitutes one of the main sources of contemporary racism and that human rights violations against members of such groups occur widely in the context of discriminatory, xenophobic and racist practices;

17. We note the importance of paying special attention to new manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to which youth and other vulnerable groups might be exposed;

18. We emphasize that poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and economic disparities are closely associated with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices which in turn generate more poverty;

19. We recognize the negative economic, social and cultural consequences of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which have contributed significantly to the underdevelopment of developing countries and, in particular, of Africa and resolve to free every man, woman and child from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty to which more than one billion of them are currently subjected, to make the right to development a reality for everyone and to free the entire human race from want;

20. We recognize that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are among the root causes of armed conflict and very often one of its consequences and recall that non-discrimination is a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law. We underscore the need for all parties to armed conflicts to abide scrupulously by this principle and for States and the international community to remain especially vigilant during periods of armed conflict and continue to combat all forms of racial discrimination;

21. We express our deep concern that socio-economic development is being hampered by widespread internal conflicts which are due, among other causes, to gross violations of human rights, including those arising from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and from lack of democratic, inclusive and participatory governance;

22. We express our concern that in some States political and legal structures or institutions, some of which were inherited and persist today, do not correspond to the multi-ethnic, pluricultural and plurilingual characteristics of the population and, in many cases, constitute an important factor of discrimination in the exclusion of indigenous peoples;

23. We fully recognize the rights of indigenous peoples consistent with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and therefore stress the need to adopt the appropriate constitutional, administrative, legislative and judicial measures, including those derived from applicable international instruments;

24. We declare that the use of the term "indigenous peoples" in the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is in the context of, and without prejudice to the outcome of, ongoing international negotiations on texts that specifically deal with this issue, and cannot be construed as having any implications as to rights under international law;

25. We express our profound repudiation of the racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that persist in some States in the functioning of the penal systems and in the application of the law, as well as in the actions and attitudes of institutions and individuals responsible for law enforcement, especially where this has contributed to certain groups being over-represented among persons under detention or imprisoned;

26. We affirm the need to put an end to impunity for violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals and groups of individuals who are victimized by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

27. We express our concern that, beyond the fact that racism is gaining ground, contemporary forms and manifestations of racism and xenophobia are striving to regain political, moral and even legal recognition in many ways, including through the platforms of some political parties and organizations and the dissemination through modern communication technologies of ideas based on the notion of racial superiority;

28. We recall that persecution against any identifiable group, collectivity or community on racial, national, ethnic or other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international law, as well as the crime of apartheid, constitute serious violations of human rights and, in some cases, qualify as crimes against humanity;

29. We strongly condemn the fact that slavery and slavery-like practices still exist today in parts of the world and urge States to take immediate measures as a matter of priority to end such practices, which constitute flagrant violations of human rights;

30. We affirm the urgent need to prevent, combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in persons, in particular women and children, and recognize that victims of trafficking are particularly exposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

31. We also express our deep concern whenever indicators in the fields of, inter alia, education, employment, health, housing, infant mortality and life expectancy for many peoples show a situation of disadvantage, particularly where the contributing factors include racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

32. We recognize the value and diversity of the cultural heritage of Africans and people of African descent and affirm the importance and necessity of ensuring their full integration into social, economic and political life with a view to facilitating their full participation at all levels in the decision-making process;

33. We consider it essential for all countries in the region of the Americas and all other areas of the African Diaspora to recognize the existence of their population of African descent and the cultural, economic, political and scientific contributions made by that population, and recognize the persistence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that specifically affect them, and recognize that, in many countries, their long-standing inequality in terms of access to, inter alia, education, health care and housing has been a profound cause of the socio-economic disparities that affect them;

34. We recognize that people of African descent have for centuries been victims of racism, racial discrimination and enslavement and of the denial by history of many of their rights, and assert that they should be treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and should not suffer discrimination of any kind. Recognition should therefore be given to their rights to culture and their own identity; to participate freely and in equal conditions in political, social, economic and cultural life; to development in the context of their own aspirations and customs; to keep, maintain and foster their own forms of organization, their mode of life, culture, traditions and religious expressions; to maintain and use their own languages; to the protection of their traditional knowledge and their cultural and artistic heritage; to the use, enjoyment and conservation of the natural renewable resources of their habitat and to active participation in the design, implementation and development of educational systems and programmes, including those of a specific and characteristic nature; and where applicable to their ancestrally inhabited land;

35. We recognize that in many parts of the world, Africans and people of African descent face barriers as a result of social biases and discrimination prevailing in public and private institutions and express our commitment to work towards the eradication of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by Africans and people of African descent;

36. We recognize that in many parts of the world, Asians and people of Asian descent face barriers as a result of social biases and discrimination prevailing in public and private institutions and express our commitment to work towards the eradication of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by Asians and people of Asian descent;

37. We note with appreciation that despite the racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by them for centuries, people of Asian descent have contributed and continue to contribute significantly to the economic, social, political, scientific and cultural life of the countries where they live;

38. We call upon all States to review and, where necessary, revise any immigration policies which are inconsistent with international human rights instruments, with a view to eliminating all discriminatory policies and practices against migrants, including Asians and people of Asian descent;

39. We recognize that the indigenous peoples have been victims of discrimination for centuries and affirm that they are free and equal in dignity and rights and should not suffer any discrimination, particularly on the basis of their indigenous origin and identity, and we stress the continuing need for action to overcome the persistent racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that affect them;

40. We recognize the value and diversity of the cultures and the heritage of indigenous peoples, whose singular contribution to the development and cultural pluralism of society and full participation in all aspects of society, in particular on issues that are of concern to them, are fundamental for political and social stability, and for the development of the States in which they live;

41. We reiterate our conviction that the full realization by indigenous peoples of their human rights and fundamental freedoms is indispensable for eliminating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We firmly reiterate our determination to promote their full and equal enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the benefits of sustainable development, while fully respecting their distinctive characteristics and their own initiatives;

42. We emphasize that, in order for indigenous peoples freely to express their own identity and exercise their rights, they should be free from all forms of discrimination, which necessarily entails respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Efforts are now being made to secure universal recognition for those rights in the negotiations on the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, including the following: to call themselves by their own names; to participate freely and on an equal footing in their country's political, economic, social and cultural development; to maintain their own forms of organization, lifestyles, cultures and traditions; to maintain and use their own languages; to maintain their own economic structures in the areas where they live; to take part in the development of their educational systems and programmes; to manage their lands and natural resources, including hunting and fishing rights; and to have access to justice on a basis of equality;

43. We also recognize the special relationship that indigenous peoples have with the land as the basis for their spiritual, physical and cultural existence and encourage States, wherever possible, to ensure that indigenous peoples are able to retain ownership of their lands and of those natural resources to which they are entitled under domestic law;

44. We welcome the decision to create the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues within the United Nations system, giving concrete expression to major objectives of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action;

45. We welcome the appointment by the United Nations of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and express our commitment to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur;

46. We recognize the positive economic, social and cultural contributions made by migrants to both countries of origin and destination;

47. We reaffirm the sovereign right of each State to formulate and apply its own legal framework and policies for migration, and further affirm that these policies should be consistent with applicable human rights instruments, norms and standards, and designed to ensure that they are free of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

48. We note with concern and strongly condemn the manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them; reaffirm the responsibility of States to protect the human rights of migrants under their jurisdiction and reaffirm the responsibility of States to safeguard and protect migrants against illegal or violent acts, in particular acts of racial discrimination and crimes perpetrated with racist or xenophobic motivation by individuals or groups; and stress the need for their fair, just and equitable treatment in society and in the workplace;

49. We highlight the importance of creating conditions conducive to greater harmony, tolerance and respect between migrants and the rest of society in the countries in which they find themselves, in order to eliminate manifestations of racism and xenophobia against migrants. We underline that family reunification has a positive effect on integration and emphasize the need for States to facilitate family reunion;

50. We are mindful of the situation of vulnerability in which migrants frequently find themselves, owing, inter alia, to their departure from their countries of origin and to the difficulties they encounter because of differences in language, customs and culture, as well as economic and social difficulties and obstacles to the return of migrants who are undocumented or in an irregular situation;

51. We reaffirm the necessity of eliminating racial discrimination against migrants, including migrant workers, in relation to issues such as employment, social services, including education and health, as well as access to justice, and that their treatment must be in accordance with international human rights instruments, free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

52. We note with concern that, among other factors, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance contribute to forced displacement and the movement of people from their countries of origin as refugees and asylum-seekers;

53. We recognize with concern that, despite efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, instances of various forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons, among others, continue;

54. We underline the urgency of addressing the root causes of displacement and of finding durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons, in particular voluntary return in safety and dignity to the countries of origin, as well as resettlement in third countries and local integration, when and where appropriate and feasible;

55. We affirm our commitment to respect and implement humanitarian obligations relating to the protection of refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees and internally displaced persons, and note in this regard the importance of international solidarity, burden-sharing and international cooperation to share responsibility for the protection of refugees, reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol remain the foundation of the international refugee regime and recognizing the importance of their full application by States parties;

56. We recognize the presence in many countries of a Mestizo population of mixed ethnic and racial origins and its valuable contribution to the promotion of tolerance and respect in these societies, and we condemn discrimination against them, especially because such discrimination may be denied owing to its subtle nature;

57. We are conscious of the fact that the history of humanity is replete with major atrocities as a result of gross violations of human rights and believe that lessons can be learned through remembering history to avert future tragedies;

58. We recall that the Holocaust must never be forgotten;

59. We recognize with deep concern religious intolerance against certain religious communities, as well as the emergence of hostile acts and violence against such communities because of their religious beliefs and their racial or ethnic origin in various parts of the world which in particular limit their right to freely practise their belief;

60. We also recognize with deep concern the existence in various parts of the world of religious intolerance against religious communities and their members, in particular limitation of their right to practise their beliefs freely, as well as the emergence of increased negative stereotyping, hostile acts and violence against such communities because of their religious beliefs and their ethnic or so-called racial origin;

61. We recognize with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities;

62. We are conscious that humanity's history is replete with terrible wrongs inflicted through lack of respect for the equality of human beings and note with alarm the increase of such practices in various parts of the world, and we urge people, particularly in conflict situations, to desist from racist incitement, derogatory language and negative stereotyping;

63. We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation. We recognize the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State and we recognize the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and call upon all States to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion;

64. We call for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region in which all peoples shall co-exist and enjoy equality, justice and internationally recognized human rights, and security;

65. We recognize the right of refugees to return voluntarily to their homes and properties in dignity and safety, and urge all States to facilitate such return;

66. We affirm that the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of minorities, where they exist, must be protected and that persons belonging to such minorities should be treated equally and enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination of any kind;

67. We recognize that members of certain groups with a distinct cultural identity face barriers arising from a complex interplay of ethnic, religious and other factors, as well as their traditions and customs, and call upon States to ensure that measures, policies and programmes aimed at eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance address the barriers that this interplay of factors creates;

68. We recognize with deep concern the ongoing manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including violence, against Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers and recognize the need to develop effective policies and implementation mechanisms for their full achievement of equality;

69. We are convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls, and can be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination, and the limitation or denial of their human rights. We recognize the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination;

70. We recognize the need to develop a more systematic and consistent approach to evaluating and monitoring racial discrimination against women, as well as the disadvantages, obstacles and difficulties women face in the full exercise and enjoyment of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights because of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

71. We deplore attempts to oblige women belonging to certain faiths and religious minorities to forego their cultural and religious identity, or to restrict their legitimate expression, or to discriminate against them with regard to opportunities for education and employment;

72. We note with concern the large number of children and young people, particularly girls, among the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and stress the need to incorporate special measures, in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child and respect for his or her views, in programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to give priority attention to the rights and the situation of children and young people who are victims of these practices;

73. We recognize that a child belonging to an ethnic, religious or linguistic minority or who is indigenous shall not be denied the right, individually or in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess and practise his or her own religion, or to use his or her own language;

74. We recognize that child labour is linked to poverty, lack of development and related socio-economic conditions and could in some cases perpetuate poverty and racial discrimination by disproportionately denying children from affected groups the opportunity to acquire the human capabilities needed in productive life and to benefit from economic growth;

75. We note with deep concern the fact that, in many countries, people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as those who are presumed to be infected, belong to groups vulnerable to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which has a negative impact and impedes their access to health care and medication;

Measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels

76. We recognize that inequitable political, economic, cultural and social conditions can breed and foster racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which in turn exacerbate the inequity. We believe that genuine equality of opportunity for all, in all spheres, including that for development, is fundamental for the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

77. We affirm that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination are of paramount importance for promoting equality and non-discrimination in the world;

78. We affirm the solemn commitment of all States to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights, economic, social, cultural, civil and political, including the right to development, as a fundamental factor in the prevention and elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

79. We firmly believe that the obstacles to overcoming racial discrimination and achieving racial equality mainly lie in the lack of political will, weak legislation and lack of implementation strategies and concrete action by States, as well as the prevalence of racist attitudes and negative stereotyping;

80. We firmly believe that education, development and the faithful implementation of all international human rights norms and obligations, including enactment of laws and political, social and economic policies, are crucial to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

81. We recognize that democracy, transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory governance responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people, and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are essential for the effective prevention and elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We reaffirm that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy and tends to encourage the recurrence of such acts;

82. We affirm that the Dialogue among Civilizations constitutes a process to attain identification and promotion of common grounds among civilizations, recognition and promotion of the inherent dignity and of the equal rights of all human beings and respect for fundamental principles of justice; in this way, it can dispel notions of cultural superiority based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and facilitate the building of a reconciled world for the human family;

83. We underline the key role that political leaders and political parties can and ought to play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and encourage political parties to take concrete steps to promote solidarity, tolerance and respect;

84. We condemn the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial or national prejudice, and state that these phenomena can never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances;

85. We condemn political platforms and organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as incompatible with democracy and transparent and accountable governance. We reaffirm that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance condoned by governmental policies violate human rights and may endanger friendly relations among peoples, cooperation among nations and international peace and security;

86. We recall that the dissemination of all ideas based upon racial superiority or hatred shall be declared an offence punishable by law with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

87. We note that article 4, paragraph b, of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination places an obligation upon States to be vigilant and to proceed against organizations that disseminate ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, acts of violence or incitement to such acts. These organizations shall be condemned and discouraged;

88. We recognize that the media should represent the diversity of a multicultural society and play a role in fighting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In this regard we draw attention to the power of advertising;

89. We note with regret that certain media, by promoting false images and negative stereotypes of vulnerable individuals or groups of individuals, particularly of migrants and refugees, have contributed to the spread of xenophobic and racist sentiments among the public and in some cases have encouraged violence by racist individuals and groups;

90. We recognize the positive contribution that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, particularly by the media and new technologies, including the Internet, and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can make to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; we reiterate the need to respect the editorial independence and autonomy of the media in this regard;

91. We express deep concern about the use of new information technologies, such as the Internet, for purposes contrary to respect for human values, equality, non-discrimination, respect for others and tolerance, including to propagate racism, racial hatred, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance, and that, in particular, children and youth having access to this material could be negatively influenced by it;

92. We also recognize the need to promote the use of new information and communication technologies, including the Internet, to contribute to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; new technologies can assist the promotion of tolerance and respect for human dignity, and the principles of equality and non-discrimination;

93. We affirm that all States should recognize the importance of community media that give a voice to victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

94. We reaffirm that the stigmatization of people of different origins by acts or omissions of public authorities, institutions, the media, political parties or national or local organizations is not only an act of racial discrimination but can also incite the recurrence of such acts, thereby resulting in the creation of a vicious circle which reinforces racist attitudes and prejudices, and which must be condemned;

95. We recognize that education at all levels and all ages, including within the family, in particular human rights education, is a key to changing attitudes and behaviour based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promoting tolerance and respect for diversity in societies; we further affirm that such education is a determining factor in the promotion, dissemination and protection of the democratic values of justice and equity, which are essential to prevent and combat the spread of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

96. We recognize that quality education, the elimination of illiteracy and access to free primary education for all can contribute to more inclusive societies, equity, stable and harmonious relations and friendship among nations, peoples, groups and individuals, and a culture of peace, fostering mutual understanding, solidarity, social justice and respect for all human rights for all;

97. We underline the links between the right to education and the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the essential role of education, including human rights education and education which is sensitive to and respects cultural diversity, especially amongst children and young people, in the prevention and eradication of all forms of intolerance and discrimination;

Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and compensatory and other measures at the national, regional and international levels

98. We emphasize the importance and necessity of teaching about the facts and truth of the history of humankind from antiquity to the recent past, as well as of teaching about the facts and truth of the history, causes, nature and consequences of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, with a view to achieving a comprehensive and objective cognizance of the tragedies of the past;

99. We acknowledge and profoundly regret the massive human suffering and the tragic plight of millions of men, women and children caused by slavery, the slave trade, the transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide, and call upon States concerned to honour the memory of the victims of past tragedies and affirm that, wherever and whenever these occurred, they must be condemned and their recurrence prevented. We regret that these practices and structures, political, socio-economic and cultural, have led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

100. We 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, apartheid, genocide and past tragedies. We further note that some States have taken the initiative to apologize and have paid reparation, where appropriate, for grave and massive violations committed;

101. With a view to closing those dark chapters in history and as a means of reconciliation and healing, we invite the international community and its members to honour the memory of the victims of these tragedies. We further note that some have taken the initiative of regretting or expressing remorse or presenting apologies, and call on all those who have not yet contributed to restoring the dignity of the victims to find appropriate ways to do so and, to this end, appreciate those countries that have done so;

102. We are aware of the moral obligation on the part of all concerned States and call upon these States to take appropriate and effective measures to halt and reverse the lasting consequences of those practices;

103. We recognize the consequences of past and contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as serious challenges to global peace and security, human dignity and the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms of many people in the world, in particular Africans, people of African descent, people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples;

104. We also strongly reaffirm as a pressing requirement of justice that victims of human rights violations resulting from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, especially in the light of their vulnerable situation socially, culturally and economically, should be assured of having access to justice, including legal assistance where appropriate, and effective and appropriate protection and remedies, including the right to seek just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination, as enshrined in numerous international and regional human rights instruments, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

105. Guided by the principles set out in the Millennium Declaration and the recognition that we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity and to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, the international community commits itself to working for the beneficial integration of the developing countries into the global economy, resisting their marginalization, determined to achieve accelerated economic growth and sustainable development and to eradicate poverty, inequality and deprivation;

106. We emphasize that remembering the crimes or wrongs of the past, wherever and whenever they occurred, unequivocally condemning its racist tragedies and telling the truth about history are essential elements for international reconciliation and the creation of societies based on justice, equality and solidarity;

Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation and enhancement of the United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

107. We underscore the need to design, promote and implement at the national, regional and international levels strategies, programmes and policies, and adequate legislation, which may include special and positive measures, for furthering equal social development and the realization of the civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights of all victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including through more effective access to the political, judicial and administrative institutions, as well as the need to promote effective access to justice, as well as to guarantee that the benefits of development, science and technology contribute effectively to the improvement of the quality of life for all, without discrimination;

108. We recognize the necessity for special measures or positive actions for the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to promote their full integration into society. Those measures for effective action, including social measures, should aim at correcting the conditions that impair the enjoyment of rights and the introduction of special measures to encourage equal participation of all racial and cultural, linguistic and religious groups in all sectors of society and to bring all onto an equal footing. Those measures should include measures to achieve appropriate representation in educational institutions, housing, political parties, parliaments and employment, especially in the judiciary, police, army and other civil services, which in some cases might involve electoral reforms, land reforms and campaigns for equal participation;

109. We recall the importance of enhancing international cooperation to promote (a) the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (b) the effective implementation by States of international treaties and instruments that forbid these practices; (c) the goals of the Charter of the United Nations in this regard; (d) the achievement of the goals established by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna in 1993, the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994, the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) held in Istanbul in 1996; and the World Food Summit held in Rome in 1996, making sure that such goals encompass with equity all the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

110. We recognize the importance of cooperation among States, relevant international and regional organizations, the international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals in the worldwide fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that success in this fight requires specifically taking into consideration the grievances, opinions and demands of the victims of such discrimination;

111. We reiterate that the international response and policy, including financial assistance, towards refugees and displaced persons in different parts of the world should not be based on discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin of the refugees and displaced persons concerned and, in this context, we urge the international community to provide adequate assistance on an equitable basis to host countries, in particular to host developing countries and countries in transition;

112. We recognize the importance of independent national human rights institutions conforming to the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, annexed to General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993, and other relevant specialized institutions created by law for the promotion and protection of human rights, including ombudsman institutions, in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as for the promotion of democratic values and the rule of law. We encourage States, as appropriate, to establish such institutions and call upon the authorities and society in general in those countries where they are performing their tasks of promotion, protection and prevention to cooperate to the maximum extent possible with these institutions, while respecting their independence;

113. We recognize the important role relevant regional bodies, including regional associations of national human rights institutions, can play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the key role they can play in monitoring and raising awareness about intolerance and discrimination at the regional level, and reaffirm support for such bodies where they exist and encourage their establishment;

114. We recognize the paramount role of parliaments in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in adopting appropriate legislation, overseeing its implementation and allocating the requisite financial resources;

115. We stress the importance of involving social partners and other non-governmental organizations in the design and implementation of training and development programmes;

116. We recognize the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in assisting States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation;

117. We also recognize that promoting greater respect and trust among different groups within society must be a shared but differentiated responsibility of government institutions, political leaders, grass-roots organizations and citizens. We underline that civil society plays an important role in promoting the public interest, especially in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

118. We welcome the catalytic role that non-governmental organizations play in promoting human rights education and raising awareness about racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. They can also play an important role in raising awareness of such issues in the relevant bodies of the United Nations, based upon their national, regional or international experiences. Bearing in mind the difficulties they face, we commit ourselves to creating an atmosphere conducive to the effective functioning of human rights non-governmental organizations, in particular anti-racist non-governmental organizations, in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We recognize the precarious situation of human rights non-governmental organizations, including anti-racist non-governmental organizations, in many parts of the world and express our commitment to adhere to our international obligations and to lift any unlawful barriers to their effective functioning;

119. We encourage the full participation of non-governmental organizations in the follow-up to the World Conference;

120. We recognize that international and national exchange and dialogue, and the development of a global network among youth, are important and fundamental elements in building intercultural understanding and respect, and will contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

121. We underline the usefulness of involving youth in the development of forward-looking national, regional and international strategies and in policies to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

122. We affirm that our global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance is undertaken, and that the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action are made, in a spirit of solidarity and international cooperation and are inspired by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant international instruments. These recommendations are made with due consideration for the past, the present and the future, and with a constructive and forward-looking approach. We recognize that the formulation and implementation of these strategies, policies, programmes and actions, which should be carried out efficiently and promptly, are the responsibility of all States, with the full involvement of civil society at the national, regional and international levels.

Programme of Action

Recognizing the urgent need to translate the objectives of the Declaration into a practical and workable Programme of Action, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance:

I. Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

1. Urges States in their national efforts, and in cooperation with other States, regional and international organizations and financial institutions, to promote the use of public and private investment in consultation with the affected communities in order to eradicate poverty, particularly in those areas in which victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance predominantly live;

2. Urges States to take all necessary and appropriate measures to end enslavement and contemporary forms of slavery-like practices, to initiate constructive dialogue among States and implement measures with a view to correcting the problems and the damage resulting therefrom;

II. Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

Victims: General

3. Urges States to work nationally and in cooperation with other States and relevant regional and international organizations and programmes to strengthen national mechanisms to promote and protect the human rights of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance who are infected, or presumably infected, with pandemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS and to take concrete measures, including preventive action, appropriate access to medication and treatment, programmes of education, training and mass media dissemination, to eliminate violence, stigmatization, discrimination, unemployment and other negative consequences arising from these pandemics;

Africans and people of African descent

4. Urges States to facilitate the participation of people of African descent in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society and in the advancement and economic development of their countries, and to promote a greater knowledge of and respect for their heritage and culture;

5. Requests States, supported by international cooperation as appropriate, to consider positively concentrating additional investments in health-care systems, education, public health, electricity, drinking water and environmental control, as well as other affirmative or positive action initiatives, in communities of primarily African descent;

6. Calls upon the United Nations, international financial and development institutions and other appropriate international mechanisms to develop capacity-building programmes intended for Africans and people of African descent in the Americas and around the world;

7. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to consider establishing a working group or other mechanism of the United Nations to study the problems of racial discrimination faced by people of African descent living in the African Diaspora and make proposals for the elimination of racial discrimination against people of African descent;

8. Urges financial and development institutions and the operational programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations, in accordance with their regular budgets and the procedures of their governing bodies:

    (a) To assign particular priority, and allocate sufficient funding, within their areas of competence and budgets, to improving the situation of Africans and people of African descent, while devoting special attention to the needs of these populations in developing countries, inter alia through the preparation of specific programmes of action;
    (b) To carry out special projects, through appropriate channels and in collaboration with Africans and people of African descent, to support their initiatives at the community level and to facilitate the exchange of information and technical know-how between these populations and experts in these areas;
    (c) To develop programmes intended for people of African descent allocating additional investments to health systems, education, housing, electricity, drinking water and environmental control measures and promoting equal opportunities in employment, as well as other affirmative or positive action initiatives;

9. Requests States to increase public actions and policies in favour of women and young males of African descent, given that racism affects them more deeply, placing them in a more marginalized and disadvantaged situation;

10. Urges States to ensure access to education and promote access to new technologies that would offer Africans and people of African descent, in particular women and children, adequate resources for education, technological development and long-distance learning in local communities, and further urges States to promote the full and accurate inclusion of the history and contribution of Africans and people of African descent in the education curriculum;

11. Encourages States to identify factors which prevent equal access to, and the equitable presence of, people of African descent at all levels of the public sector, including the public service, and in particular the administration of justice, and to take appropriate measures to remove the obstacles identified and also to encourage the private sector to promote equal access to, and the equitable presence of, people of African descent at all levels within their organizations;

12. Calls upon States to take specific steps to ensure full and effective access to the justice system for all individuals, particularly those of African descent;

13. Urges States, in accordance with international human rights standards and their respective domestic legal framework, to resolve problems of ownership of ancestral lands inhabited for generations by people of African descent and to promote the productive utilization of land and the comprehensive development of these communities, respecting their culture and their specific forms of decision-making;

14. Urges States to recognize the particularly severe problems of religious prejudice and intolerance that many people of African descent experience and to implement policies and measures that are designed to prevent and eliminate all such discrimination on the basis of religion and belief, which, when combined with certain other forms of discrimination, constitutes a form of multiple discrimination;

Indigenous peoples

15. Urges States:

    (a) To adopt or continue to apply, in concert with them, constitutional, administrative, legislative, judicial and all necessary measures to promote, protect and ensure the enjoyment by indigenous peoples of their rights, as well as to guarantee them the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms on the basis of equality, non-discrimination and full and free participation in all areas of society, in particular in matters affecting or concerning their interests;
    (b) To promote better knowledge of and respect for indigenous cultures and heritage; and welcomes measures already taken by States in these respects;

16. Urges States to work with indigenous peoples to stimulate their access to economic activities and increase their level of employment, where appropriate, through the establishment, acquisition or expansion by indigenous peoples of enterprises, and the implementation of measures such as training, the provision of technical assistance and credit facilities;

17. Urges States to work with indigenous peoples to establish and implement programmes that provide access to training and services that could benefit the development of their communities;

18. Requests States to adopt public policies and give impetus to programmes on behalf of and in concert with indigenous women and girls, with a view to promoting their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights; to putting an end to their situation of disadvantage for reasons of gender and ethnicity; to dealing with urgent problems affecting them in regard to education, their physical and mental health, economic life and in the matter of violence against them, including domestic violence; and to eliminating the situation of aggravated discrimination suffered by indigenous women and girls on multiple grounds of racism and gender discrimination;

19. Recommends that States examine, in conformity with relevant international human rights instruments, norms and standards, their Constitutions, laws, legal systems and policies in order to identify and eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance towards indigenous peoples and individuals, whether implicit, explicit or inherent;

20. Calls upon concerned States to honour and respect their treaties and agreements with indigenous peoples and to accord them due recognition and observance;

21. Calls upon States to give full and appropriate consideration to the recommendations produced by indigenous peoples in their own forums on the World Conference;

22. Requests States:

    (a) To develop and, where they already exist, support institutional mechanisms to promote the accomplishment of the objectives and measures relating to indigenous peoples agreed in this Programme of Action;
    (b) To promote, in concert with indigenous organizations, local authorities and non-governmental organizations, actions aimed at overcoming racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against indigenous peoples and to make regular assessments of the progress achieved in this regard;
    (c) To promote understanding among society at large of the importance of special measures to overcome disadvantages faced by indigenous peoples;
    (d) To consult indigenous representatives in the process of decision-making concerning policies and measures that directly affect them;

23. Calls upon States to recognize the particular challenges faced by indigenous peoples and individuals living in urban environments and urges States to implement effective strategies to combat the racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance they encounter, paying particular attention to opportunities for their continued practice of their traditional, cultural, linguistic and spiritual ways of life;

Migrants

24. Requests all States to combat manifestations of a generalized rejection of migrants and actively to discourage all racist demonstrations and acts that generate xenophobic behaviour and negative sentiments towards, or rejection of, migrants;

25. Invites international and national non-governmental organizations to include monitoring and protection of the human rights of migrants in their programmes and activities and to sensitize Governments and increase public awareness in all States about the need to prevent racist acts and manifestations of discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants;

26. Requests States to promote and protect fully and effectively the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and their obligations under international human rights instruments, regardless of the migrants' immigration status;

27. Encourages States to promote education on the human rights of migrants and to engage in information campaigns to ensure that the public receives accurate information regarding migrants and migration issues, including the positive contribution of migrants to the host society and the vulnerability of migrants, particularly those who are in an irregular situation;

28. Calls upon States to facilitate family reunification in an expeditious and effective manner which has a positive effect on integration of migrants, with due regard for the desire of many family members to have an independent status;

29. Urges States to take concrete measures that would eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the workplace against all workers, including migrants, and ensure the full equality of all before the law, including labour law, and further urges States to eliminate barriers, where appropriate, to: participating in vocational training, collective bargaining, employment, contracts and trade union activity; accessing judicial and administrative tribunals dealing with grievances; seeking employment in different parts of their country of residence; and working in safe and healthy conditions;

30. Urges States:

    (a) To develop and implement policies and action plans, and to reinforce and implement preventive measures, in order to foster greater harmony and tolerance between migrants and host societies, with the aim of eliminating manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including acts of violence, perpetrated in many societies by individuals or groups;
    (b) To review and revise, where necessary, their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with States' obligations under international human rights instruments;
    (c) To implement specific measures involving the host community and migrants in order to encourage respect for cultural diversity, to promote the fair treatment of migrants and to develop programmes, where appropriate, that facilitate their integration into social, cultural, political and economic life;
    (d) To ensure that migrants, regardless of their immigration status, detained by public authorities are treated with humanity and in a fair manner, and receive effective legal protection and, where appropriate, the assistance of a competent interpreter in accordance with the relevant norms of international law and human rights standards, particularly during interrogation;
    (e) To ensure that the police and immigration authorities treat migrants in a dignified and non-discriminatory manner, in accordance with international standards, through, inter alia, organizing specialized training courses for administrators, police officers, immigration officials and other interested groups;
    (f) To consider the question of promoting the recognition of the educational, professional and technical credentials of migrants, with a view to maximizing their contribution to their new States of residence;
    (g) To take all possible measures to promote the full enjoyment by all migrants of all human rights, including those related to fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value without distinction of any kind, and to the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control, social security, including social insurance, access to education, health care, social services and respect for their cultural identity;
    (h) To consider adopting and implementing immigration policies and programmes that would enable immigrants, in particular women and children who are victims of spousal or domestic violence, to free themselves from abusive relationships;

31. Urges States, in the light of the increased proportion of women migrants, to place special focus on gender issues, including gender discrimination, particularly when the multiple barriers faced by migrant women intersect; detailed research should be undertaken not only in respect of human rights violations perpetrated against women migrants, but also on the contribution they make to the economies of their countries of origin and their host countries, and the findings should be included in reports to treaty bodies;

32. Urges States to recognize the same economic opportunities and responsibilities to documented long-term migrants as to other members of society;

33. Recommends that host countries of migrants consider the provision of adequate social services, in particular in the areas of health, education and adequate housing, as a matter of priority, in cooperation with the United Nations agencies, the regional organizations and international financial bodies; also requests that these agencies provide an adequate response to requests for such services;

Refugees

34. Urges States to comply with their obligations under international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law relating to refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons, and urges the international community to provide them with protection and assistance in an equitable manner and with due regard to their needs in different parts of the world, in keeping with principles of international solidarity, burden-sharing and international cooperation, to share responsibilities;

35. Calls upon States to recognize the racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that refugees may face as they endeavour to engage in the life of the societies of their host countries and encourages States, in accordance with their international obligations and commitments, to develop strategies to address this discrimination and to facilitate the full enjoyment of the human rights of refugees. States parties should ensure that all measures relating to refugees must be in full accordance with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol;

36. Urges States to take effective steps to protect refugee and internally displaced women and girls from violence, to investigate any such violations and to bring those responsible to justice, in collaboration, when appropriate, with the relevant and competent organizations;

Other victims

37. Urges States to take all possible measures to ensure that all persons, without any discrimination, are registered and have access to the necessary documentation reflecting their legal identity to enable them to benefit from available legal procedures, remedies and development opportunities, as well as to reduce the incidence of trafficking;

38. Recognizes that victims of trafficking are particularly exposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. States shall ensure that all measures taken against trafficking in persons, in particular those that affect the victims of such trafficking, are consistent with internationally recognized principles of non-discrimination, including the prohibition of racial discrimination and the availability of appropriate legal redress;

39. Calls upon States to ensure that Roma/Gypsy/Sinti/Traveller children and youth, especially girls, are given equal access to education and that educational curricula at all levels, including complementary programmes on intercultural education, which might, inter alia, include opportunities for them to learn the official languages in the pre-school period and to recruit Roma/Gypsy/Sinti/Traveller teachers and classroom assistants in order for such children and youth to learn their mother tongue, are sensitive and responsive to their needs;

40. Encourages States to adopt appropriate and concrete policies and measures, to develop implementation mechanisms, where these do not already exist, and to exchange experiences, in cooperation with representatives of the Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers, in order to eradicate discrimination against them, enable them to achieve equality and ensure their full enjoyment of all their human rights, as recommended in the case of the Roma by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in its general recommendation XXVII, so that their needs are met;

41. Recommends that the intergovernmental organizations address, as appropriate, in their projects of cooperation with and assistance to various States, the situation of the Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers and promote their economic, social and cultural advancement;

42. Calls upon States and encourages non-governmental organizations to raise awareness about the racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance experienced by the Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers, and to promote knowledge and respect for their culture and history;

43. Encourages the media to promote equal access to and participation in the media for the Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers, as well as to protect them from racist, stereotypical and discriminatory media reporting, and calls upon States to facilitate the media's efforts in this regard;

44. Invites States to design policies aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that are based on reliable statistical data recognizing the concerns identified in consultation with the Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers themselves reflecting as accurately as possible their status in society. All such information shall be collected in accordance with provisions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as data protection regulations and privacy guarantees, and in consultation with the persons concerned;

45. Encourages States to address the problems of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against people of Asian descent and urges States to take all necessary measures to eliminate the barriers that such persons face in participating in economic, social, cultural and political life;

46. Urges States to ensure within their jurisdiction that persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities can exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law, and also urges States and the international community to promote and protect the rights of such persons;

47. Urges States to guarantee the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, individually or in community with other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, and to use their own language, in private and in public, freely and without interference, and to participate effectively in the cultural, social, economic and political life of the country in which they live, in order to protect them from any form of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that they are or may be subjected to;

48. Urges States to recognize the effect that discrimination, marginalization and social exclusion have had and continue to have on many racial groups living in a numerically based minority situation within a State, and to ensure that persons in such groups can exercise, as individual members of such groups, fully and effectively, all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction and in full equality before the law, and to take, where applicable, appropriate measures in respect of employment, housing and education with a view to preventing racial discrimination;

49. Urges States to take, where applicable, appropriate measures to prevent racial discrimination against persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in respect of employment, health care, housing, social services and education, and in this context forms of multiple discrimination should be taken into account;

50. Urges States to incorporate a gender perspective in all programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to consider the burden of such discrimination which falls particularly on indigenous women, African women, Asian women, women of African descent, women of Asian descent, women migrants and women from other disadvantaged groups, ensuring their access to the resources of production on an equal footing with men, as a means of promoting their participation in the economic and productive development of their communities;

51. Urges States to involve women, especially women victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in decision-making at all levels when working towards the eradication of such discrimination, and to develop concrete measures to incorporate race and gender analysis in the implementation of all aspects of the Programme of Action and national plans of action, particularly in the fields of employment programmes and services and resource allocation;

52. Recognizing that poverty shapes economic and social status and establishes obstacles to the effective political participation of women and men in different ways and to different extents, urges States to undertake gender analyses of all economic and social policies and programmes, especially poverty eradication measures, including those designed and implemented to benefit those individuals or groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

53. Urges States and encourages all sectors of society to empower women and girls who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, so that they can fully exercise their rights in all spheres of public and private life, and to ensure the full, equal and effective participation of women in decision-making at all levels, in particular in the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and measures which affect their lives;

54. Urges States:

    (a) To recognize that sexual violence which has been systematically used as a weapon of war, sometimes with the acquiescence or at the instigation of the State, is a serious violation of international humanitarian law that, in defined circumstances, constitutes a crime against humanity and/or a war crime, and that the intersection of discrimination on grounds of race and gender makes women and girls particularly vulnerable to this type of violence, which is often related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
    (b) To end impunity and prosecute those responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including crimes related to sexual and other gender-based violence against women and girls, as well as to ensure that persons in authority who are responsible for such crimes, including by committing, ordering, soliciting, inducing, aiding in, abetting, assisting or in any other way contributing to their commission or attempted commission, are identified, investigated, prosecuted and punished;

55. Requests States, in collaboration where necessary with international organizations, having the best interests of the child as a primary consideration, to provide protection against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against children, especially those in circumstances of particular vulnerability, and to pay special attention to the situation of such children when designing relevant policies, strategies and programmes;

56. Urges States, in accordance with their national law and their obligations under the relevant international instruments, to take all measures to the maximum extent of their available resources to guarantee, without any discrimination, the equal right of all children to the immediate registration of birth, in order to enable them to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms. States shall grant women equal rights with men with respect to nationality;

57. Urges States and international and regional organizations, and encourages non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to address the situation of persons with disabilities who are also subject to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; also urges States to take necessary measures to ensure their full enjoyment of all human rights and to facilitate their full integration into all fields of life;

III. Measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels

58. Urges States to adopt and implement, at both the national and international levels, effective measures and policies, in addition to existing anti-discrimination national legislation and relevant international instruments and mechanisms, which encourage all citizens and institutions to take a stand against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to recognize, respect and maximize the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within and between communities and nations, in particular through public information and education programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes where the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society;

59. Urges States to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and development of measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men;

60. Urges States to adopt or strengthen, as appropriate, national programmes for eradicating poverty and reducing social exclusion which take account of the needs and experiences of individuals or groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and also urges that they expand their efforts to foster bilateral, regional and international cooperation in implementing those programmes;

61. Urges States to work to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization, exclusion and discrimination against specific sectors of society;

62. Urges States to take all necessary measures to address specifically, through policies and programmes, racism and racially motivated violence against women and girls and to increase cooperation, policy responses and effective implementation of national legislation and of their obligations under relevant international instruments, and other protective and preventive measures aimed at the elimination of all forms of racially motivated discrimination and violence against women and girls;

63. Encourages the business sector, in particular the tourist industry and Internet providers, to develop codes of conduct, with a view to preventing trafficking in persons and protecting the victims of such traffic, especially those in prostitution, against gender-based and racial discrimination and promoting their rights, dignity and security;

64. Urges States to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures at the national, regional and international levels to prevent, combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, through comprehensive anti-trafficking strategies which include legislative measures, prevention campaigns and information exchange. It also urges States to allocate resources, as appropriate, to provide comprehensive programmes designed to provide assistance to, protection for, healing, reintegration into society and rehabilitation of victims. States shall provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other relevant officials who deal with victims of trafficking in this regard;

65. Encourages the bodies, agencies and relevant programmes of the United Nations system and States to promote and to make use of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2), particularly those provisions relating to non-discrimination;

A. National level

1. Legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative and other measures to prevent and protect against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

66. Urges States to establish and implement without delay national policies and action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations;

67. Urges States to design or reinforce, promote and implement effective legislative and administrative policies, as well as other preventive measures, against the serious situation experienced by certain groups of workers, including migrant workers, who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Special attention should be given to protecting people engaged in domestic work and trafficked persons from discrimination and violence, as well as to combating prejudice against them;

68. Urges States to adopt and implement, or strengthen, national legislation and administrative measures that expressly and specifically counter racism and prohibit racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, whether direct or indirect, in all spheres of public life, in accordance with their obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, ensuring that their reservations are not contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention;

69. Urges States to enact and implement, as appropriate, laws against trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and smuggling of migrants, taking into account practices that endanger human lives or lead to various kinds of servitude and exploitation, such as debt bondage, slavery, sexual exploitation or labour exploitation; also encourages States to create, if they do not already exist, mechanisms to combat such practices and to allocate adequate resources to ensure law enforcement and the protection of the rights of victims, and to reinforce bilateral, regional and international cooperation, including with non-governmental organizations that assist victims, to combat this trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants;

70. Urges States to take all necessary constitutional, legislative and administrative measures to foster equality among individuals and groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to review existing measures with a view to amending or repealing national legislation and administrative provisions that may give rise to such forms of discrimination;

71. Urges States, including their law enforcement agencies, to design and fully implement effective policies and programmes to prevent, detect and ensure accountability for misconduct by police officers and other law enforcement personnel which is motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to prosecute perpetrators of such misconduct;

72. Urges States to design, implement and enforce effective measures to eliminate the phenomenon popularly known as "racial profiling" and comprising the practice of police and other law enforcement officers relying, to any degree, on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin as the basis for subjecting persons to investigatory activities or for determining whether an individual is engaged in criminal activity;

73. Urges States to take measures to prevent genetic research or its applications from being used to promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to protect the privacy of personal genetic information and to prevent such information from being used for discriminatory or racist purposes;

74. Urges States and invites non-governmental organizations and the private sector:

    (a) To create and implement policies that promote a high-quality and diverse police force free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and recruit actively all groups, including minorities, into public employment, including the police force and other agencies within the criminal justice system (such as prosecutors);
    (b) To work to reduce violence, including violence motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, by:
      (i) Developing educational materials to teach young people the importance of tolerance and respect;
      (ii) Addressing bias before it manifests itself in violent criminal activity;
      (iii) Establishing working groups consisting of, among others, local community leaders and national and local law enforcement officials, to improve coordination, community involvement, training, education and data collection, with the aim of preventing such violent criminal activity;
      (iv) Ensuring that civil rights laws that prohibit violent criminal activity are strongly enforced;
      (v) Enhancing data collection regarding violence motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
      (vi) Providing appropriate assistance to victims, and public education to prevent future incidents of violence motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Ratification of and effective implementation of relevant international and regional legal instruments on human rights and non-discrimination

75. Urges States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the international human rights instruments which combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular to accede to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as a matter of urgency, with a view to universal ratification by the year 2005, and to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14, to comply with their reporting obligations, and to publish and act upon the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It also urges States to withdraw reservations contrary to the object and purpose of that Convention and to consider withdrawing other reservations;

76. Urges States to give due consideration to the observations and recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. To that effect, States should consider setting up appropriate national monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to follow up on these observations and recommendations;

77. Urges States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as to consider acceding to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

78. Urges those States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the following instruments:

    (a) Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948;
    (b) International Labour Organization Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97);
    (c) Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others of 1949;
    (d) Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, and its 1967 Protocol;
    (e) International Labour Organization Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111);
    (f) Convention against Discrimination in Education, adopted on 14 December 1960 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;
    (g) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 1979, with a view to achieving universal ratification within five years, and its Optional Protocol of 1999;
    (h) Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989 and its two Optional Protocols of 2000, and the International Labour Organization Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182);
    (i) International Labour Organization Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143);
    (j) International Labour Organization Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) and the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992;
    (k) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families of 1990;
    (l) The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 1998;
    (m) United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the Convention and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the Convention of 2000;

It further urges States parties to these instruments to implement them fully;

79. Calls upon States to promote and protect the exercise of the rights set out in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 36/55 of

25 November 1981, in order to obviate religious discrimination which, when combined with certain other forms of discrimination, constitutes a form of multiple discrimination;

80. Urges States to seek full respect for, and compliance with, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, especially as it relates to the right of foreign nationals, regardless of their legal and immigration status, to communicate with a consular officer of their own State in the case of arrest or detention;

81. Urges all States to prohibit discriminatory treatment based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin against foreigners and migrant workers, inter alia, where appropriate, concerning the granting of work visas and work permits, housing, health care and access to justice;

82. Underlines the importance of combating impunity, including for crimes with a racist or xenophobic motivation, also at the international level, noting that impunity for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law is a serious obstacle to a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability; it also fully supports the work of the existing international criminal tribunals and ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and urges all States to cooperate with these international criminal tribunals;

83. Urges States to make every effort to apply fully the relevant provisions of the International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work of 1998, in order to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Prosecution of perpetrators of racist acts

84. Urges States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to take measures so that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent these crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law;

85. Urges States to undertake investigations to examine possible links between criminal prosecution, police violence and penal sanctions, on the one hand, and racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, on the other, so as to have evidence for taking the necessary steps for the eradication of any such links and discriminatory practices;

86. Calls upon States to promote measures to deter the emergence of and to counter neo-fascist, violent nationalist ideologies which promote racial hatred and racial discrimination, as well as racist and xenophobic sentiments, including measures to combat the negative influence of such ideologies especially on young people through formal and non-formal education, the media and sport;

87. Urges States parties to adopt legislation implementing the obligations they have assumed to prosecute and punish persons who have committed or ordered to be committed grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and Additional Protocol I thereto and of other serious violations of the laws and customs of war, in particular in relation to the principle of non-discrimination;

88. Calls upon States to criminalize all forms of trafficking in persons, in particular women and children, and to condemn and penalize traffickers and intermediaries, while ensuring protection and assistance to the victims of trafficking, with full respect for their human rights;

89. Urges States to carry out comprehensive, exhaustive, timely and impartial investigations of all unlawful acts of racism and racial discrimination, to prosecute criminal offences ex officio, as appropriate, or initiate or facilitate all appropriate actions arising from offences of a racist or xenophobic nature, to ensure that criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of offences of a racist or xenophobic nature are given high priority and are actively and consistently undertaken, and to ensure the right to equal treatment before the tribunals and all other organs administering justice. In this regard, the World Conference underlines the importance of fostering awareness and providing training to the various agents in the criminal justice system to ensure fair and impartial application of the law. In this respect, it recommends that anti-discrimination monitoring services be established;

Establishment and reinforcement of independent specialized national institutions and mediation

90. Urges States, as appropriate, to establish, strengthen, review and reinforce the effectiveness of independent national human rights institutions, particularly on issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in conformity with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, annexed to General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993, and to provide them with adequate financial resources, competence and capacity for investigation, research, education and public awareness activities to combat these phenomena;

91. Also urges States:

    (a) To foster cooperation between these institutions and other national institutions;
    (b) To take steps to ensure that those individuals or groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance can participate fully in these institutions;
    (c) To support these institutions and similar bodies, inter alia through the publication and circulation of existing national laws and jurisprudence, and cooperation with institutions in other countries, so that knowledge can be gained of the manifestations, functions and mechanisms of these practices and the strategies designed to prevent, combat and eradicate them;

2. Policies and practices

Data collection and disaggregation, research and study

92. Urges States to collect, compile, analyse, disseminate and publish reliable statistical data at the national and local levels and undertake all other related measures which are necessary to assess regularly the situation of individuals and groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

    (a) Such statistical data should be disaggregated in accordance with national legislation. Any such information shall, as appropriate, be collected with the explicit consent of the victims, based on their self-identification and in accordance with provisions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as data protection regulations and privacy guarantees. This information must not be misused;
    (b) The statistical data and information should be collected with the objective of monitoring the situation of marginalized groups, and the development and evaluation of legislation, policies, practices and other measures aimed at preventing and combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as for the purpose of determining whether any measures have an unintentional disparate impact on victims. To that end, it recommends the development of voluntary, consensual and participatory strategies in the process of collecting, designing and using information;
    (c) The information should take into account economic and social indicators, including, where appropriate, health and health status, infant and maternal mortality, life expectancy, literacy, education, employment, housing, land ownership, mental and physical health care, water, sanitation, energy and communications services, poverty and average disposable income, in order to elaborate social and economic development policies with a view to closing the existing gaps in social and economic conditions;

93. Invites States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and the private sector to improve concepts and methods of data collection and analysis; to promote research, exchange experiences and successful practices and develop promotional activities in this area; and to develop indicators of progress and participation of individuals and groups of individuals in society subject to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

94. Recognizes that policies and programmes aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance should be based on quantitative and qualitative research, incorporating a gender perspective. Such policies and programmes should take into account priorities identified by individuals and groups of individuals who are victims of, or subject to, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

95. Urges States to establish regular monitoring of acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the public and private sectors, including those committed by law enforcement officials;

96. Invites States to promote and conduct studies and adopt an integral, objective and long-term approach to all phases and aspects of migration which will deal effectively with both its causes and manifestations. These studies and approaches should pay special attention to the root causes of migratory flows, such as lack of full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the effects of economic globalization on migration trends;

97. Recommends that further studies be conducted on how racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be reflected in laws, policies, institutions and practices and how this may have contributed to the victimization and exclusion of migrants, especially women and children;

98. Recommends that States include where applicable in their periodic reports to United Nations human rights treaty bodies, in an appropriate form, statistical information relating to individuals, members of groups and communities within their jurisdiction, including statistical data on participation in political life and on their economic, social and cultural situation. All such information shall be collected in accordance with provisions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as data protection regulations and privacy guarantees;

Action-oriented policies and action plans, including affirmative action to ensure non-discrimination, in particular as regards access to social services, employment, housing, education, health care, etc.

99. Recognizes that combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance is a primary responsibility of States. It therefore encourages States to develop or elaborate national action plans to promote diversity, equality, equity, social justice, equality of opportunity and the participation of all. Through, among other things, affirmative or positive actions and strategies, these plans should aim at creating conditions for all to participate effectively in decision-making and realize civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights in all spheres of life on the basis of non-discrimination. The World Conference encourages States, in developing and elaborating such action plans, to establish, or reinforce, dialogue with non-governmental organizations in order to involve them more closely in designing, implementing and evaluating policies and programmes;

100. Urges States to establish, on the basis of statistical information, national programmes, including affirmative or positive measures, to promote the access of individuals and groups of individuals who are or may be victims of racial discrimination to basic social services, including primary education, basic health care and adequate housing;

101. Urges States to establish programmes to promote the access without discrimination of individuals or groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to health care, and to promote strong efforts to eliminate disparities, inter alia in the infant and maternal mortality rates, childhood immunizations, HIV/AIDS, heart diseases, cancer and contagious diseases;

102. Urges States to promote residential integration of all members of the society at the planning stage of urban development schemes and other human settlements, as well as while renewing neglected areas of public housing, so as to counter social exclusion and marginalization;

Employment

103. Urges States to promote and support where appropriate the organization and operation of enterprises owned by persons who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance by promoting equal access to credit and to training programmes;

104. Urges States and encourages non-governmental organizations and the private sector:

    (a) To support the creation of workplaces free of discrimination through a multifaceted strategy that includes civil rights enforcement, public education and communication within the workplace, and to promote and protect the rights of workers who are subject to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
    (b) To foster the creation, growth and expansion of businesses dedicated to improving economic and educational conditions in underserved and disadvantaged areas, by increasing access to capital through, inter alia, community development banks, recognizing that new businesses can have a positive, dynamic impact on communities in need, and to work with the private sector to create jobs, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas;
    (c) To improve the prospects of targeted groups facing, inter alia, the greatest obstacles in finding, keeping or regaining work, including skilled employment. Particular attention should be paid to persons subject to multiple discrimination;

105. Urges States to give special attention, when devising and implementing legislation and policies designed to enhance the protection of workers' rights, to the serious situation of lack of protection, and in some cases exploitation, as in the case of trafficked persons and smuggled migrants, which makes them more vulnerable to ill-treatment such as confinement in the case of domestic workers and also being employed in dangerous and poorly paid jobs;

106. Urges States to avoid the negative effects of discriminatory practices, racism and xenophobia in employment and occupation by promoting the application and observance of international instruments and norms on workers' rights;

107. Calls upon States and encourages representative trade unions and the business sector to advance non-discriminatory practices in the workplace and protect the rights of workers, including, in particular, the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

108. Calls upon States to provide effective access to administrative and legal procedures and other remedial action to victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the workplace;

Health, environment

109. Urges States, individually and through international cooperation, to enhance measures to fulfil the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, with a view to eliminating disparities in health status, as indicated in standard health indexes, which might result from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

110. Urges States and encourages non-governmental organizations and the private sector:

    (a) To provide effective mechanisms for monitoring and eliminating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the health-care system, such as the development and enforcement of effective anti-discrimination laws;
    (b) To take steps to ensure equal access to comprehensive, quality health care affordable for all, including primary health care for medically underserved people, facilitate the training of a health workforce that is both diverse and motivated to work in underserved communities, and work to increase diversity in the health-care profession by recruiting on merit and potential women and men from all groups, representing the diversity of their societies, for health-care careers and by retaining them in the health professions;
    (c) To work with health-care professionals, community-based health providers, non-governmental organizations, scientific researchers and private industry as a means of improving the health status of marginalized communities, in particular victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
    (d) To work with health professionals, scientific researchers and international and regional health organizations to study the differential impact of medical treatments and health strategies on various communities;
    (e) To adopt and implement policies and programmes to improve HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in high-risk communities and work to expand availability of HIV/AIDS care, treatment and other support services;

111. Invites States to consider non-discriminatory measures to provide a safe and healthy environment for individuals and groups of individuals victims of or subject to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and in particular:

    (a) To improve access to public information on health and environment issues;
    (b) To ensure that relevant concerns are taken into account in the public process of decision-making on the environment;
    (c) To share technology and successful practices to improve human health and environment in all areas;
    (d) To take appropriate remedial measures, as possible, to clean, re-use and redevelop contaminated sites and, where appropriate, relocate those affected on a voluntary basis after consultations;

Equal participation in political, economic, social and cultural decision-making

112. Urges States and encourages the private sector and international financial and development institutions, such as the World Bank and regional development banks, to promote participation of individuals and groups of individuals who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in economic, cultural and social decision-making at all stages, particularly in the development and implementation of poverty alleviation strategies, development projects, and trade and market assistance programmes;

113. Urges States to promote, as appropriate, effective and equal access of all members of the community, especially those who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to the decision-making process in society at all levels and in particular at the local level, and also urges States and encourages the private sector to facilitate their effective participation in economic life;

114. Urges all multilateral financial and development institutions, in particular the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and regional development banks, to promote, in accordance with their regular budgets and the procedures of their governing bodies, participation by all members of the international community in decision-making processes at all stages and levels in order to facilitate development projects and, as appropriate, trade and market access programmes;

Role of politicians and political parties

115. Underlines the key role that politicians and political parties can play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and encourages political parties to take concrete steps to promote equality, solidarity and non-discrimination in society, inter alia by developing voluntary codes of conduct which include internal disciplinary measures for violations thereof, so their members refrain from public statements and actions that encourage or incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

116. Invites the Inter-Parliamentary Union to encourage debate in, and action by, parliaments on various measures, including laws and policies, to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

3. Education and awareness-raising measures

117. Urges States, where appropriate working with other relevant bodies, to commit financial resources to anti-racism education and to media campaigns promoting the values of acceptance, tolerance, diversity and respect for the cultures of all indigenous peoples living within their national borders. In particular, States should promote an accurate understanding of the histories and cultures of indigenous peoples;

118. Urges the United Nations, other appropriate international and regional organizations and States to redress the marginalization of Africa's contribution to world history and civilization by developing and implementing a specific and comprehensive programme of research, education and mass communication to disseminate widely a balanced and objective presentation of Africa's seminal and valuable contribution to humanity;

119. Invites States and relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations to build upon the efforts of the Slave Route Project of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization and its theme of "Breaking the silence" by developing texts and testimony, slavery multi-media centres and/or programmes that will collect, record, organize, exhibit and publish the existing data relevant to the history of slavery and the trans-Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean slave trades, paying particular attention to the thoughts and actions of the victims of slavery and the slave trade, in their quest for freedom and justice;

120. Salutes the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization made within the framework of the Slave Route Project and requests that the outcome be made available to the international community as soon as possible;

Access to education without discrimination

121. Urges States to commit themselves to ensuring access to education, including access to free primary education for all children, both girls and boys, and access for adults to lifelong learning and education, based on respect for human rights, diversity and tolerance, without discrimination of any kind;

122. Urges States to ensure equal access to education for all in law and in practice, and to refrain from any legal or any other measures leading to imposed racial segregation in any form in access to schooling;

123. Urges States:

    (a) To adopt and implement laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin at all levels of education, both formal and non-formal;
    (b) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate obstacles limiting the access of children to education;
    (c) To ensure that all children have access without discrimination to education of good quality;
    (d) To establish and implement standardized methods to measure and track the educational performance of disadvantaged children and young people;
    (e) To commit resources to eliminate, where they exist, inequalities in educational outcomes for children and young people;
    (f) To support efforts to ensure safe school environments, free from violence and harassment motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia or related intolerance; and
    (g) To consider establishing financial assistance programmes designed to enable all students, regardless of race, colour, descent or ethnic or national origin, to attend institutions of higher education;

124. Urges States to adopt, where applicable, appropriate measures to ensure that persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities have access to education without discrimination of any kind and, where possible, have an opportunity to learn their own language in order to protect them from any form of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that they may be subjected to;

Human rights education

125. Requests States to include the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance among the activities undertaken within the framework of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education (1995-2004) and to take into account the recommendations of the mid-term evaluation report of the Decade;

126. Encourages all States, in cooperation with the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant international organizations, to initiate and develop cultural and educational programmes aimed at countering racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to ensure respect for the dignity and worth of all human beings and enhance mutual understanding among all cultures and civilizations. It further urges States to support and implement public information campaigns and specific training programmes in the field of human rights, where appropriate formulated in local languages, to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and promote respect for the values of diversity, pluralism, tolerance, mutual respect, cultural sensitivity, integration and inclusiveness. Such programmes and campaigns should be addressed to all sectors of society, in particular children and young people;

127. Urges States to intensify their efforts in the field of education, including human rights education, in order to promote an understanding and awareness of the causes, consequences and evils of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and also urges States, in consultation with educational authorities and the private sector, as appropriate, and encourages educational authorities and the private sector, as appropriate, to develop educational materials, including textbooks and dictionaries, aimed at combating those phenomena and, in this context, calls upon States to give importance, if appropriate, to textbook and curriculum review and amendment, so as to eliminate any elements that might promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance or reinforce negative stereotypes, and to include material that refutes such stereotypes;

128. Urges States, if appropriate in cooperation with relevant organizations, including youth organizations, to support and implement public formal and non-formal education programmes designed to promote respect for cultural diversity;

Human rights education for children and youth

129. Urges States to introduce and, as applicable, to reinforce anti-discrimination and anti-racism components in human rights programmes in school curricula, to develop and improve relevant educational material, including history and other textbooks, and to ensure that all teachers are effectively trained and adequately motivated to shape attitudes and behavioural patterns, based on the principles of non-discrimination, mutual respect and tolerance;

130. Calls upon States to undertake and facilitate activities aimed at educating young people in human rights and democratic citizenship and instilling values of solidarity, respect and appreciation of diversity, including respect for different groups. A special effort to inform and sensitize young people to respect democratic values and human rights should be undertaken or developed to fight against ideologies based on the fallacious theory of racial superiority;

131. Urges States to encourage all schools to consider developing educational activities, including extracurricular ones, to raise awareness against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, inter alia by commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March);

132. Recommends that States introduce, or reinforce, human rights education, with a view to combating prejudices which lead to racial discrimination and to promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship between different racial or ethnic groups, in schools and in institutions of higher education, and support public formal and non-formal education programmes designed to promote respect for cultural diversity and the self-esteem of victims;

Human rights education for public officials and professionals

133. Urges States to develop and strengthen anti-racist and gender-sensitive human rights training for public officials, including personnel in the administration of justice, particularly in law enforcement, correctional and security services, as well as among health-care, schools and migration authorities;

134. Urges States to pay specific attention to the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the administration of justice and fair trial, and to conduct nationwide campaigns, amongst other measures, to raise awareness among State organs and public officials concerning their obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and other relevant instruments;

135. Requests States, wherever appropriate through cooperation with international organizations, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to organize and facilitate training activities, including courses or seminars, on international norms prohibiting racial discrimination and their applicability in domestic law, as well as on their international human rights obligations, for prosecutors, members of the judiciary and other public officials;

136. Calls upon States to ensure that education and training, especially teacher training, promote respect for human rights and the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and that educational institutions implement policies and programmes agreed by the relevant authorities on equal opportunities, anti-racism, gender equality, and cultural, religious and other diversity, with the participation of teachers, parents and students, and follow up their implementation. It further urges all educators, including teachers at all levels of education, religious communities and the print and electronic media, to play an effective role in human rights education, including as a means to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

137. Encourages States to consider taking measures to increase the recruitment, retention and promotion of women and men belonging to groups which are currently under-represented in the teaching profession as a result of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to guarantee them effective equality of access to the profession. Particular efforts should be made to recruit women and men who have the ability to interact effectively with all groups;

138. Urges States to strengthen the human rights training and awareness-raising activities designed for immigration officials, border police and staff of detention centres and prisons, local authorities and other civil servants in charge of enforcing laws, as well as teachers, with particular attention to the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, in order to prevent acts of racial discrimination and xenophobia and to avoid situations where prejudices lead to decisions based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia or related intolerance;

139. Urges States to provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other relevant officials in the prevention of trafficking in persons. The training should focus on methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of victims, including protecting the victims from the traffickers. The training should also take into account the need to consider human rights and child- and gender-sensitive issues and it should encourage cooperation with non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society;

4. Information, communication and the media, including new technologies

140. Welcomes the positive contribution made by the new information and communications technologies, including the Internet, in combating racism through rapid and wide-reaching communication;

141. Draws attention to the potential to increase the use of the new information and communications technologies, including the Internet, to create educational and awareness-raising networks against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, both in and out of school, as well as the ability of the Internet to promote universal respect for human rights and also respect for the value of cultural diversity;

142. Emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of cultural diversity and of putting in place concrete measures to encourage the access of marginalized communities to the mainstream and alternative media through, inter alia, the presentation of programmes that reflect their cultures and languages;

143. Expresses concern at the material progression of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their contemporary forms and manifestations, such as the use of the new information and communications technologies, including the Internet, to disseminate ideas of racial superiority;

144. Urges States and encourages the private sector to promote the development by the media, including the print and electronic media, including the Internet and advertising, taking into account their independence, through their relevant associations and organizations at the national, regional and international levels, of a voluntary ethical code of conduct and self-regulatory measures, and of policies and practices aimed at:

    (a) Combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
    (b) Promoting the fair, balanced and equitable representation of the diversity of their societies, as well as ensuring that this diversity is reflected among their staff;
    (c) Combating the proliferation of ideas of racial superiority, justification of racial hatred and discrimination in any form;
    (d) Promoting respect, tolerance and understanding among all individuals, peoples, nations and civilizations, for example through assistance in public awareness-raising campaigns;
    (e) Avoiding stereotyping in all its forms, and particularly the promotion of false images of migrants, including migrant workers, and refugees, in order to prevent the spread of xenophobic sentiments among the public and to encourage the objective and balanced portrayal of people, events and history;

145. Urges States to implement legal sanctions, in accordance with relevant international human rights law, in respect of incitement to racial hatred through new information and communications technologies, including the Internet, and further urges them to apply all relevant human rights instruments to which they are parties, in particular the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to racism on the Internet;

146. Urges States to encourage the media to avoid stereotyping based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

147. Calls upon States to consider the following, taking fully into account existing international and regional standards on freedom of expression, while taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression:

    (a) Encouraging Internet service providers to establish and disseminate specific voluntary codes of conduct and self-regulatory measures against the dissemination of racist messages and those that result in racial discrimination, xenophobia or any form of intolerance and discrimination; to that end, Internet providers are encouraged to set up mediating bodies at national and international levels, involving relevant civil society institutions;
    (b) Adopting and applying, to the extent possible, appropriate legislation for prosecuting those responsible for incitement to racial hatred or violence through the new information and communications technologies, including the Internet;
    (c) Addressing the problem of dissemination of racist material through the new information and communications technologies, including the Internet, inter alia by imparting training to law enforcement authorities;
    (d) Denouncing and actively discouraging the transmission of racist and xenophobic messages through all communications media, including new information and communications technologies, such as the Internet;
    (e) Considering a prompt and coordinated international response to the rapidly evolving phenomenon of the dissemination of hate speech and racist material through the new information and communications technologies, including the Internet; and in this context strengthening international cooperation;
    (f) Encouraging access and use by all people of the Internet as an international and equal forum, aware that there are disparities in use of and access to the Internet;
    (g) Examining ways in which the positive contribution made by the new information and communications technologies, such as the Internet, can be enhanced through replication of good practices in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
    (h) Encouraging the reflection of the diversity of societies among the personnel of media organizations and the new information and communications technologies, such as the Internet, by promoting adequate representation of different segments within societies at all levels of their organizational structure;

B. International level

148. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

149. Believes that all conflicts and disputes should be resolved through peaceful means and political dialogue. The Conference calls on all parties involved in such conflicts to exercise restraint and to respect human rights and international humanitarian law;

150. Calls upon States, in opposing all forms of racism, to recognize the need to counter anti-Semitism, anti-Arabism and Islamophobia world-wide, and urges all States to take effective measures to prevent the emergence of movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas concerning these communities;

151. As for the situation in the Middle East, calls for the end of violence and the swift resumption of negotiations, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law, respect for the principle of self-determination and the end of all suffering, thus allowing Israel and the Palestinians to resume the peace process, and to develop and prosper in security and freedom;

152. Encourages States, regional and international organizations, including financial institutions, as well as civil society, to address within existing mechanisms, or where necessary to put in place and/or develop mechanisms, to address those aspects of globalization which may lead to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

153. Recommends that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat and other concerned United Nations agencies, bodies and programmes strengthen their coordination to discern patterns of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law with a view to assessing the risk of further deterioration that could lead to genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity;

154. Encourages the World Health Organization and other relevant international organizations to promote and develop activities for the recognition of the impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as significant social determinants of physical and mental health status, including the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and access to health care, and to prepare specific projects, including research, to ensure equitable health systems for the victims;

155. Encourages the International Labour Organization to carry out activities and programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the world of work, and to support actions of States, employers' organizations and trade unions in this field;

156. Urges the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to provide support to States in the preparation of teaching materials and tools for promoting teaching, training and educational activities relating to human rights and the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

IV. Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and other measures at the national, regional and international levels

157. Recognizes the efforts of developing countries, in particular the commitment and the determination of the African leaders, to seriously address the challenges of poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparities, instability and insecurity, through initiatives such as the New African Initiative and other innovative mechanisms such as the World Solidarity Fund for the Eradication of Poverty, and calls upon developed countries, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, as well as international financial institutions, to provide, through their operational programmes, new and additional financial resources, as appropriate, to support these initiatives;

158. Recognizes that these historical injustices have undeniably contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparities, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries. The Conference recognizes the need to develop programmes for the social and economic development of these societies and the Diaspora, within the framework of a new partnership based on the spirit of solidarity and mutual respect, in the following areas:

  • Debt relief;
  • Poverty eradication;
  • Building or strengthening democratic institutions; Promotion of foreign direct investment; Market access;
  • Intensifying efforts to meet the internationally agreed targets for official development assistance transfers to developing countries;
  • New information and communication technologies bridging the digital divide;
  • Agriculture and food security;
  • Transfer of technology;
  • Transparent and accountable governance;
  • Investment in health infrastructure tackling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, including through the Global AIDS and Health Fund;
  • Infrastructure development;
  • Human resource development, including capacity-building; Education, training and cultural development;
  • Mutual legal assistance in the repatriation of illegally obtained and illegally transferred (stashed) funds, in accordance with national and international instruments;
  • Illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons;
  • Restitution of art objects, historical artefacts and documents to their countries of origin, in accordance with bilateral agreements or international instruments;
  • Trafficking in persons, particularly women and children;
  • Facilitation of welcomed return and resettlement of the descendants of enslaved Africans;

159. Urges international financial and development institutions and the operational programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations to give greater priority to, and allocate appropriate funding for, programmes addressing the development challenges of the affected States and societies, in particular those on the African continent and in the Diaspora;

Legal assistance

160. Urges States to take all necessary measures to address, as a matter of urgency, the pressing requirement for justice for the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to ensure that victims have full access to information, support, effective protection and national, administrative and judicial remedies, including the right to seek just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for damage, as well as legal assistance, where required;

161. Urges States to facilitate for victims of racial discrimination, including victims of torture and ill-treatment, access to all appropriate legal procedures and free legal assistance in a manner adapted to their specific needs and vulnerability, including through legal representation;

162. Urges States to ensure the protection against victimization of complainants and witnesses of acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to consider measures such as, where appropriate, making legal assistance, including legal aid, available to complainants seeking a legal remedy and, if possible, affording the possibility for non-governmental organizations to support complainants of racism, with their consent, in legal procedures;

National legislation and programmes

163. For the purposes of effectively combating racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural fields, the Conference recommends to all States that their national legislative framework should expressly and specifically prohibit racial discrimination and provide effective judicial and other remedies or redress, including through the designation of national, independent, specialized bodies;

164. Urges States, with regard to the procedural remedies provided for in their domestic law, to bear in mind the following considerations:

    (a) Access to such remedies should be widely available, on a non-discriminatory and equal basis;
    (b) Existing procedural remedies should be made known in the context of the relevant action, and victims of racial discrimination should be helped to avail themselves of them in accordance with the particular case;
    (c) Inquiries into complaints of racial discrimination and the adjudication of such complaints must be carried out as rapidly as possible;
    (d) Persons who are victims of racial discrimination should be accorded legal assistance and aid in complaint proceedings, where applicable free of charge, and, where necessary, should be provided with the help of competent interpreters in such complaint proceedings or in any civil or criminal cases arising therefrom or connected thereto;
    (e) The creation of competent national bodies to investigate effectively allegations of racial discrimination and to give protection to complainants against intimidation or harassment is a desirable development and should be undertaken; steps should be taken towards the enactment of legislation to prohibit discriminatory practices on grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin, and to provide for the application of appropriate penalties against offenders and remedies, including adequate compensation, for the victims;
    (f) Access to legal remedies should be facilitated for victims of discrimination and, in this regard, the innovation of conferring a capacity on national and other institutions, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations, to assist such victims should be seriously considered, and programmes should be developed to enable the most vulnerable groups to have access to the legal system;
    (g) New and innovative methods and procedures of conflict resolution, mediation and conciliation between parties involved in conflicts or disputes based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance should be explored and, where possible, established;
    (h) The development of restorative justice policies and programmes for the benefit of victims of relevant forms of discrimination is desirable and should be seriously considered;
    (i) States which have made the declaration under article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination should make increased efforts to inform their public of the existence of the complaints mechanism under article 14;

Remedies, reparations, compensation

165. Urges States to reinforce protection against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance by ensuring that all persons have access to effective and adequate remedies and enjoy the right to seek from competent national tribunals and other national institutions just and adequate reparation and satisfaction for any damage as a result of such discrimination. It further underlines the importance of access to the law and to the courts for complainants of racism and racial discrimination and draws attention to the need for judicial and other remedies to be made widely known, easily accessible, expeditious and not unduly complicated;

166. Urges States to adopt the necessary measures, as provided by national law, to ensure the right of victims to seek just and adequate reparation and satisfaction to redress acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to design effective measures to prevent the repetition of such acts;

V. Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation and enhancement of the United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up

167. Calls upon States to apply diligently all commitments undertaken by them in the declarations and plans of action of the regional conferences in which they participated, and to formulate national policies and action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in compliance with the objectives set forth therein, and as provided for in other relevant instruments and decisions; and further requests that, in cases where such national policies and action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance already exist, States incorporate in them the commitments arising from their regional conferences;

168. Urges States that have not yet done so to consider acceding to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and their two Additional Protocols of 1977, as well as to other treaties of international humanitarian law, and to enact, with the highest priority, appropriate legislation, taking the measures required to give full effect to their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular in relation to the rules prohibiting discrimination;

169. Urges States to develop cooperation programmes to promote equal opportunities for the benefit of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and encourages them to propose the creation of multilateral cooperation programmes with the same objective;

170. Invites States to include the subject of the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the work programmes of the regional integration agencies and of the regional cross-boundary dialogue forums;

171. Urges States to recognize the challenges that people of different socially constructed races, colours, descent, national or ethnic origins, religions and languages experience in seeking to live together and to develop harmonious multiracial and multicultural societies; also urges States to recognize that the positive examples of relatively successful multiracial and multicultural societies, such as some of those in the Caribbean region, need to be examined and analysed, and that techniques, mechanisms, policies and programmes for reconciling conflicts based on factors related to race, colour, descent, language, religion, or national or ethnic origin and for developing harmonious multiracial and multicultural societies need to be systematically considered and developed, and therefore requests the United Nations and its relevant specialized agencies to consider establishing an international centre for multiracial and multicultural studies and policy development to undertake this critical work for the benefit of the international community;

172. Urges States to protect the national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and to develop appropriate legislative and other measures to encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity, in order to protect them from any form of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In this context, forms of multiple discrimination should be fully taken into account;

173. Further urges States to ensure the equal protection and promotion of the identities of the historically disadvantaged communities in those unique circumstances where this may be appropriate;

174. Urges States to take or strengthen measures, including through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, to address root causes, such as poverty, underdevelopment and lack of equal opportunity, some of which may be associated with discriminatory practices, that make persons, especially women and children, vulnerable to trafficking, which may give rise to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

175. Encourages States, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, to undertake campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration, so as to enable everyone, in particular women, to make informed decisions and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking;

176. Urges States to adopt and implement social development policies based on reliable statistical data and centred on the attainment, by the year 2015, of the commitments to meet the basic needs of all set forth in paragraph 36 of the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen in 1995, with a view to closing significantly the existing gaps in living conditions faced by victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, especially regarding the illiteracy rate, universal primary education, infant mortality, under-five child mortality, health, reproductive health care for all and access to safe drinking water. Promotion of gender equality will also be taken into account in the adoption and implementation of these policies;

International legal framework

177. Urges States to continue cooperating with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and other human rights treaty monitoring bodies in order to promote, including by means of a constructive and transparent dialogue, the effective implementation of the instruments concerned and proper consideration of the recommendations adopted by these bodies with regard to complaints of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

178. Requests adequate resources for the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in order to enable it to discharge its mandate fully and stresses the importance of providing adequate resources for all the United Nations human rights treaty bodies;

General international instruments

179. Endorses efforts of the international community, in particular steps taken under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to promote respect for and preserve cultural diversity within and between communities and nations with a view to creating a harmonious multicultural world, including elaboration of a possible international instrument in this respect in a manner consistent with international human rights instruments;

180. Invites the United Nations General Assembly to consider elaborating an integral and comprehensive international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of disabled people, including, especially, provisions that address the discriminatory practices and treatment affecting them;

Regional/international cooperation

181. Invites the Inter-Parliamentary Union to contribute to the activities of the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance by encouraging national parliaments to review progress on the objectives of the Conference;

182. Encourages States to participate in regional dialogues on problems of migration and invites them to consider negotiating bilateral and regional agreements on migrant workers and designing and implementing programmes with States of other regions to protect the rights of migrants;

183. Urges States, in consultation with civil society, to support or otherwise establish, as appropriate, regional, comprehensive dialogues on the causes and consequences of migration that focus not only on law enforcement and border control, but also on the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants and on the relationship between migration and development;

184. Encourages international organizations having mandates dealing specifically with migration issues to exchange information and coordinate their activities on matters involving racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants, including migrant workers, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;

185. Expresses its deep concern over the severity of the humanitarian suffering of affected civilian populations and the burden carried by many receiving countries, particularly developing countries and countries in transition, and requests the relevant international institutions to ensure that urgent adequate financial and humanitarian assistance is maintained for the host countries to enable them to help the victims and to address, on an equitable basis, difficulties of populations expelled from their homes, and calls for sufficient safeguards to enable refugees to exercise freely their right of return to their countries of origin voluntarily, in safety and dignity;

186. Encourages States to conclude bilateral, subregional, regional and international agreements to address the problem of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, as well as the smuggling of migrants;

187. Calls upon States, to promote, as appropriate, exchanges at the regional and international levels among independent national institutions and, as applicable, other relevant independent bodies with a view to enhancing cooperation to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

188. Urges States to support the activities of regional bodies or centres which combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance where they exist in their region, and recommends the establishment of such bodies or centres in all regions where they do not exist. These bodies or centres may undertake the following activities, amongst others: assess and follow up the situation of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and of individuals or groups of individuals who are victims thereof or subject thereto; identify trends, issues and problems; collect, disseminate and exchange information, inter alia relevant to the outcome of the regional conferences and the World Conference, and build networks to these ends; highlight examples of good practices; organize awareness-raising campaigns; develop proposals, solutions and preventive measures, where possible and appropriate, through joint efforts by coordinating with the United Nations, regional organizations and States and national human rights institutions;

189. Urges international organizations, within their mandates, to contribute to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

190. Encourages financial and development institutions and the operational programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations, in accordance with their regular budgets and the procedures of their governing bodies:

    (a) To assign particular priority and allocate sufficient funding, within their areas of competence and budgets, to improve the situation of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to combat manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to include them in the development and implementation of projects concerning them;
    (b) To integrate human rights principles and standards into their policies and programmes;
    (c) To consider including in their regular reporting to their boards of governors information on their contribution to promoting the participation of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance within their programmes and activities, and information on the efforts taken to facilitate such participation and to ensure that these policies and practices contribute to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
    (d) To examine how their policies and practices affect victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to ensure that these policies and practices contribute to the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

191.

    (a) Calls upon States to elaborate action plans in consultation with national human rights institutions, other institutions created by law to combat racism, and civil society and to provide the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with such action plans and other relevant materials on the measures undertaken in order to implement provisions of the present Declaration and the Programme of Action;
    (b) Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in follow-up to the Conference, to cooperate with five independent eminent experts, one from each region, appointed by the Secretary-General from among candidates proposed by the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, after consultation with the regional groups, to follow the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration and Programme of Action. An annual progress report on the implementation of these provisions will be presented by the High Commissioner to the Commission on Human Rights and to the General Assembly, taking into account information and views provided by States, relevant human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations, international, regional and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions;
    (c) Welcomes the intention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish, within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, an anti-discrimination unit to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promote equality and non-discrimination, and invites her to consider the inclusion in its mandate of, inter alia, the compilation of information on racial discrimination and its development, and on legal and administrative support and advice to victims of racial discrimination and the collection of background materials provided by States, international, regional and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions under the follow-up mechanism of the Conference;
    (d) Recommends that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with States, international, regional and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, create a database containing information on practical means to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, particularly international and regional instruments and national legislation, including anti-discrimination legislation, as well as legal means to combat racial discrimination; remedies available through international mechanisms to victims of racial discrimination, as well as national remedies; educational and preventive programmes implemented in various countries and regions; best practices to address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; opportunities for technical cooperation; and academic studies and specialized documents; and ensure that such a database is as accessible as possible to those in authority and the public at large, through its Web site and by other appropriate means;

192. Invites the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue to organize high-level and other meetings on the Dialogue among Civilizations and, for this purpose, to mobilize funds and promote partnerships;

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

193. Encourages the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue and expand the appointment and designation of goodwill ambassadors in all countries of the world in order, inter alia, to promote respect for human rights and a culture of tolerance and to increase the level of awareness about the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

194. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue its efforts further to increase awareness of the work of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the other United Nations human rights treaty bodies;

195. Invites the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in consultation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and non-governmental organizations active in the field of the promotion and protection of human rights, to undertake regular consultations with them and to encourage research activities aimed at collecting, maintaining and adapting the technical, scientific, educational and information materials produced by all cultures around the world to fight racism;

196. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to pay special attention to violations of the human rights of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular migrants, including migrant workers, to promote international cooperation in combating xenophobia and, to this end, to develop programmes which can be implemented in countries on the basis of appropriate cooperation agreements;

197. Invites States to assist the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in developing and funding, upon the request of States, specific technical cooperation projects aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

198.

    (a) Invites the Commission on Human Rights to include in the mandates of the special rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission, in particular the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, recommendations that they consider the relevant provisions of the Declaration and the Programme of Action while exercising their mandates, in particular reporting to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, and also to consider any other appropriate means to follow up on the outcome on the Conference;
    (b) Calls upon States to cooperate with the relevant special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights and other mechanisms of the United Nations in matters pertaining to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular with the special rapporteurs, independent experts and special representatives;

199. Recommends that the Commission on Human Rights prepare complementary international standards to strengthen and update international instruments against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in all their aspects;

Decades

200. Urges States and the international community to support the activities of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

201. Recommends that the General Assembly consider declaring a United Nations year or decade against trafficking in persons, especially in women, youth and children, in order to protect their dignity and human rights;

202. Urges States, in close cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to promote the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and the objectives of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, which started in 2001, and invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to contribute to these activities;

Indigenous peoples

203. Recommends that the United Nations Secretary-General conduct an evaluation of the results of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995-2004) and make recommendations concerning how to mark the end of the Decade, including an appropriate follow-up;

204. Requests States to ensure adequate funding for the establishment of an operational framework and a firm basis for the future development of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues within the United Nations system;

205. Urges States to cooperate with the work of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the Special Rapporteur is provided with all the necessary human, technical and financial resources to fulfil his responsibilities;

206. Calls upon States to conclude negotiations on and approve as soon as possible the text of the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, under discussion by the working group of the Commission on Human Rights to elaborate a draft declaration, in accordance with Commission resolution 1995/32 of 3 March 1995;

207. Urges States, in the light of the relationship between racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and poverty, marginality and social exclusion of peoples and individuals at both the national and international levels, to enhance their policies and measures to reduce income and wealth inequalities and to take appropriate steps, individually and through international cooperation, to promote and protect economic, social and cultural rights on a non-discriminatory basis;

208. Urges States and international financial and development institutions to mitigate any negative effects of globalization by examining, inter alia, how their policies and practices affect national populations in general and indigenous peoples in particular; by ensuring that their policies and practices contribute to the eradication of racism through the participation of national populations and, in particular, indigenous peoples in development projects; by further democratizing international financial institutions; and by consulting with indigenous peoples on any matter that may affect their physical, spiritual or cultural integrity;

209. Invites financial and development institutions and the operational programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations, in accordance with their regular budgets and the procedures of their governing bodies:

    (a) To assign particular priority to and allocate sufficient funding, within their areas of competence, to the improvement of the status of indigenous peoples, with special attention to the needs of these populations in developing countries, including the preparation of specific programmes with a view to achieving the objectives of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People;
    (b) To carry out special projects, through appropriate channels and in collaboration with indigenous peoples, to support their initiatives at the community level and to facilitate the exchange of information and technical know-how between indigenous peoples and experts in these areas;

Civil society

210. Calls upon States to strengthen cooperation, develop partnerships and consult regularly with non-governmental organizations and all other sectors of the civil society to harness their experience and expertise, thereby contributing to the development of legislation, policies and other governmental initiatives, as well as involving them more closely in the elaboration and implementation of policies and programmes designed to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

211. Urges leaders of religious communities to continue to confront racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance through, inter alia, promotion and sponsoring of dialogue and partnerships to bring about reconciliation, healing and harmony within and among societies, invites religious communities to participate in promoting economic and social revitalization and encourages religious leaders to foster greater cooperation and contact between diverse racial groups;

212. Urges States to establish and strengthen effective partnerships with and provide support, as appropriate, to all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations working to promote gender equality and the advancement of women, particularly women subject to multiple discrimination, and to promote an integrated and holistic approach to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls;

Non-governmental organizations

213. Urges States to provide an open and conducive environment to enable non-governmental organizations to function freely and openly within their societies and thereby make an effective contribution to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance throughout the world, and to promote a wider role for grass-roots organizations;

214. Calls upon States to explore means to expand the role of non-governmental organizations in society through, in particular, deepening the ties of solidarity amongst citizens and promoting greater trust across racial and social class divides by promoting wider citizen involvement and more voluntary cooperation;

The private sector

215. Urges States to take measures, including, where appropriate, legislative measures, to ensure that transnational corporations and other foreign enterprises operating within their national territories conform to precepts and practices of non-racism and non-discrimination, and further encourages the business sector, including transnational corporations and foreign enterprises, to collaborate with trade unions and other relevant sectors of civil society to develop voluntary codes of conduct for all businesses, designed to prevent, address and eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

Youth

216. Urges States to encourage the full and active participation of, as well as involve more closely, youth in the elaboration, planning and implementation of activities to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and calls upon States, in partnership with non-governmental organizations and other sectors of society, to facilitate both national and international youth dialogue on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, through the World Youth Forum of the United Nations system and through the use of new technologies, exchanges and other means;

217. Urges States to encourage and facilitate the establishment and maintenance of youth mechanisms, set up by youth organizations and young women and men themselves, in the spirit of combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, through such activities as: disseminating and exchanging information and building networks to these ends; organizing awareness-raising campaigns and participating in multicultural education programmes; developing proposals and solutions, where possible and appropriate; cooperating and consulting regularly with non-governmental organizations and other actors in civil society in developing initiatives and programmes that promote intercultural exchange and dialogue;

218. Urges States, in cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, the International Olympic Committee and international and regional sports federations, to intensify the fight against racism in sport by, among other things, educating the youth of the world through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires human understanding, tolerance, fair play and solidarity;

219. Recognizes that the success of this Programme of Action will require political will and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels, and international cooperation.

Notes:

1.For the purpose of this Declaration and Programme of Action, it was understood that the term "gender" refers to the two sexes, male and female, within the context of society. The term "gender" does not indicate any meaning different from the above.

2.Reference should be made to chapter VII of the report of the Conference, which lists all the reservations to and statements on the Declaration and the Programme of Action.

Resolutions adopted by the Conference

Resolution 1
Credentials of representatives to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance*

The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,

Having considered the report of the Credentials Committee and the recommendation contained therein,

Approves the report of the Credentials Committee.

* Adopted at the 16th plenary meeting, on 5 September 2001.

Resolution 2
Submission of the report of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance**

The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,

Having met in Durban from 31 August to 8 September 2001,

Requests its President to submit the report of the World Conference to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session.

** Adopted at the 20th plenary meeting, on 8 September 2001.

Resolution 3
Expression of thanks to the host country**

We, the representatives of States participating in this World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,

Having met in Durban from 31 August to 8 September 2001,

1. Reiterate our tribute to the heroic struggle of the South African people for freedom, equality and dignity;

2. Commend the action of the Head of State, the Government and the people of South Africa, resolutely engaged in the building of a harmonious society, mobilized for the noble principle of reconciliation, in spite of the injustices of the past;

3. Express our gratitude and our admiration for the masterly control, competence and devotion shown by Mrs. Zuma, Chairperson of our Conference, which contributed decisively to the success of our deliberations;

4. Express our gratitude to South Africa for having hosted the World Conference, a major world meeting point, whose theme embodies the humanist values in their most accomplished expression, and for having made, within this framework, considerable efforts to create the conditions conducive to the success of this Conference, thanks to the sense of responsibility, cooperation, dialogue and perseverance which guided its approach throughout our deliberations.

** Adopted at the 20th plenary meeting, on 8 September 2001.

Resolution 4
Expression of thanks to Mrs. Mary Robinson*

We, the representatives of States participating in this World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,

Having met in Durban from 31 August to 8 September 2001,

1. Express our deep gratitude and all our esteem and consideration to Mrs. Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference, whose action was constantly guided by the concern to make the cause of human rights triumph;

2. Support Mrs. Mary Robinson for having impelled, with conviction and perseverance, the action of the United Nations in the area of human rights, through, particularly, an approach based on open-mindedness, dialogue and cooperation;

3. Express to Mrs. Mary Robinson, as Secretary-General of the World Conference, our appreciative thanks for the tireless efforts she made during the preparatory process and during the Conference for the success of this major rendezvous.

* Adopted at the 20th plenary meeting, on 8 September 2001.

CHAPTER II.
ATTENDANCE AND ORGANIZATION OF WORK

A. Date and place of the Conference

1. The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance was held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, in conformity with General Assembly resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997. During that period the Conference held 20 plenary meetings.

B. Opening of the Conference

2. The Conference was declared opened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan. The inaugural address of the Secretary-General is contained in annex II to the present report.

C. Attendance

3. The following States were represented at the Conference:

  • Afghanistan
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cape Verde
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Comoros
  • Congo
  • Costa Rica
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Croatia
  • Cuba
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark
  • Dominican Republic Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Estonia
  • Ethiopia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Holy See
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Mali
  • Malta
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Mongolia
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Korea
  • Republic of Moldova
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Swaziland
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
  • Togo
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela
  • Viet Nam
  • Yemen
  • Yugoslavia
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

4. On Monday, 3 September 2001, the delegations of Israel and the United States of America withdrew from the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

5. The following other entities were represented: Palestine

6. The following organizations that have received a standing invitation from the General Assembly to participate as observers in the sessions and work of all international conferences held under the auspices of the General Assembly were represented at the Conference:

  • Andean Community
  • Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization
  • Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries
  • Council of Europe
  • European Community
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  • Inter-American Development Bank
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • International Organization for Migration
  • International Organization of la Francophonie
  • League of Arab States
  • Organization of African Unity
  • Organization of American States
  • Organization of the Islamic Conference
  • Southern African Development Community
  • Sovereign Military Order of Malta

7. The following associate members of regional commissions were represented: United States Virgin Islands

8. The following specialized agencies were represented:

  • International Labour Organization International Monetary Fund
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • World Bank
  • World Health Organization
  • World Intellectual Property Organization

9. The following intergovernmental organizations and other entities were represented: The International Olympic Committee

10. The following United Nations organs, bodies, programmes and relevant mechanisms, including human rights bodies and mechanisms were represented:

(a) United Nations programmes and funds

  • Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • United Nations Children's Fund
  • United Nations Development Programme
  • United Nations Development Fund for Women
  • United Nations Environment Programme
  • United Nations Population Fund

(b) Other United Nations entities

  • United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) United Nations University

    (c) Research and training institutes

  • United Nations Institute for Training and Research United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

    (d) Regional commissions

    • Economic Commission for Africa Economic Commission for Europe
    • Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

    (e) Human rights bodies and mechanisms Commission on Human Rights

    • Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Human Rights Committee Committee against Torture
    • Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Committee on the Rights of the Child
    • Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Working Group on Minorities of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
    • Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
    • Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief
    • Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants
    • Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
    • Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people
    • Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences
    • Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on human rights and extreme poverty

    11. The following national human rights institutions were represented:

    • Canadian Human Rights Commission
    • Centre de promotion des droits de la personne humaine et prevention du genocide, Burundi
    • Comisionado Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, Honduras
    • Comite Senegalais des droits de l'homme
    • Comite superieur des droits de l'homme et des libertes fondamentales, Tunisia
    • Commissariat aux droits de l'homme a la lutte contre la pauvrete et l'insertion, Mauritania
    • Commission federale contre le racisme, Switzerland
    • Commission national des droits de l'homme du Togo
    • Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme, France
    • Commission nationale des droits de l'homme et des liberies fondamentales, Niger
    • Commission nationale des droits de l'homme, Chad
    • Commission nationale des droits de l'homme, Madagascar
    • Commission nationale des droits de l'homme, Rwanda
    • Commission nationale pour les droits de l'homme, Greece
    • Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Ghana
    • Commission on Human Rights, Philippines
    • Conseil consultatif des droits de l'homme, Morocco
    • Danish Center for Human Rights
    • Defensoria del Pueblo de Colombia
    • Defensoria del Pueblo, Peru
    • Defensoria del Pueblo, Venezuela
    • Defensor de Pueblo de Argentina
    • Fiji Human Rights Commission
    • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Australia
    • Human Rights Commission of Ireland
    • Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
    • Human Rights Commission, Mauritius
    • Human Rights Commission, New Zealand
    • Human Rights Commission, Sri Lanka
    • Malawi Human Rights Commission
    • Mexican National Human Rights Commission
    • National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, Cameroon
    • National Commission on Human Rights, Indonesia
    • National Human Rights Commission, India
    • National Human Rights Commission, Nepal
    • National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria
    • National Ombudsman of Ukraine
    • Office of Public Defender of Georgia
    • Ombudsman against Ethnic Discrimination, Sweden
    • Permanent Human Rights Commission, Zambia
    • Procuraduria de los Derechos Humanos de Guatemala
    • Republic of Albania People's Advocate
    • South African Human Rights Commission
    • Standing Committee on Human Rights, Kenya
    • The Danish Board for Ethnic Equality
    • The National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia
    • The Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizen's Rights
    • Uganda Human Rights Commission

    12. A large number of non-governmental organizations attended the Conference. The list of non-governmental organizations accredited to participate in the Conference is contained in document A/CONF.189/INF.1. Information on parallel and associated activities, including those organized by non-governmental organizations, is contained in annex V to the present report.

    D. Election of the President of the Conference

    13. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, the Conference elected, by acclamation, as President of the Conference, Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (South Africa). The inaugural address of the President of the Conference is contained in annex II to the present report.

    E. Opening addresses

    14. Opening addresses were made by the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Thabo Mbeki; the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Harri Holkeri; and the Secretary-General of the World Conference, Mrs. Mary Robinson. Their opening addresses are contained in annex II to the present report.

    F. Messages from heads of State and other personalities

    15. The Conference received congratulatory messages from His Excellency Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Republic of Tunisia, and His Excellency Mr. Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa.

    G. Adoption of the rules of procedure

    16. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, the Conference adopted as its rules of procedure the provisional rules of procedure (A/CONF.189/2), as recommended by the Preparatory Committee for the Conference at its first session in its decision PC.1/4 of 4 May 2000.

    H. Election of officers other than the President

    17. At the 1st and 2nd plenary meetings, on 31 August and 1 September 2001, the Conference, in accordance with rule 17 of its rules of procedure, elected the following other officers:

  • 21 Vice-Presidents (by regional groups):
      African States: Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia Asian States: China, India, Iraq, Pakistan Eastern European States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia Latin American and Caribbean States: Barbados, Chile, Cuba, Mexico Western European and other States: Belgium, Canada, Norway, Sweden

  • Rapporteur-General of the World Conference:
      Ms. Edna Maria Santos Roland (Brazil)

  • Main Committee:
      Chairperson: Mr. Claudio Moreno (Italy)

  • Drafting Committee:
      Chairperson: Mr. Ali Khorram (Islamic Republic of Iran)

    I. Adoption of the agenda of the Conference

    18. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, the Conference adopted as its agenda the provisional agenda (A/CONF.189/1), as recommended by the Preparatory Committee for the Conference at its third session in its decision PC.3/2 of 10 August 2001, and as revised by the Conference. The agenda as adopted is as follows:

    1. Opening of the Conference.
    2. Election of the President.
    3. Opening addresses.
    4. Adoption of the rules of procedure.
    5. Election of the other officers of the Conference.
    6. Credentials of representatives to the Conference.

      (a) Appointment of the Credentials Committee;
      (b) Report of the Credentials Committee.
    7. Adoption of the agenda.
    8. Organization of work.
    9. Conference themes:
      Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

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

      Measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels;

      Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, compensatory* and other measures at the national, regional and international levels;

      Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation, and enhancement of United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and follow-up.

    10. Adoption of the final document and the report of the Conference.

    * The use of the word "compensatory" is without prejudice to any outcome of this Conference.

    J. Organization of work, including establishment of the Main Committee and the Drafting Committee of the Conference and its two working groups (Working Group on the Draft Declaration and Working Group on the Draft Programme of Action)

    19. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, in conformity with rule 47 of the rules of procedure of the Conference, the Conference established the Main Committee and the Drafting Committee, including its two working groups: the Working Group on the Draft Declaration and the Working Group on the Draft Programme of Action.

    K. Appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee

    20. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, in conformity with rule 4 of its rules of procedure, the Conference established a Credentials Committee composed of the following States: Bahamas, China, Ecuador, Gabon, Ireland, Mauritius, Russian Federation, Thailand, United States of America.

    L. Other matters

    21. The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance concluded its work on 8 September 2001. It was initially scheduled to end on 7 September 2001.

    CHAPTER III.
    GENERAL DEBATE

    1. At its 2nd to 19th meetings, held from 1 to 7 September 2001, the Conference held a general debate on agenda item 9 relating to the following themes: (i) sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (ii) victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (iii) measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels; (iv) provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, compensatory* and other measures at the national, regional and international levels; (v) strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation, and enhancement of United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and follow-up.

    2. Representatives of States and other entities, intergovernmental organizations, regional commissions and associate members of regional commissions, specialized agencies, United Nations organs, bodies and programmes and relevant mechanisms, including human rights bodies and mechanisms, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations addressed the Conference.

    3. At the 2nd meeting, on 1 September, the Conference heard statements by the President of State of the Republic of Latvia, H.E. Ms. Vaira Vike-Freiberga; the President of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika; the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; the President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye Wade; the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, H.E. Mr. Pedro Pires; the President of the Togolese Republic, H.E. Mr. Gnassingbe Eyadema; the President of the Republic of Cuba, H.E. Mr. Fidel Castro; the President of the Republic of the Congo, H.E. Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso; the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique, H.E. Mr. Pascoal Mocumbi; the Vice-President of the Gabonese Republic, H.E. Mr. Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge; and the President of the Palestinian Authority, H.E. Mr. Yasser Arafat.

    4. At the 3rd meeting, on 1 September, the Conference heard statements by the Second Vice-President of the Republic of Panama, H.E. Mr. Dominador Kaiser Bazan; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, H.E. Mr. Louis Michel (on behalf of the European Union; Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey aligned themselves with the statement); the Minister of Industry, Employment and Communications of Sweden, H.E. Ms. Mona Sahlin; the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, H.E. Ms. Jeljka Antunovic; the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, H.E. Mr. Lubomir Fogas; the Minister of Planning and Cooperation of Chile, H.E. Ms. Alejandra Krauss Valle; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania, H.E. Mr. Dah Ould Abdi; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Mr. Joschka Fischer; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein, H.E. Mr. Ernst Walch; the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations; Associate Minister of Justice of New Zealand, H.E. Ms. Margaret Wilson; and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of Ireland, H.E. Mr. John O'Donoghue.

    5. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Chairperson of the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Leandro Despouy; the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Mark Malloch Brown; and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Ruud Lubbers.

    6. At the 4th meeting, on 1 September, the Conference heard statements by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia, H.E. Mr. Goran Svilanovic; the Minister Delegate for Cooperation and Francophonie of France, H.E. Mr. Charles Josselin; the Minister of Labour of Finland, H.E. Ms. Tarja Filatov; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, H.E. Dr. Dimitrij Rupel; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy, H.E. Mr. Renato Ruggiero; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Mauritius, H.E. Mr. Anil K. Gayan; the Minister of the Interior of Denmark, H.E. Ms. Karen Jespersen; the Minister of Social Affairs of Iceland, H.E. Mr. Pall Petursson; the Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Mr. Mohammed bin Nukhaira Al Dahri; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Dr. Kamal Kharrazi; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Andorra, H.E. Mr. Juli Minoves-Triquell; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, H.E. Mr. Joseph Philippe Antonio; the Minister for Social Affairs of Nicaragua, H.E. Ms. Jamileth Bonilla; the Minister for Ethnic Affairs of Estonia, H.E. Ms. Katrin Saks; the Minister of Justice of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Jose Gregori; the Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, H.E. Ms. Elissavet Papazoi; and the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka and Deputy Chairman of the National Planning Commission of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Lakshman Jayakody.

    7. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, Ms. Carol Bellamy.

    8. At the 5th meeting, on 1 September, the Conference heard statements by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Spain, H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Aparicio Perez; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Abdul Sattar; the Minister of Justice of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Worede-Wold Wolde; the Minister of Communication and Spokesman of the Government of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Luc Rukingama; the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Argentina, H.E. Dr. Jorge Enrique de la Rua; the Secretary of State of Canada (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women), H.E. The Honourable Hedy Fry; the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Human Rights, Communications and Relations with the Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Slaheddine Maaoui; the State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, H.E. Mr. Mihnea Motoc; the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, H.E. Mr. Albert Rohan; the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, H.E. Ms. Grazyna Bernatowicz; the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, H.E. Dr. Oskaras Jusys; the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, H.E. Mr. Phongsavath Boupha; the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs of Australia, H.E. The Honourable Senator Kay Paterson; the Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman, H.E. Mr. Sayyid Badr Hamad al Bu Saidi; the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, H.E. Mr. Zainul Abidin Mohamed Rasheed; and the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Mr. Shihan Madi.

    9. At the same meeting, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of Greece and Turkey.

    10. At the 6th meeting, on 2 September, the Conference heard statements by the Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Mr. Jozo Krizanovic; the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Jacob Zuma; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Jan Kavan; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Benaissa; the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Vahram Kazhoyan, on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Maher El Sayed; the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra; the Minister for Home Affairs of Bhutan, H.E. Mr. Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho; the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah; and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and African Integration of Benin, H.E. Mr. Kolawole A. Idji.

    11. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, H.E. Mr. Amre Moussa; and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, H.E. Mr. Said Djinnit.

    12. Also at the 6th meeting, statements were made by the President of the Economic and Social Council, Mr. Martin Belinga-Eboutou; and the Vice-President of the World Bank for United Nations External Affairs, Mr. Mats Karlsson.

    13. At the 7th meeting, on 2 September, the Conference heard statements by the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia, H.E. The Honourable Enoch P. Kavindele; the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland, H.E. The Honourable Arthur R.V. Khoza; the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Luxembourg, H.E. Ms. Lydie Polfer; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. The Honourable Jakaya M. Kikwete; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Kenya, H.E. The Honourable Christopher M. Obure; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lesotho, H.E. The Honourable Motsoahae Thomas Thabane; the Minister of State for External Affairs of India, H.E. Mr. Omar Abdullah; the Minister of Gender Equality of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Ms. Han Myeong-Sook; the Minister of Justice and Public Order of Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Nicos Koshis; the Minister of Justice of the Sudan, H.E. Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yasin; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, H.E. Mr. Luis Alfonso Davila Garcia; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malawi, H.E. The Honourable Lilian E. Patel; and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic, H.E. Mr. Farouk Al-Shara.

    14. At the same meeting, a statement was made by the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Mr. Juan Somavia.

    15. Also at the 7th meeting, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

    16. At the 8th meeting, on 2 September, the Conference heard statements by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Angola, H.E. Mr. Georges Chikoti; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jamaica, H.E. Mr. Stafford Neil; the President of the Citizen Studies Commission against Discrimination of Mexico, H.E. Mr. Gilberto Rincon Gallardo; the Minister for Africa of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Baroness Amos of Brondesbury; the Minister for Urban Policy and Integration of Ethnic Minorities of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Roger van Boxtel; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, H.E. Mr. Ali Said Abdella; the Minister of Justice of Namibia, H.E. The Honourable Dr. Ernst N. Tjiriange; the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, H.E. Dr. A. Abdullah; the Minister of Justice and Public Liberty of Cote d'Ivoire, H.E. Mr. Oula'i Siene; the Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E. Mr. Ntumba Luaba Lumu; the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Human Rights of Burkina Faso, H.E. Ms. Monique Ilboudo; the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Wang Guangya; the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E. Ms. Kaori Maruya; the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Hungary, H.E. Mr. Ivan Baba; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Torki bin Mohammed Al-Kaber; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Serguei Ordzhonikidze.

    17. At the same meeting, a statement was made by the Director-General of the European Commission, Ms. Odile Quintin (on behalf of the European Community).

    18. At the 9th meeting, on 3 September, the Conference heard statements by the Minister of International Development of Norway, H.E. Ms. Anne Kristin Sydnes; the High Commissioner of Belize to the United Kingdom, H.E. Mr. Assad Shoman; the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, H.E. Ms. Elayne Whyte Gomez; the State Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, H.E. Mr. Viktor Gaber; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana, H.E. Mr. Alhaji Mustapha Idris; the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Zouheir Hamdan; the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Mr. Samuel T. Ramel; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to South Africa, H.E. Mr. Igor Turyansky; the Deputy Director of the Treaty-Legal Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Tofig Musayev; the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Mr. Toufiq Ali; the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies of Barbados, H.E. Mr. Hilary Beckles; the High Commissioner of Guyana to the United Kingdom, H.E. Mr. L.K.N. Singh; and the Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, H.E. Mr. Mordechai Yedid.

    19. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, H.E. Mr. Walter Schwimmer, and the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, H.E. Mr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz.

    20. At the 10th meeting, on 3 September, the Conference heard statements by the Director of the Presidential Office, Deputy Head of the Supreme National Committee for Human Rights of Yemen, H.E. Mr. Ali Mohammed Al-Anisi; the Secretary-General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Albania, H.E. Mr. Eduard Sulo; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Petko Draganov; the Minister of Justice of Zimbabwe, H.E. The Honourable P.A. Chinamasa; the Secretary of the General People's Committee of African Unity of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, H.E. Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treiki; the Minister of Labour and Social Security of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Alikhan Baymenov; the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Binh; the Advisor and Special Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Pracha Guna-Kasem; and the Under-Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, H.E. Mr. Abdul Rahman H. Al-Attiyah.

    21. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Mr. Pierre Sane; the Vice-President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Mr. Ali Bandiare; the Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization, Mr. Wafik Kamil; the Permanent Observer of the International Organization of Francophonie to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Mr. Xavier Michel; the Chief of the Division of International Organizations of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Francis Amar; the Director of the Legal Affairs and Executive Office of the International Organization for Migration, Mr. Richard C. Perruchoud; and the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Chairperson of the thirteenth meeting of the Chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies, Mr. Michael E. Sherifis.

    22. Also at the 10th meeting, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of Cyprus, Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey. At the same meeting, a statement in exercise of the right of reply was made by the observer for Palestine.

    23. At the 11th meeting, on 3 September, the Conference heard statements by the High Commissioner for Immigration and Ethnic Minorities of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Jose Leitao; the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Mr. Samir Al-Nima; the Ambassador on Special Mission of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Mr. Ruben Silie; the head of delegation of the State of Bahrain, H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Ali Al-Majed; the Director for Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, H.E. Ms. Soledad Villara; the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Mr. Murat Sungar; the Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Mr. Ram Simkhada; the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin; the head of delegation of Ecuador, H.E. Mr. Francisco Proano Arandi; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Comoros, H.E. Mr. Souef Mohamed El-Amine; the Minister for Home Affairs of Malta, H.E. The Honourable Tonio Borg; and the Minister, Director of the National Agrarian Institute of Honduras, H.E. Mr. Anibal Delgado Fiallos.

    24. At the same meeting, a statement was made by the head of the delegation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, H.E. Mr. Mark J. Wolff.

    25. Also at the 11th meeting, a statement was made by the Deputy Executive Director (Management) of the United Nations Population Fund, Ms. Imelda Henkin.

    26. At the 12th meeting, on 4 September, statements were made by the President of the Conference, H.E. Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the Secretary-General of the Conference and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson.

    27. Also at the 12th meeting, the Conference heard statements by the Attorney-General and Secretary of State for Justice of the Gambia, H.E. The Honourable Joseph Henry Joof; the Minister of Justice and Institutional Relations of Rwanda, H.E. Mr. Jean de Dieu Mucyo; the head of delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. Ri Yong Ho; the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belarus, H.E. Mr. Alyaksandr Sychov; the Deputy Minister for Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia, H.E. Mr. Munkh-Orgil Tsend; the Minister of Information of Malaysia, H.E. The Honourable Mohd Khalil Yaakob; the Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, H.E. Mr. Alhaj Fode M. Dabor; the head of the delegation of Colombia, H.E. Mr. Jaime Giron Duarte; the representative of the Royal Government of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Hor Lat; and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Fijian Affairs of Fiji, H.E. Mr. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

    28. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Ms. Frene Ginwala (on behalf of the Inter-Parliamentary Union); the Deputy Executive Director of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Ms. Mariam Al-Awadhi; the representative of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Martin Hopenhayn; the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Ms. Leila Ben Barka; and the representative of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), Mr. Joseph Igbinedion.

    29. Also at the 12th meeting, a statement in exercise of the right of reply was made by the representative of Armenia.

    30. At the 13th meeting, on 4 September, the Conference heard statements by the High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, H.E. The Honourable Patrick Edwards; the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration of Botswana, H.E. The Honourable Thebe D. Mogami; the head of delegation of Tuvalu, H.E. Mr. Iftikahar Ahmad Ayaz; the Permanent Representative of Madagascar to the United Nations Office at Geneva, H.E. Mr. Maxime Zafera.

    31. At the same meeting, statements were made by the Minister of State for External Affairs of the United States Virgin Islands, H.E. Mr. Carlyle G. Corbin; the Executive Secretary of the Community of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries, Ms. Dulce Maria Pereira; the Vice-President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Ms. K. Burke Dillon; the Vice-President of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Mr. M. Kamel Rezag-Bara; the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Mr. Peter Piot; the Director, HIV/AIDS-Strategy, Advocacy and Partnerships, of the World Health Organization, Ms. Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho; and the Human Rights Advisor for Women of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Ms. Roxana Carrillo.

    32. Also at the 13th meeting, statements were made by the Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Ms. Erica-Irene Daes; the Vice-Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, Mr. Hipolito Solari Yrigoyen; the Chairperson of the Working Group on Minorities of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Mr. Asbj0rn Eide; and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia of the Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Glele Ahanhanzo.

    33. At the 13th meeting, Ms. Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, made a statement.

    34. Also at the 13th meeting, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

    35. At the 14th meeting, on 4 September, statements were made by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of the Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Abdelfattah Amor; the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants of the Commission on Human Rights, Ms. Gabriela Rodriguez Pizarro; and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences of the Commission on Human Rights, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy.

    36. Also at the 14th meeting, a statement was made by the Director of the International Cooperation Department of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Fekrou Kidane.

    37. At the same meeting, the Conference heard statements by the designated spokesperson for national institutions, Mr. Barney Pityana; the Chairperson of the Malawi Human Rights Commission, Mr. Alfred Nsope; the Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Ms. Michelle Falardeau-Ramsay; the representative of the Director of the Danish Centre for Human Rights, Mr. George Ulrich; the President of the Consultative Council for Human Rights of Morocco, Mr. Driss Dahak; the President of the National Human Rights Commission of Togo, Mr. Komi Gnondoli; the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Rwanda, Mr. Gasana Ndoba; the President of the National Human Rights Commission of Madagascar, Mr. Justin Rakotonidina; the Chairperson of the Philippine Human Rights Commission, Ms. Aurora P. Navarrete-Recina; the Ombudsman of Colombia, Mr. Eduardo Cifuentes; the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Mr. Faiuz Mustapha; the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, Mr. Justice Uche Omo; the Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms of Cameroon, Mr. Solomon Nfor Gwei; the Race Relations Conciliator of New Zealand, Mr. Gregory Fortuin; the Acting Race Discrimination Commissioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commission, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission of Australia, Mr. William Jonas; and the Vice-President of the National Consultative Commission for Human Rights of France, Ms. Martine Valdes-Boulouque.

    38. Also at the 14th meeting, a statement in exercise of the right of reply was made by the representative of the Sudan.

    39. At the 15th meeting, on 5 September, the Conference heard statements by the Minister of Cooperation of Guinea, H.E. Mr. Mory Kaba; the Deputy Secretary of the Presidency for Women's Affairs of Guatemala, H.E. Ms. Gloria Dominga Tecun Canil; the Secretary of State of Switzerland, H.E. Ms. Claudia Kaufmann; the Deputy Minister of Justice and Worship of Equatorial Guinea, Ms. Evangelina Filomena Oyo Ebule; the Under-Secretary of Multilateral and Special Affairs of Peru, H.E. Mr. Hernan Couturier; the Special Adviser to the President of Suriname, H.E. Mr. Willem Udenhout; and Senator Francis Garlawolu of Liberia.

    40. At the same meeting, a statement was made by Mr. Mario Yutzis, member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

    41. Also at the 15th meeting, the Conference heard statements by the Vice-President of the Swiss Federal Commission against Racism, Ms. Cecile Buhlmann; the Deputy Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Ms. Shirley Mabusela; the Vice-President of the Niger Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom National Commission, Ms. Mariama Cisse; the Fourth Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico, Mr. Rodolfo Lara Ponte; the Deputy Ombudsman against Ethnic Discrimination of Sweden, Ms. Katri Linna; the representative of the National Human Rights Commission of India, Mr. Justice K. Ramaswamy; the Commissioner of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mr. Joel Aliro-Omara; the Vice-President of the National Human Rights Commission of Greece, Mr. L.A. Sicilianos; the Commissioner of the Permanent Human Rights Commission of Zambia, Mr. Lewis Changufu; and Mr. Michael Farrell, member of the Irish Human Rights Commission.

    42. At the 16th meeting, on 5 September, the Conference heard statements by the Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Ms. Shaista Shameem; the Permanent Secretary of the Senegal Human Rights Committee, Mr. Alioune Ndiaye; the Director-General of the Office of the Public Defender of Venezuela, Mr. German Saltron Negretti; and the Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice of Ghana, Mr. Kenneth Attafuah.

    43. At the same meeting, the Conference heard statements by representatives of the following non-governmental organizations: International Steering Committee; International Youth Committee; Women's Caucus; Sexual Orientation Caucus; Linkage Caucus; Religious and Spiritual Caucus; Education Caucus; International and Oecumenical Caucus; Disability Caucus; African and African Descendants Caucus; Indigenous People's Caucus; Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (also on behalf of International Campaign for Tibet, International Fellowship of Reconciliation and Worldview International Foundation); Organization for Defending Victims of Violence; Centro de Culturas Indias y del Taller Permanente de Mujeres Indigenas y Amazonicas del Peru; Mehr White Home; Suara Rakyat Malaysia; Centre for Development Alternatives.

    44. Also at the 16th meeting, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of Australia, China, Mauritania, Mexico and Senegal.

    45. At the 17th meeting, on 6 September, the Conference heard statements by the Minister of Education and Culture of Uruguay, H.E. Mr. Antonio Mercader; and the Head of delegation of Mali, H.E. Mr.Louis Marie Bastide.

    46. At the same meeting, statements were made by representatives of the following non-governmental organizations: Islamic Women's Institute of Iran; Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (Thailand); All for Reparations and Emancipation (AFRE-CURE); Al-Khoei Foundation; Fraternity Notre-Dame; Canadian Hispanic Congress (Canada); Union des ecrivains et artistes de Cuba; European Roma Rights Centre (Hungary); Organization for the Solidarity of the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America; International Institute for Peace; Institute on Race, Health Care and the Law - University of Dayton (United States); International Save the Children Alliance; Human Rights Watch; World Alliance of Reformed Churches; Amnesty International; Grand Council of the Crees; Rights of Children (Guyana); Guyana Human Rights Association; Te Kawa Maro-Maori Organization; International Catholic Migration Commission; Human Rights Association of Turkey; Indian Movement "Tupaj Amaru"; Susila Dharma International Association; Asociacion Proyecto Caribe (Costa Rica); Mujeres Peruanas Unidas en Argentina; Espacio Afro-Americano; World Organization against Torture; Metis National Council.

    47. Also at the 17th meeting, statements in exercise of the right of reply were made by the representatives of Iraq and Malaysia.

    48. At the 18th meeting, on 6 September, statements were made by representatives of the following non-governmental organizations: Fundacion Ideas (Chile); International Confederation of Free Trade Unions; Fundacion Ecuatoriana de Accion y Educacion para la Promocion de la Salud (Ecuador); World Evangelical Fellowship; Samiraddi; International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development; Professional Institute for Advanced Wound Recovery (United States); International Federation of Social Workers; Minority Rights Group; European Network against Racism (Belgium); Sikh Human Rights Group (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO); Asian Descendant Caucus; Caribbean Caucus; International Criminal Justice Caucus; Race, Poverty and Globalization Caucus; Dalit Caucus; Palestinian Caucus; Eastern and Central Europe Caucus; Girl Child Caucus; Labour Caucus; Cultural Diversity Caucus; Asia Pacific Caucus; International Indian Treaty Council; Franciscans International (also on behalf of several other non-governmental organizations); Interfaith International (also on behalf of Forum against Islamophobia and Racism (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Sovereign Union of Aboriginal Peoples of Australia (Australia); Congres mondial Amazigh (France); CISM-Veneto; Inclusion International (International League of Societies for Persons with Mental Handicap); Academia Mexicana de los Derechos Humanos; World Sindhi Institute (United States of America).

    49. At the 19th meeting, on 7 September, statements were made by the following non-governmental organizations: World Confederation of Labour; African and African Descendant Women's Caucus; Service Peace and Justice in Latin America; Women's National Commission (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); The 1990 Trust (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); American Psychological Association; Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University; Africville Genealogy Society (Canada); Physicians for Human Rights; Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights; Association of Islamic Women Researchers; Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man; Committee on Women, Population and the Environment (United States of America); World Federation of Democratic Youth; Roma Centre for Public Policies "Aven amentza" (Romania); Women's Association Follower of Ahlul Bait; Pax Romana; African Canadian Coalition Against Racism (Canada); Women's Health in Women's Hands; Nucleo de Estudos Negros (Brazil); The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (also on behalf of the All China Women's Federation); China Society for Promotion of the Guangcai Programme (also on behalf of the United Nations Association of China); Christian International Possibilities Unlimited (United States of America); Centro de Estudos e Defensa do Negro do Para (Brazil); Union of Arab Community Based Associations - ITTIJAH (also on behalf of ADALAH - The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Israel)); Universal Day of Hope Trust; Uniao de Negros pela Igualdade (Brazil); Pan-Africa Movement (Barbados NGO Committee for World Conference); Youth against Racism.

    * The use of the word "compensatory" is without prejudice to any outcome of this Conference.

    CHAPTER IV.
    REPORT OF THE MAIN COMMITTEE

    1. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, the Conference approved the organization of its work, as set out in document A/CONF.189/3, including the establishment of the Main Committee.

    2. At the 2nd plenary meeting, on 1 September 2001, the Conference approved the nomination of Mr. Claudio Moreno (Italy) as Chairperson of the Main Committee.

    3. The Main Committee held three meetings, on 2, 7 and 8 September 2001.

    4. The Main Committee had before it the following documents:

      (a) Note by the Secretariat transmitting the provisional rules of procedure of the World Conference (A/CONF.189/2) adopted by the Conference at its 1st plenary meeting on 31 August 2001;
      (b) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the draft provisional programme of work of the World Conference (A/CONF.189/3) adopted by the Conference at its 1st plenary meeting on 31 August 2001;
      (c) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the draft declaration of the World Conference (A/CONF.189/4);
      (d) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the draft programme of action of the World Conference (A/CONF.189/5).

    5. The Main Committee, at its 1st meeting, on 2 September 2001, elected the following officers by acclamation:

      Vice-Chairpersons:

      Mr. Alexander Slabi (Czech Republic)
      Mr. Hernan Couturier (Peru)
      Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam (Sri Lanka)

    6. At the same meeting, on the proposal of the Chairperson, the Main Committee elected Ms. Najat Al-Hajjaji (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) as its Rapporteur by acclamation.

    7. At the same meeting, the Main Committee took note of the decision of the Drafting Committee that the draft declaration and the draft programme of action would be considered by two working groups of the Drafting Committee.

    Consideration of the draft declaration and the draft programme of action

    8. At the 2nd meeting, on 7 September, the Chairperson of the Main Committee announced that the Drafting Committee would continue, through its working groups, to consider paragraphs of the draft declaration and the draft programme of action that had not yet been adopted.

    9. At the 3rd meeting, on 8 September, the Main Committee considered the draft declaration and the draft programme of action agreed upon in the two working groups and in the Drafting Committee, submitted by the Chairperson of the Drafting Committee. The Main Committee had before it the paragraphs adopted by the Working Group on the Draft Declaration, contained in documents A/CONF.189/L.2, and L.2/Add.1 and a document without a symbol, and the paragraphs adopted by the Working Group on the Draft Declaration, contained in documents A/CONF.189/L.3 and L.3/Add.1 to 3 and a document without a symbol.

    10. At the same meeting, the Main Committee considered and approved the following new paragraphs introduced by the President of the Conference as a result of consultations. These paragraphs were subsequently incorporated in the draft declaration and draft programme of action:

    Paragraphs on issues of the past

      "DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION
      "Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

      "(Replaces paragraphs 10-18)

      "Para. 10: We acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, were appalling tragedies in the history of humanity not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms of their magnitude, organized nature and especially their negation of the essence of the victims and further acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so, especially the transatlantic slave trade and are among the major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous people were victims of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences.

      "Para. 11: The World Conference recognizes that colonialism has led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of colonialism and continue to be victims of its consequences. We acknowledge the suffering caused by colonialism and affirm that, wherever and whenever it occurred, it must be condemned at its recurrence prevented. We further regret that the effects and persistence of these structures and practices have been among the factors contributing to lasting social and economic inequalities in many parts of the world today.

      "Para. 12: The World Conference recognizes that apartheid and genocide in terms of international law constitute crimes against humanity and are major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and acknowledge the untold evil and suffering caused by these acts and affirms that wherever and whenever they occurred, they must be condemned and their recurrence prevented.

      "Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, compensatory and other measures at the national, regional and international levels

      "Para. 116: The World Conference acknowledges and profoundly regrets the massive human sufferings and the tragic plight of millions of men, women and children caused by slavery, slave trade, transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide and calls upon States concerned to honour the memory of the victims of past tragedies and affirms that wherever and whenever these occurred they must be condemned and their reoccurrence prevented. The World Conference regrets that these practices and structures, political, socio-economic and cultural, have led to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

      "Para. 117: The World Conference acknowledges and profoundly regrets the untold suffering and evils inflicted on millions of men, women and children as a result of slavery, slave trade, transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, genocide and past tragedies. The World Conference further notes that some States have taken the initiative to apologize and have paid reparation where appropriate, for grave and massive violations committed.

      "Para. 118: With a view to closing those dark chapters in History and as a means of reconciliation and healing, we invite the international community and its members to honour the memory of the victims of these tragedies. The World Conference further notes that some have taken the initiative of regretting or expressing remorse or presenting apologies, and calls on all those who have not yet contributed to restoring the dignity of the victims to find appropriate ways to do so and, to this end, we appreciate those countries that have done so.

      "Para. 119: The World Conference aware of the moral obligation on the part of all concerned States, calls on these States to take appropriate and effective measures to halt and reverse the lasting consequences of those practices.

      "Para. 121: The World Conference recognizes the consequences of past and contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as serious challenges to global peace and security, human dignity and the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms of many people in the world, in particular to Africans, people of African descent, people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples.

      "Para. 122: Guided by the principles set out in the Millennium Declaration and the recognition that we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity and to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, the International Community commits itself to working for thebeneficial integration of the developing countries into the global economy, resisting their marginalization, determined to achieve accelerated economic growth and sustainable development and to eradicate poverty, inequality and deprivation.

      "Para. 123: The World Conference emphasizes that remembering the crimes or wrongs of the past, wherever and whenever they occurred, unequivocally condemning its racist tragedies and telling the truth about history are essential elements for international reconciliation and the creation of societies based on justice, equality and solidarity.

      "Para. 124: The World Conference recognizes the efforts of developing countries, in particular the commitment and the determination of the African leaders to seriously address the challenges of poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparities, instability and insecurity, through initiative such as the New African Initiative and other innovative mechanisms such as the World Solidarity Fund for the Eradication of Poverty, and calls upon developed countries, the United Nations and its specialized agencies as well as international financial institutions to provide, through their operational programmes, new and additional financial resources as appropriate to support these initiatives.

      "Para. 125: The World Conference recognizes that these historical injustices have undeniably contributed to poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparities, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries. The World Conference recognizes the need to develop programmes for the social and economic development of these societies and the Diaspora within the framework of a new partnership based on the spirit of solidarity and mutual respect in the following areas:

        - Debt relief
        - Poverty eradication
        - Building or strengthening democratic institutions
        - Promotion of foreign direct investment
        - Market access
        - Intensifying efforts to meet the internationally agreed targets for Official Development Assistance (ODA) transfers to developing countries
        - New Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) bridging the digital divide
        - Agriculture and food security
        - Transfer of technology
        - Transparent and accountable governance
        - Investment in health infrastructure in tackling HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, including among others through the Global AIDS and Health Fund
        - Infrastructure development
        - Human resource development including capacity building
        - Education, training and cultural development
        - Mutual legal assistance in the repatriation of illegally obtained and illegally transferred (stashed) funds in accordance with national and international instruments
        - Illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons
        - Restitution of art objects, historical artefacts and documents to their countries of origin in accordance with bilateral agreements or international instruments
        - Trafficking in persons, particularly women and children
        - Facilitation of welcomed return and resettlement of the descendants of enslaved Africans.

      "Para. 126: The World Conference urges international financial and development institutions and the operational programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations to give greater priority to, and allocate appropriate funding for programmes addressing the development challenges of the affected States and societies, in particular those on the African Continent and in the Diaspora.

      "Para. 127: The World Conference salutes the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization made within the framework of the Slave Route Project, and requests that the outcome be made available for the international community as soon as possible.-----------

      Paragraphs on the Middle-East and related issues

      "DRAFT DECLARATION

      "1. We are conscious of the fact that the history of humanity is replete with major atrocities as a result of the gross violation of human rights and believe that lessons can be learned through remembering history to avert future tragedies.

      "2. We recall that the Holocaust must never be forgotten.

      "3. We recognize with deep concern religious intolerance against certain religious communities, as well as the emergence of hostile acts and violence against such communities because of their religious beliefs and their racial or ethnic origin in various parts of the world which in particular limit their right to freely practise their belief.

      "4. We also recognize with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities.

      "5. We are conscious that humanity's history is replete with terrible wrongs inflicted through lack of respect for the equality of human beings and note with alarm the increase of such practices in various parts of the world, and we urge people, particularly in conflict situations, to desist from racist incitement, derogatory language and negative stereotyping.

      "6. We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation. We recognize the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State and we recognize the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and call upon all States to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion.

      "7. We call for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region in which all peoples shall co-exist and enjoy equality, justice and internationally recognized human rights, and security.

      "8. We recognize the right of refugees to return voluntarily to their homes and properties in dignity and safety, and urge all States to facilitate such return.

      "DRAFT PROGRAMME OF ACTION

      "1. We believe that all conflicts and disputes should be resolved through peaceful means and political dialogue. We call on all parties involved in such conflicts to exercise restraint and to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

      "2. We call upon States, in opposing all forms of racism, to recognize the need to counter anti-Semitism, anti-Arabism and Islamophobia worldwide and urge all States to take effective measures to prevent the emergence of movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas concerning these communities.

      "3. As for the situation in the Middle-East, we call for the end of violence and the swift resumption of negotiations, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law, respect for the principle of self-determination and the end of all suffering, thus allowing Israel and the Palestinians to resume the peace process, and to develop and prosper in security and freedom."

    11. At the same meeting, the Main Committee also considered and approved a new paragraph introduced by the chair of the Main Committee as a result of consultations. This paragraph was subsequently incorporated in the draft declaration:

      "We recognize that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds such as sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, property, birth or other status;"

    12. At the same meeting, the Main Committee held a procedural discussion with regard to the paragraphs on which consensus had not been reached in the Drafting Committee. Statements were made by representatives of Armenia, Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

    13. The representative of the Syrian Arab Republic proposed that the Main Committee consider preambular paragraph 30 and operative paragraph 33 of the draft declaration and operative paragraph 179 of the draft programme of action, as contained in documents A/CONF.189/4 and A/CONF.189/5.

    14. The representative of the Legal Counsel made an explanatory statement with regard to procedure concerning paragraphs of the draft declaration and the draft programme of action that were still pending adoption.

    15. Mr. Slabi, Vice-President took the chair. The Chairperson proposed that paragraphs or parts of paragraphs that had been adopted by the two working groups and the Drafting Committee should be adopted by the Main Committee and forwarded to the plenary of the Conference for its consideration and adoption, and that paragraphs or parts of paragraphs that had not been adopted would be deleted from the documents of the two working groups and the Drafting Committee.

    16. At the same meeting, the representative of the Legal Counsel of the United Nations made an explanatory statement on rules 26, 34 and 44 of the rules of procedure of the Conference.

    17. At the same meeting, under the pertinent rule of the rules of procedure of the Conference, the representative of Brazil moved that the Conference should take no action on the remaining paragraphs that had not been considered or had not been adopted by the working groups. The representatives of Algeria and the Syrian Arab Republic spoke against the motion and the representative of New Zealand spoke in support of it. The representative of Brazil withdrew the motion.

    18. At the same meeting, the representative of Belgium (on behalf of the European Union) reintroduced the motion. Statements in support of the motion were made by the representatives of Argentina and the Russian Federation. Statements against the motion were made by the representatives of the Republic of South Africa and the Syrian Arab Republic.

    19. At the request of the representative of Australia, a roll-call vote was taken on the motion, which was adopted by 51 votes to 37, with 11 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

      In favour: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia.

      Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Barbados, Burkina Faso, China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia.

      Abstaining: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Togo.

    20. At the same meeting, the representatives of the Holy See, Algeria, Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), the Syrian Arab Republic and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya made statements in explanation of vote after the vote.

    21. At the same meeting, the Main Committee decided to adopt the paragraphs or parts of paragraphs that had been adopted by the two working groups and the Drafting Committee, to delete those paragraphs or parts of paragraphs that had not been adopted by the two working groups and the Drafting Committee and to transmit the amended texts of the draft declaration and the draft programme of action to the plenary of the Conference for its consideration.

    CHAPTER V.
    REPORT OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE

    1. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, the Conference approved the organization of its work, as set out in document A/CONF.189/3, including the establishment of the Drafting Committee.

    2. Also at the 1st plenary meeting, the Conference approved the nomination of Mr. Ali Khorran (Islamic Republic of Iran) as the Chairperson of the Drafting Committee.

    3. The Drafting Committee held six meetings, from 31 August to 7 September 2001.

    4. The Drafting Committee had before it the following documents:

      (a) Note by the secretariat transmitting the provisional rules of procedures of the World Conference (A/CONF.189/2), adopted by the Conference at the 1st plenary meeting on 31 August 2001;
      (b) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the draft provisional programme of work of the Conference (A/CONF.189/3), adopted by the Conference at the 1st plenary meeting on 31 August 2001;
      (c) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the draft declaration of the World Conference (A/CONF.189/4);
      (d) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the draft programme of action of the World Conference (A/CONF.189/5).

    5. The Drafting Committee, at its 1st meeting, on 31 August 2001, approved the nomination of Mr. John Dauth (Australia) as Vice-Chairperson/Rapporteur.

    6. At the same meeting, the Drafting Committee constituted two working groups to consider the draft declaration and the draft programme of action. The Working Group on the Draft Programme of Action elected Mr. Bonaventure M. Bowa (Zambia) as its Chairperson/Rapporteur on 31 August. The Working Group on the Draft Declaration elected Mr. Marc Bossuyt (Belgium) as its Chairperson/Rapporteur on 1 September.

    7. At its 2nd meeting, on 2 September, the Drafting Committee was briefed on the outcome of the meeting of the General Committee held earlier the same day, including the appointment of facilitators on three difficult issues, those relating to victims, the past and the Middle East. The working methods of the working groups were also discussed.

    8. At its 3rd meeting, on 6 September, the Drafting Committee evaluated the progress of the two working groups. It was decided that the two working groups would continue to meet in order to finish their work.

    9. At its 4th meeting, on 7 September, the Drafting Committee evaluated the progress of the two working groups. Mr. Marc Bossuyt, Chairperson/Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Draft Declaration, and Mr. Bonaventure M. Bowa, Chairperson/Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Draft Programme of Action, reported on the situation of their respective working groups. The Chairperson of the Drafting Committee, Mr. Ali Khorram, also made a statement.

    10. At its 5th and 6th meetings, on 7 September, the Drafting Committee considered a number of paragraphs of the draft programme of action, pending notification of the scheduling of meetings of the Main Committee and the Plenary originally planned for the afternoon and evening of 7 September. It was decided that the Working Group on the Draft Programme of Action would continue its work at a night meeting on 7 September. It was also decided that the Working Group on the Draft Declaration and the Working Group on the Draft Programme of Action would meet separately the next morning, 8 September, in order to finish their work. It was further decided that, after the two working groups had completed their work, the draft declaration and draft programme of action, as amended, would be forwarded to the Main Committee for further consideration.

    CHAPTER VI.
    REPORT OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

    1. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 31 August 2001, in accordance with rule 4 of its rules of procedure, the Conference appointed a Credentials Committee having a composition based on that of the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations at

    its fifty-fifth session, namely: Bahamas, China, Ecuador, Gabon, Ireland, Mauritius, Russian Federation, Thailand and the United States of America.

    2. The Credentials Committee met on 4 September 2001.

    3. Mrs. Yolande Bike (Gabon) was unanimously elected Chairperson.

    4. The Committee had before it a memorandum by the secretariat of the Conference, dated 3 September 2001, concerning the credentials of representatives of States at the Conference. The representative of the Legal Counsel of the United Nations made a statement relating to the memorandum in which she, inter alia, informed the Committee of credentials and communications received subsequent to the preparation of the memorandum.

    5. As noted in paragraph 1 of the memorandum and the statement relating thereto, formal credentials of representatives to the Conference, in the form required by rule 3 of its rules of procedure, had been received as of the time of the meeting of the Credentials Committee from the following 92 States: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe.

    6. As noted in paragraph 2 of the memorandum and the statement relating thereto, information concerning the appointment of representatives of States to the Conference had been communicated to the secretariat of the Conference, as of the time of the meeting of the Credentials Committee, by means of a cable or a telefax from the Head of State or Government or the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or by means of a letter or note verbale from the ministries, embassies or permanent missions concerned, by the following 78 States: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

    7. Having considered the question of the credentials of Afghanistan, the Committee decided to take the position taken by the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly at the fifty-fifth session of the Assembly.

    8. The Chairperson recommended that the Committee accept the credentials of the representatives of all States mentioned in the memorandum of the secretariat of the Conference, on the understanding that the formal credentials of representatives of the States referred to in paragraph 6 of the present report would be communicated to the secretariat of the Conference as soon as possible.

    9. On the proposal of the Chairperson, the Committee adopted the following draft resolution:

      "The Credentials Committee,

      "Having examined the credentials of the representatives to the World Conference against Racism of the States referred to in the memorandum of the secretariat of the Conference dated 3 September 2001,

      "Accepts, subject to the decision contained in paragraph 7 of the report of the Credentials Committee, the credentials of the representatives of the States concerned."

    10. The draft resolution proposed by the Chairperson was adopted without a vote.

    11. The Chairperson then proposed that the Committee should recommend to the plenary of the Conference the adoption of a draft resolution (see para. 12). The proposal was adopted without a vote.

    12. In the light of the foregoing, the present report is submitted to the World Conference against Racism.

    Recommendation of the Credentials Committee

    13. The Credentials Committee recommends to the plenary of the World Conference against Racism the adoption of the following draft resolution:

    "Credentials of representatives to the World Conference Against Racism

    "The World Conference against Racism,

    "Having considered the report of the Credentials Committee and the recommendation contained therein,

    "Approves the report of the Credentials Committee."

    Action taken by the Conference

    14. At the 16th plenary meeting, on 5 September 2001, the Conference considered the report of the Credentials Committee (A/CONF.189/11).

    15. At the same meeting, a statement in connection with the report of the Credentials Committee was made by the representative of Turkey.

    16. The Conference adopted the draft resolution recommended by the Committee in its report. For the text, see chapter I, section C, resolution 1.

    CHAPTER VII.
    ADOPTION OF THE FINAL DOCUMENT AND THE REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE

    1. At the 20th plenary meeting, on 8 September 2001, the Conference considered item 10 of its agenda, entitled "Adoption of the final document and the report of the Conference". The Conference had before it the following documents that had been adopted by the Main Committee and forwarded to the plenary for further consideration: the draft declaration (A/CONF.189/L.2 and Add.1 and a document without a symbol containing adopted paragraphs) and the draft programme of action (A/CONF.189/L.3 and Add.1-3 and a document without a symbol), as well as two documents without a symbol that had been presented by the President of the Conference to the Main Committee.

    2. Before the adoption of the draft declaration and the draft programme of action, statements and reservations were made by the representatives of Australia, Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), Canada, Chile, Ecuador (also on behalf of Brazil, Canada, Chile and Guatemala), the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic and Switzerland. At the request of the participants, the statements and reservations are reproduced below, in their entirety.

    3. The representative of Australia made the following statement:

      "Australia is unequivocal in its opposition to racism in all its forms and is committed to strong action at all levels to combat it, both domestically and internationally, and this was reflected in the approach we took to this World Conference.

      "We regret that far too much of our time has been consumed by bitter, divisive exchanges on issues which have done nothing to advance the cause of combating racism. This has been particularly evident in respect of the debate about the Middle East. Despite the great efforts of many delegations, including that of Australia, to achieve a balanced text, the references to the Middle East contain language which will do nothing to achieve greater peace in that troubled region and nothing to advance the objectives of this Conference.

      "The debate on many other issues also has been polarized and recriminatory. These exchanges were the very antithesis of the objectives of the Conference and deeply disappointed many government and non-government participants who had had such high hopes for the Conference.

      "Australia wishes to acknowledge the strong efforts of you, Madam Chair, to produce positive outcomes. Despite the Chair's tireless work, others were more interested in pursuing narrow interests at the cost of good overall outcomes.

      "We have some specific reservations on the text we are about to adopt which we would like to be included in the record of the meeting in the same manner as that requested by the Canadian delegation. In relation to the second paragraph 5 of your text on the Middle East, my delegation believes that this paragraph deals with a political situation, and has no place in the outcomes of the World Conference, which is on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

      "On paragraph 7 of the text on the Middle East, my delegation believes that this language undermines the agreements reached between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the representative of the Palestinian people, which aim to achieve a just settlement of the refugee problem, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, through direct negotiations to resolve all outstanding final status issues.

      "Australia is a country whose good governance and strong democratic traditions and institutions derive directly from its colonial history. In relation to the text on the past, we therefore express serious concerns at the use of the same language in paragraphs 11 and 116 to condemn colonialism as is used in paragraph 12 to condemn apartheid and genocide."

    4. The representative of Belgium (on behalf of the European Union) made the following statement:

      "In 1978 the General Conference of UNESCO unanimously proclaimed that 'All human beings belong to a single species'. This is fundamental. Doctrines that asserted the contrary were used to justify some of the most appalling and disgraceful tragedies in human history, including the Holocaust and also apartheid. Numerous United Nations consensus documents have affirmed the fundamental unity of the human race.

      "Article 1 of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination states that racial discrimination is 'any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin'. Our work here is to further the elimination of racial discrimination. The concept of race may, for the purpose of applying the Convention, be helpful in identifying the basis for such discrimination.

      "The Member States of the European Union consider that the acceptance of any formulation implying the existence of separate human 'races' could be interpreted as a retrograde step as it risks denying the unity of humanity. Nor is acceptance of such a formulation necessary in order to identify or combat racial discrimination.

      "Clearly the human race is diverse. The Member States of the European Union value diversity. Within our States it is a source of social cohesion and cultural enrichment. We unequivocally condemn racial discrimination and doctrines of racial superiority.

      "The Member States of the European Union are of the opinion that existing terminology covers largely all the differences/diversity between people.

      "The Member States of the European Union strongly reject any doctrine of racial superiority along with theories or doctrines which attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, as well as any implicit acceptance of such theories or doctrines which could emerge from the use of the terms 'race' or 'racial' in the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

      "This does not imply the denial of race as an ground for discrimination and the denial of manifestations of racism and racial discrimination, as defined in article 1 of the Convention, which still exist all over the world."

    5. The representative of Canada made the following statement:

      "Given its struggle against apartheid, South Africa was a logical place to host the Conference. The world continues to draw strength from the courage and determination of its people to reconcile their differences and build a more inclusive society. We thank the Government of South Africa for its leadership and hospitality, and we pledge to keep working with it to promote and protect all human rights and freedoms. As well, we will continue to look to the United Nations as the primary venue for discussion and action on these important issues.

      "A World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is not just another act in the ongoing itinerant, multilateral, diplomatic theatre. It is much more than that. Or should be.

      "That is why Canada persevered here and remained at the table. We faced the challenges of contention and divisiveness because of our strong sense of duty to the United Nations, the world community, Canadians who depended on us to give them voice here and the millions of people around the globe who live in poverty and hopelessness because of racism.

      "We are not satisfied with this Conference. Not enough time has been dedicated to advancing its objectives, that is, developing forward-looking, action-oriented strategies to eradicate the many forms of discrimination that exist today. Instead, too much time has been spent on an issue that does not belong here.

      "Canada is still here today only because we wanted to have our voice decry the attempts at this Conference to de-legitimize the State of Israel and to dishonour the history and suffering of the Jewish people. We believe, and we have said in the clearest possible terms, that it was inappropriate - wrong - to address the Palestinian-Israel conflict in this forum. We have said, and will continue to say, that anything - any process, any declaration, any language - presented in any forum that does not serve to advance a negotiated peace that will bring security, dignity and respect to the people of the region is - and will be - unacceptable to Canada.

      "That is why the Canadian delegation registers its strongest objections and disassociates itself integrally from all text in this document directly or indirectly relating to the situation in the Middle East. We state emphatically that this text is ultra vires; it is outside the jurisdiction and mandate of this Conference.

      "For example, paragraph 7 goes to the heart of the legitimacy of the State of Israel. When read in the context of the Middle East, which we believe to be the intent, the word 'Israel' is implicit. Therefore, the formulation with respect to the right of return of refugees is not consistent with United Nations General Assembly resolution 194.

      "This paragraph is tantamount to a call for a unilateral violation of the agreed peace accords. Its implementation would be inconsistent with the agreement between the parties that the return of refugees would be pursuant to a negotiated final settlement.

      "As such, it is an unhelpful and irresponsible intrusion by this Conference into one of the world's most dangerous conflicts. Further, as was proposed in the draft document, Canada believed, and continues to believe, that it is entirely appropriate that the Declaration contain an independent and unlinked reference to the need for all of us to counter anti-Semitism. Canada came to this Conference with very clear positions on what is important to us. We will not sacrifice our principles or distort our long-standing, fair-minded policy with regard to the Middle East conflict.

      "Canada regrets that the World Conference has not been able to acknowledge that there is a close, sometimes inseparable relationship between discrimination based on religion and language and that which is based on racism and xenophobia.

      "This is particularly regrettable given that in 1994 the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution establishing the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, expressed deep concern about the evolution of racism into discriminatory practices based on religion, language, nationality or culture. In this regard we consider the World Conference has taken a significant step backwards. At this point, we would like to underline that, for Canada, multiple discrimination on the basis of 'other grounds' includes sexual orientation, disability and barriers based on culture.

      "On the issue of past injustices, let there be no doubt - Canada believes that the transatlantic slave trade was morally repugnant and is a stain on the fabric of history.

      "With regard to the text related to this issue, Canada would like to register clearly its understanding that paragraph 10 of the Declaration means that widespread and systematic enslavement directed against a civilian population today constitutes a crime against humanity, and if the transatlantic slave trade occurred today it would constitute a crime against humanity.

      "Furthermore, it is Canada's understanding with regard to paragraphs 117, 118 and 119 of the Declaration, that under international law there is no right to a remedy for historical acts that were not illegal at the time at which they occurred.

      "It is for these reasons, that Canada requests that this statement be entered into the Conference records, and that our reservations be explicitly reflected in the final report of the Conference."

    6. The representative of Chile made the following statement:

      "The Durban Conference has, to the end, been marked by difficulties and tensions that are characteristic of the problems we have tackled. Here the core of our concern has been human diversity, its wealth and its conflicts. However, we cannot fail to regret the polarization around some items that has prevented us from looking at the overall goals defined by the General Assembly when it convened the Conference. We believe that, despite the drama and the tragedies involved in some of them, we stood in need of greater freedom to discuss all the problems that challenge us, particularly in taking on the new risks and threats and, at the same time, modernizing the tools to cope with them. We are aware that it would have been impossible to take on the problems that have concerned us without facing up to the complexity of the history of mankind in terms both of its own interpretation of the repeated suffering of millions of beings and of the constantly renewed hopes of the prospect of equality and justice and of the ongoing attempt by women and men to build a better material and spiritual life.

      "Chile's commitment to the process that led to Durban was strongly evidenced in the Regional Conference in Santiago. At that Conference, the Americas scrutinized their societies from a historical standpoint, with a critical view and with political will. Hence the effort to include the specificity of the Americas, with its difficulties and hopes, in the overall document.

      "For the Chilean delegation, it was a priority to incorporate in the final documents the full rights of the indigenous peoples. Accordingly, our country has backed the efforts of democratic Governments since 1990. The emphasis of the Government of President Ricardo Lagos has been to secure greater recognition of the rights of our original peoples, to establish the historical truth about their contribution to national development and to overcome the unjust treatment that they received for centuries, fostering their dignity, identity and genuine development in diversity.

      "At this Conference, the victims formed the core theme of our task. It could not have been otherwise. A humanist ideal is behind the integrating and egalitarian drive to cope with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We acknowledge the advances we have made here in protecting the human rights of the victims. We must, at any event, regret that it has not been possible to reach an agreement to identify the factors in aggravated or multiple discrimination, for the purpose of promoting action to respond to contemporary manifestations of racism. We are concerned that poverty and incapacity could not be properly singled out in this context. We realize the difficulties that some delegations experience in enumerating factors, but our responsibility is to find solutions to the problems of the present.

      "The Declaration and the Programme of Action we have adopted today are a significant step in mankind's struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It is an enormous victory that reinforces the universality of human rights and national and collective responsibilities in providing a suitable follow-up to the Durban agreements.

      "The Government of Chile thanks the Government and the people of South Africa for their notable efforts and contribution in organizing and hosting this Conference. The South Africans will remain a symbol of the struggle for equality and identity.

      "Our thanks go to Mrs. Zuma for her efforts, her intelligence, her will and her courage. Much of our success we owe to her.

      "Lastly, we express our gratitude to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson. Her road to Durban has not been an easy one. It has been strewn with fears and phantoms that have paralysed us so many times. With her will and dedication, at this Conference we have tried to exorcise them.

      "I should not like to conclude without acknowledging the contribution that the non-governmental world has made to this process. Its conscience and its voice will always act as testimony for those who actively or passively suffer the most varied manifestations of discrimination and intolerance.

      "I would like this statement to be included in the final records of the World Conference."

    7. The representative of Ecuador made the following statement:

      "Our delegation, which is composed of representatives of the Government and civil society (non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples and persons of African descent), regrets that, despite the intensive efforts made jointly by various countries in the region, it has still not been possible during the negotiations at the World Conference against Racism to decide on the legal and political content of paragraphs 26, 27 and 51 of the draft declaration, which refer to the recognition of indigenous peoples and their rights.

      "Our delegation wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the indigenous peoples' aspiration that their rights should be recognized by States. Like the sectors which suffer from exclusion and racism, our aspiration is that this World Conference should clearly define racism and its consequences and assume responsibility for its effects, on the basis of a programme of action to deal with its legacy.

      "In its Constitution, the Republic of Ecuador is defined as a multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual State; it therefore recognizes the diversity of its population and the collective rights of indigenous peoples. In accordance with this new legal approach, which is based on a new social covenant, we intend to eliminate the racism and forms of exclusion which have been imposed since colonial times.

      "We are therefore in favour of the conclusion and adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on the basis of the text adopted by the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in its resolution 1994/45, which definitively recognizes the category of indigenous peoples.

      "Lastly, we urge that the deadlock should be broken; otherwise, we will be lending support to the continuation of discrimination against indigenous peoples."

    8. The representative of Ecuador also made the following statement on behalf of Brazil, Chile, Canada, Guatemala and Ecuador:

      "Many precedents within the United Nations system establish that sexual orientation is a human rights issue. These precedents are founded on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which proclaims that all persons are born free and equal in dignity and rights (art. 1), and are sustained by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights principle that human rights are indivisible. They are also grounded in the Santiago Declaration of the Regional Preparatory Conference for the Americas. The universality of human rights is fulfilled by addressing abuses and by protecting the victims of discrimination. These precedents demonstrate that the United Nations already recognizes that sexual orientation is a human rights issue.[1] In this context we stress the human rights advances at the international level, which establish the principles of non-discrimination and equality without distinction of any kind.

      "In this Conference one delegation, supported by several delegations, expressed in clear terms that sexual orientation is an aspect of human reality which can no longer be ignored and requires more in-depth analysis, discussion and debate to contribute to the development of worldwide consensus on this matter.

      "Therefore, the delegations of Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Canada and Guatemala reaffirm the importance for the strengthening and advancement of human rights and the combat of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, of developing, implementing and improving specific policies and programmes to address effectively a serious form of multiple discrimination, which occurs when racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance intersect with discrimination based on sexual orientation."

      "[1] The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has held, through its General Comment 14 (2000) on the right to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, that sexual orientation is a prohibited basis of discrimination and has an impact on health status."

    9. The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran made the following statement:

      "In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,

      "To begin with, I should like to express my profound appreciation and thanks to the Government and people of South Africa for the warm hospitality extended to our delegation during this important conference.

      "As a delegation which has attached great importance and accorded the highest priority to the World Conference against Racism and its successful conclusion, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the course of the past two years, has done its utmost to contribute to the full realization of the noble objectives of this landmark event. We actively participated in the preparatory process and spared no effort to contribute to the deliberation in a spirit of cooperation and good faith. We accordingly hosted the Asian regional conference in Tehran, with the hope that this World Conference would be crowned with unity and success.

      "However, at this very final stage and as the plenary is about to adopt the outcome of the time-consuming, highly sensitive and complex discussions and negotiations, we cannot conceal our dismay and dissatisfaction over the unexpected turn of events in the past few days which has inadvertently led to the imposition of the viewpoints of certain countries on the others. As a result of the creation of such an unhealthy atmosphere, the question of Palestine and the Middle East, which has taken a high place on the agenda of the international community, has been greatly undermined in this World Conference that is believed to have the responsibility to address the injustices of racism and racial discrimination.

      "All efforts made by the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to justly address the causes of the oppressed Palestinian people were rendered futile in the atmosphere of intimidation, threat and ultimatum. Consequently, all the paragraphs on the Middle East and Palestinian issue were deleted and were subsequently replaced by new paragraphs in the final documents, despite the opposition of the respective parties concerned. Lack of transparency and the use of undemocratic methods to induce sovereign States to accept certain language and ideas on this issue are indeed unprecedented in the history of international gatherings and conferences.

      "The Islamic Republic of Iran is therefore bound to express its dismay at this irrational and unhealthy practice, and strongly believes that such an unfortunate trend should not constitute a precedence for future world conferences.

      "Moreover, while subscribing to all the other parts of the final documents of this World Conference, the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to disassociate itself from all paragraphs pertaining to the Palestinian and Middle East issue as appear in the final documents of this Conference. Iran believes that this part of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action falls well short of addressing the fundamental issues of the current situation of the Middle East, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories, and thus lacks fairness, balance and credibility. In fact, the essence and the magnitude of the tragedy and the suffering of the Palestinian people have been deliberately omitted in the same part of the said documents.

      "Obviously, the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as in the past, continue to be directed towards the full realization of all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital, and the right to regain all occupied territories, as well as the right of all refugees to return to their homeland.

      "As regards the terms holocaust and anti-Semitism in the Declaration and Programme of Action, we interpret holocaust as referring to the Jewish holocaust in Europe and anti-Semitism as referring to both Arabs and Jews.

      "Our message to the Palestinian people is clear and simple. We will never compromise their legitimate rights. We deeply and wholeheartedly sympathize with their cause and suffering. The peoples of the world will not condone the inhumane Israeli policies and practices, which are clear manifestations of racism and discrimination. The pertinent parts of the final document of the NGO Forum submitted to this World Conference testify to this assertion. We believe that the suffering of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, which have been vastly and grossly violated by the occupying racist power in the course of the past 50 years, have not been given proper and due consideration in this Conference. Consequently, the outcome of the Conference in this respect cannot be interpreted as a successful achievement.

      "In conclusion, I hereby request the secretariat to reflect fully the content of this statement in the final report of this World Conference as the position of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Declaration and Programme of Action of this World Conference."

    10. The representative of the Syrian Arab Republic made the following statement:

      "Allow me at the outset to thank the President, Government and people of South Africa for hosting this very important Conference. I think the holding of this Conference has been one of the achievements of South Africa.

      "I wished, and so many of my colleagues wished, that this Conference had been able to create a much better atmosphere than it has, especially in the sense of reconciliation and bringing people closer together in condemning racism and racial discrimination in all its forms. We hope that, at any event like this that may take place in the future, there will be an improvement in the atmosphere, in the language and in the sincerity of the delegations.

      "I say this because we felt that certain interventions by certain delegates fuelled racial feelings rather than reconciliation. Our hopes and expectations are still great, and we believe that this Conference has made great progress in the fight against racism and racial discrimination.

      "Although Syria wished for clearer wording, especially on the Middle East - and I am speaking here about practices, not a political solution for the Middle East and Israel, because from the beginning I agreed with those colleagues who said that we were not here to find a solution - and although the Conference is not part of a peace process for the Arab-Israeli conflict, we should not forget that racist practices are being carried out in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. It goes without saying that we have documented evidence of the demolition of houses, the use of F-16s, the uprooting of people and trees, especially olive trees, the transfer of people, the besieging of people, of making people starve, and of the killing of children: all these are racist practices and it is obvious that Israel is carrying them out. Of course, I know that some of our friends and colleagues in the western hemisphere do not like such language, but if they do not like it, why do they attend such a Conference in the first place? However, my country, my delegation, has cooperated and it did all that it could to make this Conference a success; we made every effort to find the right wording to which everyone could subscribe, rather than what would satisfy us.

      "I should like to note that we did not hesitate to join the draft declaration that you offered to us instead of the Islamic paper, or non-paper, because we wanted South Africa to be in a strong position as the host of this meeting and to convince others that everyone at this Conference was cooperating to make it a success. Those who withdrew from the Conference spoiled, or tried to spoil the Conference, no matter what explanations or pretext they used, and no one should have done anything to spoil the Conference. On the contrary, we did all that we could to make it a success, because it took place in South Africa.

      "I have only one observation on this paper which you have presented. That observation addresses the understanding and the substance of the meaning of the Holocaust. Of course, I would like to say from the beginning that the Holocaust was a horrible thing, regardless of where it happened. But we must remind our European friends who are very sensitive about the Holocaust that the Holocaust happened in Europe, and was committed mostly by Europeans. To generalize it, as though the Europeans want to distribute their sense of guilt throughout the whole world, is a mistake.

      "Let us be morally courageous enough to tell the truth: what do they mean by, 'We recall that the Holocaust must never be forgotten'? It should not be forgotten by the people who made it, who created it, who did it. We were not party to it, we have never been a party to it and we will never be a party to it, and that is why we do not accept this general term here. We would like it to be very concise and very specific and not to be applied to every nation on earth.

      "This is all I wanted to say, and I would like to thank you very much again and the great people of South Africa."

    11. The representative of Switzerland made the following statement:

      "The World Conference has been a valuable learning experience and we wish to thank the host country, South Africa, for its enormous dedication. We have thus come to realize how important it is for many countries to retain the word and the idea of race.

      "This can be explained by their history, which is unique and therefore different from our painful experience in Europe. The exclusively negative connotation of the word 'race' is connected with the racist and biological concepts of the last few centuries, particularly those of the Nazi period. Hence, in this context, we should emphasize that we see race as a social construct.

      "In any event, race must never be used as a justification for discriminatory practices or to advocate ideologies of racial superiority. Switzerland therefore associates itself with the statement made in the Main Committee by the representative of Belgium on behalf of the European Union concerning the words 'race' and 'racial'."

    12. The representatives of Barbados (also on behalf of Belize, Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago), Guatemala, Japan, Latvia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago and Turkey indicated their intent to make statements before the adoption of the draft declaration and programme of action. Since this was not possible owing to time constraints, the President of the Conference suggested that these statements should be handed to the secretariat in written form and that they would be reflected in full in the report of the Conference.

    13. The statement of the representative of Barbados (also on behalf of Belize, Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago) reads as follows:

      "Reservation to paragraph 10 of the Declaration:

      "We declare that the transatlantic slave trade and the related system of racialized chattel slavery of Africans and people of African descent constitute crimes against humanity."

    14. The statement of the representative of Guatemala reads as follows:

      "The delegation of Guatemala fully and unrestrictedly recognizes the identity of indigenous peoples and their individual and collective rights, including their right to self-determination, and has done so at the national level in the Agreement on the Identity and Rights of the Maya, Xinca and Garifuna Peoples in the context of the Peace Agreements.

      "In our view, the rights of indigenous peoples should also be fully recognized at the international level, as we have maintained, without restriction or condition of any kind, in the negotiations on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We would therefore like the record to show that we have reservations about some of the provisions of paragraphs 26, 27 and 51 of the Durban Declaration.

      "The delegation of Guatemala also has reservations about, and disassociates itself from, paragraphs 6 and 8 of the paper by the President of the Conference on the Middle East, because they contain political elements which should be decided in the political negotiations between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority and which do not correspond to the theme of the Conference or are not applicable to the situation in question, such as that of refugees.

      "We also regret that anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, the most serious crime ever committed in all of mankind's history as a result of racist feelings, have not been properly dealt with. Minimizing them or trying to exclude them from this Conference shows that there are still serious manifestations of anti-Semitism in the world to which we should turn our attention.

      "We would like our reservations to be reflected in full in the final report of the Conference."

    15. The statement of the representative of Japan reads as follows:

      "The delegation of Japan has maintained that the outcome documents should be adopted by consensus of all countries, as was stressed by our representative in her statement. Therefore, we highly appreciate the laborious work of the facilitators and negotiators with a view to finding common ground and making this Conference a success. Based on this recognition, our delegation joined the consensus in adopting the paragraphs related to the Middle East and those related to the issues of the past.

      "Regarding the Declaration and Programme of Action, the delegation of Japan has joined the consensus, but due to the unusual time constraint, the final version of these documents was not available to us at the time of their adoption. Therefore, we would like to reserve the right to make further comments regarding these two documents."

    16. The statement of the representative of Latvia reads as follows:

      "The delegation of Latvia would like to express the appreciation of the leadership of Madam President at this Conference. It was an exhaustive, but otherwise fruitful, discussion which we had during the past nine days. We are of this view, notwithstanding the fact that there have been major difficulties in the attempts to reach a common understanding what this Conference is about and whether some of the paragraphs which have been offered to us should be included in the text of the documents which are before us.

      "We find it extremely difficult to agree with explicit singling out and mentioning of one particular region and one particular State, Israel, in the final documents, which in our view is not consistent with the global character of this Conference. Latvia consistently expressed its opinion on this subject during the preparatory process for the Conference and wishes to restate it clearly now."

    17. The statement of the representative of New Zealand reads as follows:

      "New Zealand is very pleased to join other delegations in thanking South Africa for the tremendous efforts made to bring our work to a successful conclusion, despite the challenges presented by the agenda for this World Conference.

      "I must, however, place on record the concern of the New Zealand delegation at the unqualified references, at some points in the texts to colonialism, placing it on a par with scourges such as slavery, apartheid and genocide. Paragraph 116 of the Declaration is a particular concern. New Zealand recognizes that injustices occurred under colonialism in many countries that would be abhorrent by today's standards. Where those injustices were founded on racist attitudes and practices, colonialism can be viewed as having been a source of racism."

    18. The statement of the representative of Trinidad and Tobago reads as follows:

      "The World Conference should acknowledge that differences in ethnic identities have long manifested themselves in diverse ways, but should recognize that the racism of the colonial era constituted an unprecedented system of thought and action that has a specific historical origin in the transatlantic slave trade and the consequent development of the global racial chattel enslavement of Africans. As a consequence, doctrines of racial hierarchy were developed that facilitated the commercial and social exploitation of enslaved persons.

      "These false and immoral ideas were globalized over time and have shaped the ethnic relations of societies everywhere. As a result of this history, the superficial differences between ethnic and racial identities have led to deep-seated conflict, lasting distrust and hatred, guilt and shame.

      "1. Crimes against humanity

      "(a) Slavery

      "The World Conference should recognize that slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, indenture ship and other forms of servitude constitute crimes against humanity, are historical sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent and people of Asia and Asian descent and indigenous peoples have been and continue to be victims of these acts and of their consequences.

      "(b) Apartheid and genocide

      "The World Conference should recognize that apartheid and genocide constitute crimes against humanity and are sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, should acknowledge the untold evils and suffering caused by these acts, and should affirm that, whenever and wherever they occurred, they must be condemned and their recurrence prevented.

      "2. Colonialism

      "The World Conference should recognize that colonialism was among the sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent and people of Asia and Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of colonialism and continue to be victims of its consequences. We acknowledge the untold evils and suffering caused by colonialism and affirm that, wherever and whenever it occurred, it must be condemned and its recurrence prevented.

      "3. Truth and reconciliation "(a) Apology

      "The World Conference should acknowledge the untold suffering of millions of men, women and children as a result of slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, indenture ship and other forms of servitude, and call upon States that practised, benefited or enriched themselves from these activities to express their apology explicitly to the victims of these acts and their consequences.

      "(b) Remembering

      "The World Conference should emphasize that remembering the crimes and wrongs of the past, whenever and wherever they occurred, unequivocally condemning its tragedies and telling the truth about history, are essential elements for the achievement of international reconciliation.

      "(c) Reparations

      "The World Conference should recognize that these crimes and injustices have undeniably contributed to poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparities, instability and insecurity, which affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries. It should therefore call upon those States that practised, benefited or enriched themselves from slavery, the transatlantic slave trade and indenture ship to provide reparations to countries and peoples affected, and to adopt appropriate remedial and other measures in order to repair these consequences.

      "We support the President in her efforts to ensure the deepening of dialogue in order to meet the objectives of the Conference, and will continue to encourage the search for consensus.

    19. The statement of the representative of Turkey reads as follows:

      "It is the view of the delegation of Turkey that in paragraph 50 bis of the draft declaration, the phrase 'racial groups in a numerically based minority situation within a State' should not be interpreted as implicitly recognizing the existence of 'racial minorities'.

      "I request that this statement be reflected verbatim in the report of the Conference."

    20. The Conference then adopted, by consensus, the draft declaration and programme of action submitted by the Main Committee, as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

    21. The representatives of Brazil, China, Iraq, Mexico (also on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Qatar (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference), the United Arab Emirates (also on behalf of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) and Venezuela indicated their intention of making statements after the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action. Since this was not possible owing to time constraints, the President of the Conference suggested that these statements should be handed to the secretariat in written form and that they would be reflected in full in the report of the Conference.

    22. The statement of the representative of Brazil reads as follows:

      "On behalf of the Brazilian delegation, I should like to thank you, Madam President, and the people of South Africa for the warm reception and hospitality extended to us during these last days in Durban.

      "We are proud of the documents we have been able to adopt. My delegation believes that the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action represent a significant step in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

      "The size and diversity of the Brazilian delegation translate the importance my country attaches to our deliberations. The consensus achieved by us here allows, inter alia, for the recognition of people of African descent and of indigenous peoples as victims of discrimination and historical misdeeds, and Brazil considers that the outcome of our negotiations regarding the issues of the past provides us with a framework for the acknowledgement of the wrongs and the expression of adequate forms of remorse that call for national affirmative and positive policies of implementation, as well as for the enhancement of international cooperation in the field. We also believe that the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance is the crux of our discussions here. In this vein, political questions and undertones should by no means tarnish our achievements in Durban.

      "We confer the utmost importance upon the protection of the human rights of victims of aggravated and multiple forms of intolerance. We regret that many of these multiple grounds of discrimination, such as gender and disability, among others, have not been explicitly included in the final list of grounds. We deem that a clear reference to these issues in the paragraphs of the Declaration and the Programme of Action would be understood as a recognition of their relevance. Our views on sexual orientation are well-known and are reflected on the statement put forward by Ecuador and other countries.

      "Last but not least, my delegation would like to express its gratitude for all the efforts deployed by Mrs. Mary Robinson and the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which were instrumental for the convening and success of this Conference. My delegation considers that our Declaration and Programme of Action constitute an enormous victory and reinforce the universality of human rights, and that they reflect clearly, accurately and undeniably our collective responsibility in the protection and promotion of human rights worldwide."

    23. The statement of the representative of China reads as follows:

      "The Chinese delegation would like to state the following position on the issue of history teaching in the Declaration and Programme of Action which was adopted by the World Conference against Racism.

      "We hold that all States should, following the requirement of the final document of the World Conference, take concrete measures so as to ensure that their textbooks will faithfully, objectively and accurately reflect history, including that of wars of invasion which took place in Asia and other regions in the last century."

    24. The statement of the representative of Iraq reads as follows:

      "My country's delegation wishes to express its appreciation for the endeavours made by the participants in this Conference, and particularly those made by the host State, South Africa, to ensure the formulation of a declaration and programme of action that would serve as a guideline for mankind in its efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Unfortunately, however, it is noteworthy that many of the important issues concerning foreign occupation and settlement were not discussed, even though they formed an essential and intrinsic part of the agenda of this Conference. Moreover, during the Conference, a certain group adopted practices and methods designed to steer the Conference in a manner consistent with its own wishes and conducive to its own ends.

      "My delegation notes, with regret, that the paragraphs of the Declaration and Programme of Action concerning the Middle East do not reflect the actual situation in the occupied Arab territories, the racist practices to which the Palestinian people are being subjected and the repression and racial discrimination from which they are suffering. Accordingly, my country's delegation declares that it is neither a party to, nor bound by, the consensus concerning the paragraphs relating to the Middle East. I request that this be recorded in the Conference documents.

      "We wish this statement to be properly reflected in the records of this Conference.

    25. The representative of Mexico submitted two statements on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, which read as follows:

    Statement on indigenous peoples

      "The delegations of the countries in the Latin American and the Caribbean Group, being aware how important it is for indigenous peoples that their rights should be internationally recognized, undertake and urge all States to:
        (i) Progress steadily in the application of and follow-up to the mandates and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the close of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;
        (ii) Reaffirm the supreme importance for multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual societies of acknowledging the rights and full participation of indigenous peoples in States' economic, social and cultural development and in the design and execution of strategies to overcome poverty;
        (iii) Make all necessary efforts to bring the negotiations on the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples to a conclusion in the context of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.

    Statement on the issue of victims

      "The Group of Latin American and Caribbean States' first concern throughout the preparations, both regional and global, was recognition for the victims. In a regional setting, identifying the victims did not encounter the difficulties that have cropped up at Durban.

      "As we see it, the sources of and reasons for racism, like the identification of the victims, have emerged from an objective, transparent analysis by the countries of America in Santiago of the way things are.

      "Victims are not a philosophical category. They are communities, peoples, groups and individuals - of African descent, indigenous or migrants - who have suffered in the past and continue to so do under the pernicious influence of these phenomena.

      "As the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States sees it, these people's situation may be aggravated by considerations of sex, age, disability, genetics, language, religion, economic status or social origin.

      "Many delegations in the Group also consider that sexual orientation ought to be listed as a cause of aggravated or multiple discrimination.

      "The Group would have liked to go further and press for the acceptance of all groups susceptible to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. For the sake of consensus we have made a huge effort to go along with the other regional groups.

      "We are not completely happy with the final document but look on it as the starting point for a process that must necessarily be followed up through the main bodies in the worldwide system for the promotion and protection of human rights.

      "We give notice that the results we have achieved are inadequate, and as a region we are prepared to go on working constructively and tolerantly with other regions of the world to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

      "We shall also make good on the commitments we made at the regional conference in Santiago."

    26. The representative of Mexico also submitted a statement on behalf of Mexico, which reads as follows:

      "We thank all the delegations that agreed it was necessary to clarify paragraph 27 of the draft declaration, a paragraph so sensitive for the group of Latin American and Caribbean States, for other regions and, in particular, for the representatives of indigenous groups attending this Conference. Nonetheless, Mexico repeats that, in its view, the paragraph was not necessary.

      "In any event, the discussion that has taken place confirms how urgent it is to speed up work on the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples that is currently under discussion in the Commission on Human Rights.

      "President Fox's Government, endorsing the demands of Mexico's indigenous peoples, has defined a new national and international strategy towards those peoples. Last August, Mexico adopted a constitutional reform that, although insufficient, marks a significant advance towards recognition of the self-determination and autonomy of the indigenous peoples.

      "Mexico, together with the group of Latin American and Caribbean States, pressed for an extensive agenda at this World Conference, as reflected in the Declaration and Programme of Action, which make a central point of recognizing indigenous peoples as such.

      "We also tried to secure for indigenous peoples extensive access to the resources they need for development within a sustainable framework, and unrestricted involvement in all areas of society and at all levels of decision-making on a non-discriminatory basis.

      "Mexico repeats its firm belief in respecting and recognizing all the rights of indigenous peoples in the national setting, and its Government's commitment to work with the indigenous peoples on finding solutions to the urgent problems they face.

      "The foregoing is a pressing historical debt. We realize that the consolidation of a democratic State will largely depend on whether the indigenous peoples' collective project is indeed incorporated in the nation's priorities.

      "Lastly, my Government wishes to state that recognizing indigenous peoples as subjects of law is an inescapable remedial step if we are to lay the foundations for the future."

    27. The statement of the representative of Qatar (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference) reads as follows:

      "I appeal to the Conference to consider this statement on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference before the adoption of the Conference's final documents.

      "The following is the legal explanation of the position taken by the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on some of the major themes of the Conference.

      "First, with regard to paragraph 2 and paragraph 4 of the President's text, the Organization of the Islamic Conference would like to state the following:

        "(i) Concerning the reference to the Holocaust in paragraph 2 of the President's text on the Middle East, the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference stress the fact that the Holocaust took place in Europe and that the people and countries outside Europe do not bear any responsibility.
        "(ii) As far as the reference to anti-Semitism in the President's text on the Middle East is concerned, the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference stress the fact that the overwhelming majority of the Semites are Arabs.

      "Therefore, I request that this statement be fully reproduced in the official records of this Conference.

      "Secondly, I also request the President to state precisely to the Conference the specific placement of each paragraph of the President's text in both the final Declaration and the Programme of Action. Our understanding is that the President's text will replace all paragraphs relating to the Middle East, the Holocaust and anti-Semitism in the original text of the Declaration and Programme of Action.

      "Thirdly, I also request that the statement made today by the State of Qatar on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference be fully reproduced in the official records of this plenary meeting and accordingly in the report of the Conference."

    28. The statement of the representative of the United Arab Emirates (also on behalf of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) reads as follows:

      "In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate,

      "On behalf of the delegation of the United Arab Emirates and the delegations of the State of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait, we wish to thank not only the friendly Government of South Africa for hosting this Conference but also you personally for the diligent endeavours that you have made to ensure the success of its work.

      "The delegations of our States have participated effectively, in collaboration with the delegations of the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in the work of the Conference and its subcommittees with a view to reaching a consensus of opinion.

      "In spite of the difficulties which the Conference faced in regard to many of the issues before it, our delegations continued to work, in the most diligent and sincere manner, until the last moment with a view to reaching a consensus on the text of a final document that would reflect the concerns and preoccupations of all the regional groups.

      "However, notwithstanding those endeavours, the manner in which some delegations persisted in maintaining their inflexible positions and preconceptions prevented agreement from being reached on the proposals and views that had been put forward during the work of the Conference.

      "While emphasizing the content of the statement made by the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the Main Committee, we also wish to point out that we cannot accept some of the concepts included in the final document and, consequently, the delegations of our States wish to make it clearly understood that:

        (i) The concept of the Holocaust reflects historical events that took place in Europe. However, this does not mean that similar events have not occurred in other parts of the world. Moreover, this concept is not restricted exclusively to a particular people or group, as is clearly demonstrated by the daily racist practices that are being witnessed in the occupied Arab territories.
        (ii) With regard to the concept of Semitism, it should be clearly understood that, in actual fact, the Arabs are also Semites and, therefore, no group has the exclusive right to monopolize this concept.
        (iii) The final document contains wording and concepts that conflict with the provisions of the Islamic Shari'a. For this reason, we are not bound by such wording and concepts contained in that document which, therefore, shall not entail any political or legal consequences and do not oblige us to take any preventive, legislative, judicial, administrative, regulatory or other measures at the national level.
        (iv) On behalf of the delegations of our States, I also request you, Madam President, to have this statement recorded and included in the official working documents of this Conference."

    29. The statement of the representative of Venezuela reads as follows:

      "The delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela wishes to make the following statement, with the request that it should be included in the report of this meeting.

      "Venezuela has come to this meeting with the firm belief that the international community needs a consensual final document. We therefore actively support the way in which the work of this Conference has been conducted and, in particular, Mrs. Zuma's efforts, which have been decisive for the success achieved.

      "It is, however, a matter of regret that the wording of some texts and agreements reached at the Regional Conference of the Americas, held in Santiago, Chile, has not been included either in the Declaration or in the Plan of Action of this World Conference. Neither have other general paragraphs linked to difficult issues which could not form part of the texts we are now adopting. In this connection, we wish to point out that we voted in favour of not continuing the discussion of the paragraphs on which there was no consensus in order to promote the adoption of the document, since we consider that, if the discussion had continued, that would not have been possible. However, we wish to state for the record that such a vote does not prejudge our position of support for the substance of the matters referred to in those paragraphs.

      "With regard to the part relating to victims, we deplore the fact that, in some cases, treatment has not been equitable for all, especially indigenous peoples. The texts do not clearly contain an apology, but we accept them on the understanding that the victims' suffering and the corresponding compensation will be covered by the reference to colonialism. If necessary, we will make additional comments when the full texts are available in Spanish.

      "My delegation has joined in the consensus which has emerged at this Conference. Please accept our congratulations for the excellent work that has been done. We also express our gratitude for the hospitality that has been extended to us by the people and Government of South Africa."

    30. Also at the 20th plenary meeting, the Rapporteur-General introduced the report of the Conference (A/CONF.189/L.1 and Add. 1-3). The Conference adopted the draft report and authorized the Rapporteur-General to complete the report, in conformity with the practice of the United Nations, with a view to its submission to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session.

    31. At the same meeting, a draft resolution, submitted by the President, forwarding the report of the Conference, including the Declaration and the Programme of Action, to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session was adopted, without a vote, by the Conference. For the text, see chapter I, section C, resolution 2.

    CHAPTER VIII.
    CLOSURE OF THE CONFERENCE

    1. At the 20th plenary meeting, on 8 September 2001, the representative of Kenya, on behalf of the States participating in the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, introduced draft resolutions expressing their gratitude to the host country and to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Conference adopted the draft resolutions without a vote (for the texts, see chap. I, resolutions 3 and 4).

    2. The representative of Kenya made the following statement on behalf of the Group of African States:

      "Africa had a rendezvous with history and I dare say that rendezvous was productive, constructive and unforgettable. We believe we made history in Durban and rightfully so. After all, this great nation of South Africa reflects in the most incredible manner the evils of racism and the wealth of diversity.

      "It is therefore fitting that it was in South Africa that the international community declared and recognized slavery and the slave trade, especially the transatlantic slave trade, to be a crime against humanity; not today, not tomorrow, but always and for all time.

      "Nurnberg made it clear that crimes against humanity are not time bound. It is also significant that now an apology and appropriate remedial, as per paragraph 119, are expected and in order.

      "Today we honour the memory of those who were subjected to the most horrendous and inhuman treatment ever."

    3. The representative of India made the following statement on behalf of the Group of Asian States:

      "I take the floor on behalf of the Asian Group. We came to this picturesque city of Durban assured in our belief that there could be no better guarantee of the success of this World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance than the friendly land of South Africa whose people waged a victorious struggle against the most abhorrent manifestation of racism - apartheid. We will take leave of the hospitable people of Durban with our faith vindicated.

      "We were inspired by the vision outlined by President Mbeki in his inaugural address. And you, Madam President, have in an exemplary way, lead us in our endeavour to translate that vision into statements of principles and measures for converting the noble ideas that constitute the mandate of this Conference into action. You have been tireless in your efforts to bring differing viewpoints together and evolve a consensus. You have been patient and tolerant. You have been accessible and available.

      "On behalf of the Asian Group and on behalf of my delegation, I wish to thank you and the Government and people of South Africa for the enormous effort that has been put into ensuring the success of this World Conference. We would also like to thank Mrs. Mary Robinson, Secretary-General of the Conference, for her untiring efforts. We shall work together with your country and others in continuing in our united and global resolve to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance."

    4. The statement of the representative of Slovakia (on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States) reads as follows:

      "On behalf of the Eastern European Group, I would like to join my colleagues in expressing our gratitude and appreciation to you, Madam Minister, for your efforts to bring the Conference to a successful outcome and for the leadership that you have shown, especially in the crucial moments of the Conference.

      "I would like to thank the President and the Government of the Republic of South Africa for their initiative in hosting the Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and for the excellent organization and the cooperation of all the South African people. Our special thanks go to the High Commissioner, Mrs. Robinson, who acted as the Secretary-General of the Conference, for her personal input to the whole process; to the Executive Coordinator, Mr. Singh, and to the whole staff.

      "We appreciate the cooperation with the regional coordinators and with all the delegations and express our satisfaction that the spirit of compromise has prevailed until the end.

      "Last, but not least, I would like to thank both the conference services and interpreters for their endurance and hard work."

    5. The representative of Mexico made the following statement on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC):

      "It is an honour for me to speak on behalf of the delegations of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. For the countries in my region, the Durban Conference is without any doubt a watershed in mankind's struggle for equality.

      "We have adopted unprecedented documents. We have made a critical evaluation of the past. We have learned lessons from it. We have recognized - and recognize ourselves in - the shortcomings and problems we are still facing today. We have succeeded in identifying the components of a sound process of reconciliation and adopted measures to promote and establish a new culture for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

      "Please allow me once again to express the deep appreciation of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC) for the hospitality of the Government of South Africa and for the warmth with which we have been received and cared for in Durban.

      "I wish to place on record our sincere and deep appreciation of your leadership. Your talent and political and diplomatic skills were key factors in arriving at the results we have achieved.

      "I also wish to thank the High Commissioner for Human Rights for her untiring efforts to increase worldwide awareness of the Conference and for her abiding optimism.

      "On behalf of GRULAC, I would like to express appreciation for the work carried out by those in charge of the working groups, the Drafting Committee and the Main Committee, as well as by the facilitators. We thank all of them for their perseverance and patience.

      "GRULAC also thanks the staff of the secretariat and Conference Services for the support they have provided for delegations during the discussions at this Conference.

      "All our hard work has paid off. The members of GRULAC are convinced that the Durban agreements will enable us to promote and bring about major changes -changes in laws, policies and how priorities are set, but, above all, changes in the attitudes and mentalities of countries, societies and individuals."

    6. The representative of Belgium made the following statement on behalf of the European Union:

      "I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union - Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia and the associated countries - Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, align themselves with this declaration.

      "The European Union welcomes the adoption by consensus of the final documents of this Durban Conference.

      "We commend you, Madam President and Madam the Secretary-General of the Conference, for the giant effort you have made in securing general agreement on this Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

      "I would like first to add the following precisions:

        'The Declaration and the Programme of Action are political, not legal documents. These documents cannot impose obligations, or liability, or a right to compensation, on anyone.

        'Nor are they intended to do so. In particular, nothing in the Declaration or the Programme of Action can affect the general legal principle which precludes the retrospective application of international law in matters of State responsibility.

        'Furthermore, the European Union has joined consensus in a reference to measures to halt and reverse the lasting consequences of certain practices of the past. This should not be understood as the acceptance of any liability for these practices, nor does it imply a change in the principles of international development cooperation, partnership and solidarity. It will not change the nature of current national and international development cooperation criteria.'

      "I request that this statement be reflected verbatim in the report of the Conference.

      "The Durban Conference has been a unique opportunity for Europe to make its voice heard on a topic of the utmost importance. We all know that racism and intolerance are daily realities throughout the world. Combating the scourge of racism and xenophobia is thus a vital task for every one of us.

      "That is why the European Union was resolved from the outset to spare no effort to help make Durban a success.

      "There have already been a number of achievements as a result of the holding of the Conference. Thanks to this event, thousands of voices, the voices of men, women and children, have been able to make themselves heard, strengthening our determination to fight this evil.

      "Durban has also moved forward thinking about the causes and origins of racism. We have, inter alia, dealt at length here with the injustices of the past. And rightly so. The European Union acknowledges and deplores the immense suffering caused by past and contemporary forms of slavery and the slave trade wherever they have occurred and the most reprehensible aspects of colonialism.

      "Durban has thus been an opportunity to look our common past in the face. Some are calling that an expression of regret, others an expression of remorse and still others an expression of apologies. The most important thing of all is a willingness to close the darkest chapters of our history in order to be able to build a new relationship based on mutual respect, solidarity and partnership."

    7. At the same meeting, a written statement by H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa, was presented to the Conference. After concluding statements by H.E. Mrs. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa and President of the Conference, and by Mrs. Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the Conference, the President of the Conference declared the Conference closed. For the texts of the concluding statements, see annex IV.

    ANNEXES

    ANNEX I
    LIST OF DOCUMENTS ISSUED FOR THE WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE

    Symbol Agenda item Title
    A/CONF.189/1 7 Provisional agenda
    A/CONF.189/1/Rev.1 7 Agenda of the World Conference
    A/CONF.189/1/Add.1 7 Annotations to the provisional agenda
    A/CONF.189/2 8 Provisional rules of procedure
    A/CONF.189/3 8 Draft provisional programme of work
    A/CONF.189/4 9 Draft Declaration
    A/CONF.189/5 and Corr.1 9 Draft programme of action
    A/CONF.189/6 8 Proposed organization of the list of speakers for the general debate in the plenary of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
    A/CONF.189/8 8 List of non-governmental organizations accredited during the preparatory process of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
    A/CONF.189/9 9 Contribution by Mr. Miloon Kothari, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of an adequate standard of living
    A/CONF.189/10 9 Note by the secretariat on contributions by non-governmental organizations
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.1 9 Contribution submitted by Fraternité Notre Dame
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.2 9 Contribution submitted by Bahai International Community
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.3 9 Contribution submitted by the Indian Movement "Tupaj Amaru"
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.4 9 Contribution submitted by Human Rights Watch
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.5 9 Contribution submitted by Brahma Kumaris, World Spiritual University
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.6 9 Contribution submitted by European Women's Lobby
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.7 9 Contribution submitted by Oromia Support Group
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.8 9 Contribution submitted by the Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples
    A/CONF.189/10/Add.9 9 Contribution submitted by Zentrum fur Turkeistudien (Turkiye Arastirmalar Merkezi)
    A/CONF.189/11 - Report of the Credentials Committee
    A/CONF.189/L.1 and Add.1-3 - Draft report of the World Conference
    A/CONF.189/L.2 and Add.1 10 Report of the Main Committee on the draft declaration
    A/CONF.189/L.3 and Add.1-3 10 Report of the Main Committee on the draft programme of action
    A/CONF.189/INF.1 - List of Participants
    A/CONF.189/ Misc.1 - Contribution by national institutions

    ANNEX II
    OPENING STATEMENTS

    Statement by Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations

    Yesterday South Africa lost a leader and our brother Thabo a father. May I ask you now to stand and observe a moment of silence.

    Every one of us must feel the symbolism of this moment - the conjunction of theme, of time and of place.

    For decades the name of this country was synonymous with racism in its vilest form. But today, Mr. President, you and your fellow citizens have transformed its meaning - from a by-word for injustice and oppression, into a beacon of enlightenment and hope, not only for a troubled continent, but for the entire world.

    Where else, my friends, could we hold this Conference? Who could teach us how to overcome racism, discrimination and intolerance, if not the people of this country? We salute you. We salute your leadership, Mr. President. We salute the heroic movement that you represent.

    We salute Madiba, whose absence today we all regret, but whose presence, in a more profound sense, we all feel.

    We salute the memory of all who struggled for justice and freedom in this country - from Mohandas Gandhi to Oliver Tambo; from Steve Biko to Ruth First - and, of course, Govan Mbeke, for whom we are all in mourning today.

    And we also recognize the courage of F.W. de Klerk, who faced up to the inevitable and persuaded his own people to accept it.

    But indeed, my friends, we are here to learn, not to celebrate. We are here to share experiences, perspectives and assessments - of how far we have come, and how much further we must go, if racism is to be defeated.

    One thing we can celebrate is the fact that racism is now universally condemned. Few people in the world today openly deny that human beings are born with equal rights.

    But far too many people are still victimized because they belong to a particular group -whether national, ethnic, religious, defined by gender or by descent.

    Often this discrimination veils itself behind spurious pretexts. People are denied jobs ostensibly because they lack educational qualifications; or they are refused housing because there is a high crime rate in their community.

    Yet these very facts, even when true, are often the result of discrimination. Injustice traps people in poverty, poverty becomes the pretext for injustice - and so new wrongs are piled on the old.

    In many places people are maltreated and denied protection on the grounds that they are not citizens but unwanted immigrants. Yet often they have come to a new country to do work that is badly needed, or are present not by choice but as refugees from persecution in their own country. Such people have a special need for protection and are entitled to it.

    In other cases indigenous peoples and national minorities are oppressed because their culture and self-expression are seen as threats to national unity - and when they protest, this is taken as proof of their guilt.

    In extreme cases - which alas are all too common - people belonging to such groups are forced from their homes, or even massacred, because it is claimed that their very presence threatens another people's security.

    Sometimes these problems are in part the legacy of terrible wrongs in the past - such as the exploitation and extermination of indigenous peoples by colonial Powers, or the treatment of millions of human beings as mere merchandise, to be transported and disposed of by other human beings for commercial gain.

    The further those events recede into the past, the harder it becomes to trace lines of accountability. Yet the effects remain. The pain and anger are still felt. The dead, through their descendants, cry out for justice.

    Tracing a connection with past crimes may not always be the most constructive way to redress present inequalities, in material terms. But man does not live by bread alone. The sense of continuity with the past is an integral part of each man's or each woman's identity.

    Some historical wrongs are traceable to individuals who are still alive, or corporations that are still in business. They must expect to be held to account. The society they have wronged may forgive them, as part of the process of reconciliation, but they cannot demand forgiveness, as of right.

    Far more difficult are the cases where individual profit and loss have been obscured by a myriad of other, more recent transactions - yet there is still continuity between the societies and States of today and those that committed the original crimes.

    Each of us has an obligation to consider where he or she belongs in this complex historical chain. It is always easier to think of the wrongs one's own society has suffered. It is less comfortable to think in what ways our own good fortune might relate to the sufferings of others, in the past or present. But if we are sincere in our desire to overcome the conflicts of the past, all of us should make that mental effort.

    A special responsibility falls on political leaders, who have accepted the task of representing a whole society. They are accountable to their fellow citizens, but also - in a sense -accountable for them, and for the actions of their predecessors. We have seen, in recent decades, some striking examples of national leaders assuming this responsibility, acknowledging past wrongs and asking pardon from - or offering an apology to - the victims and their heirs.

    Such gestures cannot right the wrongs of the past. They can sometimes help to free the present - and the future - from the shackles of the past.

    But in any case, Mr. President, past wrongs must not distract us from present evils. Our aim must be to banish from this new century the hatred and prejudice that have disfigured previous centuries.

    The struggle to do that is at the very heart of our work at the United Nations. This year especially, at such events as the Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the special session on HIV/AIDS, or next month's special session on Children, we have often found racism and discrimination among the biggest obstacles to overcome.

    And in our peacekeeping and peace-building work, we often find ourselves wrestling -again and again - with the effects of xenophobia and intolerance.

    Only if we tackle these evils at source can we hope to prevent conflicts before they break out. And that means taking firm action to root them out in every society - for, alas, no society is immune.

    Last year, the leaders of our Member States resolved, in their Millennium Declaration, "to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies, and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies".

    With those words, Mr. President, they gave this Conference its true agenda. We must not leave this city without agreeing on practical measures which all States should take to fulfil that pledge. It must be reflected in our budgets and development plans, in our laws and institutions -and, above all, in our school curricula.

    Let us remember that no one is born a racist. Children learn racism as they grow up, from the society around them - and too often the stereotypes are reinforced, deliberately or inadvertently, by the mass media. We must not sacrifice freedom of the press, but we must actively refute pseudo-scientific arguments and oppose negative images with positive ones -teaching our children and our fellow citizens not to fear diversity, but to cherish it.

    This Conference has been exceptionally difficult to prepare, because the issues are not ones where consensus is easily found.

    Yes, we can all agree to condemn racism. But that very fact makes the accusation of racism, against any particular individual or group, particularly hurtful. It is hurtful to one's pride, because few of us see ourselves as racists. And it arouses fear, because once a group is accused of racism it becomes a potential target for retaliation, perhaps for persecution in its turn.

    Nowhere is that truer today than in the Middle East. The Jewish people have been victims of anti-Semitism in many parts of the world and in Europe they were the target of the Holocaust - the ultimate abomination. This fact must never be forgotten or diminished. It is understandable, therefore, that many Jews deeply resent any accusation of racism directed against the State of Israel - and all the more so when it coincides with indiscriminate and totally unacceptable attacks on innocent civilians.

    Yet we cannot expect Palestinians to accept this as a reason why the wrongs done to them - displacement, occupation, blockade and now extrajudicial killings - should be ignored, whatever label one uses to describe them.

    But, my friends, mutual accusations are not the purpose of this Conference. Our main objective must be to improve the lot of the victims.

    Let us admit that all countries have issues of racism and discrimination to address. Rather than pick on any one country or region, let us aim to leave here with a commitment from every country to draw up and implement its own national plan to combat racism, in accordance with general principles that we will have agreed.

    For weeks and months our representatives have laboured to reach agreement on those principles. And they have made great progress. Large parts of the Declaration and Programme of Action have been agreed, including texts on such difficult issues as indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees and "people of African descent".

    Friends, this Conference is a test of our international community - of its will to unite on a topic of central importance in people's lives. Let us not fail this test. The build-up to this Conference has prompted an extraordinary mobilization of civil society in many different countries. It has raised expectations which we must not disappoint.

    If we leave here without agreement we shall give comfort to the worst elements in every society. But if, after all the difficulties, we can leave with a call to action supported by all, we shall send a signal of hope to brave people struggling against racism all over the world.

    Let us rise above our disagreements. The wrangling has gone on for too long. Let us echo the slogan that resounded throughout this country during the elections of 1994, at the end of the long struggle against apartheid: SEKUNJALO. The time has come.

    Statement by H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa

    On behalf of the people of South Africa and our Government, I am privileged to join in welcoming you all to South Africa and to this historic World Conference that has the potential and a responsibility to convey a message of hope to billions of people across the globe.

    We have gathered as we have, because we are united in our resolve to ensure that every human being leads a life of dignity. We meet here because we are determined to ensure that nobody anywhere should be subjected to the insult and offence of being despised by another or others because of his or her race, colour, nationality or origin.

    Together we are committed to the realization of the objective that every human being should enjoy human rights as equals with other human beings, with every right and possibility to determine both their future and the destiny of their countries.

    This surely means that nobody should be denied their statehood on any basis whatsoever, or turned into permanent refugees with neither the right nor the possibility to build a national home they can truly call home.

    I am certain we are determined to speak with one voice to assert that no culture, language or tradition of any people is inferior, deserving of being despised, mocked and destroyed. By this means we want to make the point firmly that all peoples and all nations are mutually and each equally entitled to their identity and their national pride.

    We have gathered in Durban because we have understood that poverty is not a natural human condition. Accordingly, it constitutes a direct attack on the human dignity of all those condemned to deprivation and are therefore forced to beg, to steal, to prostitute themselves because they are poor or those who resort to substance abuse to take away the pain of hunger and despair.

    Understanding all this, we are meeting here because we have said to ourselves that, since poverty is not an act of nature but the product of human society, we must as this human society, together fight and vanquish poverty and underdevelopment.

    We have come together, in what some believe is a new age of reason, because we know that the knowledge and the means exist in human society today in fact to overcome this poverty and underdevelopment.

    The question that remains to be answered is what is to be done to deploy these powerful intellectual and material resources so that poverty everywhere becomes a thing of the past.

    It became necessary that we convene in Durban because, together, we recognized the fact that there are many in our common world who suffer indignity and humiliation because they are not white.

    Their cultures and traditions are despised as savage and primitive and their identities denied. They are not white and are deeply immersed in poverty. Of them it is said that they are human but black, whereas others are described as human and white.

    To those who have to bear the pain of this real world, it seems the blues singers were right when they decried the world in which it was said - if you're white you're alright; if you're brown, stick around; if you're black, oh brother! get back, get back, get back!

    I speak in these terms, which some may think are too harsh and stark, because I come from a people that have known the bitter experience of slavery, colonialism and racism.

    These are a people who know what it means to be the victim of rabid racism and racial discrimination. Among us are the women who suffered most because they had to carry the additional burden of gender oppression and discrimination.

    Because of that experience, against whose results we continue to struggle to this day, as we will do for a considerable time to come, we also know what can be achieved when the peoples of the world unite to say no longer will they allow that another human being will suffer at the hands of another because of their race, colour, nationality and origin.

    In welcoming you to South Africa, we welcome you as fellow combatants who joined us in struggle to defeat and suppress the apartheid crime against humanity.

    Accordingly, I am privileged to have the opportunity as you, who represent the nations of the world, meet in this country, which not so long ago was the fountainhead of racism, once more to convey to you the immense gratitude of the millions of our people that you did not stand aside when that crime against humanity was being committed.

    These masses are convinced that when you waged that protracted struggle, you did so because you were opposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance everywhere.

    They welcomed the fact that you decided to convene this World Conference here in the belief that you did so because you have confidence that we too remain an active part of the world movement determined to fight on until racism ceases to define anybody's place in society and the world.

    They were happy that you would come, because this would give us an opportunity to reaffirm in front of you all that to us slavery, colonialism and racism are fundamentally repugnant.

    It would give us the possibility to pledge to the peoples of the world that we will not betray the friendship and solidarity which drove you to act against apartheid and will therefore join with you in the difficult struggle to eradicate the legacy of slavery, colonialism and racism.

    Those in our common universe who are defined by the blues singers as brown and black expect much of this important World Conference. They believe that something will come out of here that will signify a united and sustained global drive within their countries and throughout the world to help rid them of the suffering they bear because they are brown and black.

    They entertain this hope because their suffering is real and immense. And yet they can also see that there are others who are as human as they, who lead decent lives and are certain of even better lives in future, whatever other problems they experience.

    Gripped by poverty, fearful of the future because they know that tomorrow will be worse than today, forced to behave towards others as though some are inferior and others superior, simply to get something to eat, many take to their feet to flee from their lands of despair, at all costs trying to reach other countries they believe have the possibility to introduce them to a life of hope.

    Our common humanity dictates that as we rose against apartheid racism, so must we combine to defeat the consequences of slavery, colonialism and racism which, to this day, continue to define the lives of billions of people who are brown and black as lives of hopelessness.

    Nobody ever chose to be a slave, to be colonized, to be racially oppressed. The impulses of the time caused these crimes to be committed by human beings against others.

    Surely, the impulse of our own time says to all of us that we must do everything we can to free those who to this day suffer from racism, xenophobia and related intolerance because their forebears were enslaved, colonized and racially oppressed.

    It surely must be that this World Conference will say that, in all countries, both of the North and the South, the brown and black ghettos of poverty, despair and human degradation must no longer exist.

    This World Conference will have to indicate what is to be done practically so that this call results in a changed and changing world in which all human beings actually enjoy the inalienable right to human dignity.

    An important part of our legitimacy as Governments derives from our commitment to serve the people. Our own experience tells us that these people whom we serve always feel pain when another, who might be a citizen of other lands, feels pain.

    To these masses, human solidarity is not a foreign concept. To them, this World Conference must convey the message that the peoples of the world are inspired by a new internationalism that says that we are determined to unite in action to repair the gross human damage that was caused in the past.

    It must inspire them with the knowledge that as Governments, as non-governmental organizations, as countries and as peoples, we are ready now to dedicate our minds, our skills and our resources to the creation of a new world free of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    It must convey a message of hope to the peoples of the world that, together, we are resolved to work hard for peace everywhere in our universe, so that the doors open everywhere for the fullest and all-round development of all human beings in conditions of freedom, safety and security.

    The Middle East cries out for a just, stable and permanent peace that is long overdue. The people of Palestine, like those of Israel and everywhere else in the world, are also entitled to pursue their fullest and all-round development in conditions of freedom, safety and security.

    Our own continent of Africa also deserves peace like any other, to rescue the peoples from death and destruction and to open the doors for us, too, to develop in conditions of freedom, safety and security.

    Thus will the conditions be created for us as Africans to take to the long road towards the eradication of the legacy, which is our daily companion, of slavery, colonialism and racism.

    Only recently we bade farewell to a century that has visited terrible suffering on millions of people. It inflicted a terrible Holocaust on the Jewish people. It imposed a frightful genocide on the people of Rwanda. It produced criminal regimes of people demented by adherence to anti-human ideologies of racial superiority.

    And yet this same century gave us a global compact in the form of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It gave humanity as a whole the possibility to accumulate the knowledge and the means to realize the noble vision contained in that document.

    We have gathered in Durban to make the commitment that this we will do and, together, to decide what steps we will take to ensure what has to be done is done.

    Once more, I welcome you to this country which you helped to liberate from apartheid racism and hope that the celebration of that victory will give this World Conference the inspiration to produce the results that will define the twenty-first century as the century that restored to all their human dignity.

    Statement by H. E. Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa and President of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

    In accepting the Presidency of this Conference, it is appropriate to pay a special tribute to the gallant fighter against racism and son of Africa, Govan Mbeki, who sadly passed away on the eve of this Conference.

    Inspired by the collective efforts of humanity, slavery, the slave trade, colonialism and apartheid have all ceased to be. They have all been defeated, because humanity could not countenance oppression of one by another, because humanity has dared to affirm an injunction that we are all born equal with inherent rights and dignity. These noble words are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and serve as a guiding light and offer hope for all humanity.

    Representing African women, I know the pain of slavery, and colonialism, whose legacy is staring me in the face every day. My continent bears the scars of conflicts, abject poverty, racism, marginalization, social exclusion, underdevelopment, economic disparities, humiliation and indignity; all have their roots in the practices of these abominable systems.

    We can take pride in the role of this region in the long struggle against racism. It was in this province that Mahatma Ghandi launched his non-violent resistance struggle and later inspired the freedom struggle in India and worldwide. South Africa has a long history of resistance, symbolized by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Chief Albert Lutuli, who was the first African leader to receive it and came from this region. Despite the triumph against racism, all countries of the world continue to battle against the contemporary forms of racism. It is my hope that at the end of this Conference, we will learn from and share with the international community on the ways and means of dealing with racism.

    Our Conference must issue a clarion call to the rest of the world to end the unspeakable evils of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Concomitantly with this call, we must launch a sustained programme of action capable of being implemented by every country at every level.

    In recognizing the work that has been produced thus far, I wish to thank all Member States for their contributions in their respective regions. This was followed by intensive preparatory meetings held in Geneva. Indeed, at times it seemed gloomy and hopeless, but we persevered and recorded substantial progress. We must build on that, aware of the sensitivity and pain involved in confronting these issues. It is my hope that we shall together respond to this challenge before us. We must succeed, we cannot afford anything less than success. At the end of this century we must look back at this Conference as the beginning of an offensive against racism.

    The Youth Summit and the Non-Governmental Organization Forum have also discussed these issues and challenged the Conference to bequeath them a non-racial, non-sexist, tolerant and peaceful world. We dare not fail them. This will be a fitting tribute to all those who over generations have sacrificed their lives in the battle against racism.

    It will be remiss of me to conclude without acknowledging the dexterous work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and her secretariat. She and her team have performed brilliantly under trying conditions.

    I, therefore, accept with humility, the task assigned to me as President of this Conference by this distinguished assembly. My success is dependent on the cooperation of all of you. I know, without doubt, that all of you will contribute in any way you can to make this Conference a success. It will be through our perseverance and cooperation in the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood that we will all succeed.

    In his book, Long Walk to Freedom, the icon of our struggle, Nelson Mandela, made this seminal comment: "I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vistas that surround me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities and I dare not linger for my long walk is not yet ended."

    It is my fervent hope that at the end of this Conference we will look back proudly at the road traversed thus far and go on to give concrete expression to the Programme of Action and the Declaration that we would adopt with consensus.

    Statement by Mr. Harri Holkeri, President of the United Nations General Assembly

    I should like to congratulate you on your election as the President of the Conference. I am confident that with your experience and wisdom, you will be able to guide this important Conference to a successful outcome.

    I am honoured to address the opening meeting of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in my capacity as President of the General Assembly. This Conference is one of the five United Nations conferences and special sessions convened since last September's Millennium Summit. As President, I have been mandated to follow up the implementation of the Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government. This Conference should rise to the challenge and prove that Member States are truly committed to the implementation of the Declaration.

    The Millennium Declaration brought together the global development agendas of the 1990s, but it also reflected a unique consensus on the values and principles of the international community. Many of the goals and principles of the Declaration are closely linked to the outcome of this Conference.

    In the Millennium Declaration, Governments committed themselves not only to respect human rights in general but explicitly to respect equal rights, without distinction. The Declaration reaffirmed respect for each other in all our diversity and our determination to eliminate acts of racism and xenophobia. It also obliged us to protect those who can find themselves in situations of vulnerability.

    Racism and racial discrimination are among the most powerful assaults on human dignity and freedom. No society can tolerate racism without undermining peace and justice. The fight against racism and racial discrimination has been at the forefront of the United Nations since its creation. The inclusion in the Charter of the United Nations of the promotion and protection of human rights for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, was based largely on the world's experiences before and during the Second World War.

    The General Assembly has throughout the years played a significant role in addressing racism and racial discrimination, not only as a political forum for debate but also as a policy-making instrument for the creation of programmes to tackle these evils.

    The three Decades to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, the two previous world conferences against racism and racial discrimination, and the current Year of Mobilization against Racism and Racial Discrimination have all served as tools to achieve results in the fight against racism.

    The United Nations played a key role in ending apartheid. It was a major achievement of the international community as a whole and marked the extinction of institutionalized forms of racial discrimination. And yet, while the mass media, international travel and technological progress bring people closer and closer, we are witnessing a resurgence of intolerance, manifestations of xenophobia, racism, racial discrimination and ethnic conflicts across the world.

    The fundamental rights of migrants, refugees, ethnic, national and religious minorities and indigenous peoples are being denied. The resurgence of ethnic conflict in many parts of the world is a source of concern. New theories of racial and ethnic purification have emerged. Inequality has become the pressing challenge of our time.

    It was against this background that, in December 1997, the General Assembly decided that it was time for the international community to confront the rising tide of racism and racial discrimination. It decided to convene this World Conference to formulate concrete recommendations to further action-oriented national, regional and international measures to combat all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    We have gathered here to take a big step forward in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. I have followed the preparatory process of this Conference with great interest. Substantial progress has been made in shaping the final document. Now, I encourage you all to work hard to make the outcome a landmark for further action by Member States and the United Nations. A great deal of political will and leadership is still required to reach an agreement on the remaining outstanding issues.

    Durban - a truly symbolic forum for this Conference, and a reminder for us all that when there is political will and determination, changes can be made - offers a unique opportunity to make our century a century of understanding among people, a century of acceptance of diversity and a century of respect for differences. We have reached a critical moment where each individual should be an equal member of the human family.

    We have a great responsibility and I remain confident that we have the potential to shape attitudes and resolve the basic question of human relationships - how people should relate to each other - with respect and tolerance.

    Statement by Mrs. Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

    Today marks the start of an event which many people have worked long and hard for over many months. To all who contributed and especially to the people of Durban and South Africa I say a warm "thank you".

    We have come a long way to Durban. Indeed, it has been a bumpy road. I recall the first formal event of the Conference 18 months ago - an expert seminar in Geneva on "remedies available to the victims of acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and good national practices in the field". We have come a long way since then in building up our understanding of racism in the modern world. There have been four regional conferences, five expert seminars and three sessions of the Preparatory Committee. There have been lengthy drafting sessions, and events of every description have taken place in every part of the world with the focus on the themes of Durban.

    We have come a long way psychologically and substantively too. Our journey to Durban has helped to shape thinking about who the victims of racism and discrimination are, what sort of remedies can be made available and the best kinds of preventive measures. When the balance sheet is drawn up for the Conference, the greater understanding which has been achieved of the sources, causes of and remedies for racism must weigh heavily in its favour.

    At the same time, this was never going to be an easy Conference. Asking people to face up to the problems of racism in their midst is not always welcome. There is a tendency to say "We don't have those problems in our country". It is always easier to point the finger of blame than to look hard at our own prejudices and biases.

    And we should not be surprised that the negotiations have been difficult. The issues we are addressing here confront us at so many levels, nationally, regionally, locally. They are among the most sensitive the United Nations and the international community have to deal with. It is worth remembering this over the coming week.

    We should remember, too, that we cannot solve all of the world's problems at Durban.

    A theme I have been stressing is that we all belong to one human family. Families don't agree on everything. But they agree on certain fundamentals, and that is what makes families strong. What I am asking all of you is that we agree on the fundamental aims of this Conference, not that we try to sort out all the problems on the international agenda.

    One thing that is clearer to me after the preparations of the past 18 months is how badly we need new strategies to fight racism and intolerance in the modern world. To those who say we do not need a world conference on this subject I say "Look around you". How much misery, inequality, conflict is caused by racism and discrimination? From a human rights point of view, this Conference is crucially important. Equality and non-discrimination are central to the pursuit of human rights.

    Success at Durban should be measured by whether or not the outcome brings effective remedies and relief to the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    I have also learned how closely contemporary forms of racism are bound up with the past. I believe this Conference could mark a historic breakthrough in the struggle against racism if agreement could be reached on language that recognizes historic injustices and expresses deep remorse for the crimes of the past. If we can do that, it will connect with millions of people worldwide and affirm their human dignity. It will connect in the way that poetry connects and will be heard by that inner ear.

    We must focus attention on outcomes and forward strategies. In some respects the journey proper will only begin after we leave Durban. That is when the real test will come of what we have achieved over these months of preparation and at the Conference itself.

    Durban will only be a landmark if there is substantial text adopted here and meaningful follow-up. The task which we must achieve before we leave is to have a clear understandingabout the follow-up which must be accomplished, about who is responsible for the necessary actions and how we can measure progress.

    I call on every government representative to ensure that the responsibilities of States in the fight against racism and discrimination are fully understood and acted on as the Secretary-General has urged, through national programmes or plans of action.

    I call on intergovernmental organizations to play their part to ensure that the aims of this Conference are reflected in their own activities and that they vigorously monitor the commitments that will be made here.

    As far as the United Nations role is concerned, the participatory process has made it clear that the United Nations must not only continue its historic fight against discrimination, but must intensify that struggle. We have heard at length from those who are hurting, from those who are the victims of injustice and from those in quest of dignity and equality. I have already drawn firm conclusions from this and I shall establish an anti-discrimination unit reporting directly to me to take follow-up action on the insights we have already gained, on the implementation of your recommendations and to maintain common cause and mobilization with civil society. I shall be consulting with Member States at the forthcoming General Assembly on how we can take forward processes to follow up on the practical proposals that have come out of the various regional conferences and expert meetings.

    I cannot overstate the role of civil society in the follow-up process. I look particularly to non-governmental organizations, the international youth forum formed here in Durban and civil society generally to take up the challenge of Durban and form a global alliance with Governments to carry the struggle forward. The impression I have is that non-governmental organizations are, indeed, rising to the challenge and are aware of how vital is the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    Three things I would ask for in the week ahead from all parties and especially from delegates. The first is generosity of spirit. It is no small issue we are dealing with in Durban; it is no time to be small-minded. Secondly, I call for flexibility and a willingness to meet the views of others. Progress can only be made on that basis and the urgency of devising new strategies to combat racism and discrimination requires it. Finally, I would appeal for a sense of vision. I remain convinced that this can be a defining moment for the international community, that we have the capacity at the start of this century to work for a better and fairer world.

    We can draw inspiration from the African concept of Ubuntu, that ancient term which embraces humaneness, caring, sharing and being in harmony with all of the world. When he came to Geneva last April, Archbishop Desmond Tutu explained how the concept represents the opposite of being selfish and self-centred. Ubuntu empowers everyone to be valued, to reach their full potential while remaining in accord with everything and everyone around them.

    This spirit is reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights when it speaks of "the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family". The Universal Declaration proclaims that "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights... and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood". Some of you, like me, would rather call it a spirit of sisterhood. But whether brotherhood or sisterhood, let that spirit inform our discussions over the coming week as we strive for a world where the principles of equality and non-discrimination are honoured, not merely in words, but in fact.

    ANNEX III
    ROUND TABLE OF HEADS OF STATE AND HEADS OF GOVERNMENT

    1. On 31 August 2001, at 3 p.m., the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held a round table of heads of State and heads of Government, under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa. A statement was made by President Mbeki.

    2. The round table was opened by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, who made a statement.

    3. The following heads of State and heads of Government participated in the round table:

      H.E. Ms. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of State of the Republic of Latvia;
      H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
      H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal;
      H.E. Mr. Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires, President of the Republic of Cape Verde;
      H.E. Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda;
      H.E. Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority;
      H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Rwandese Republic;
      H.E. Mr. Fidel Castro, President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba;
      H.E. Mr. Didjob Divungui Di-Ndinge, Vice-President of the Gabonese Republic;
      H.E. Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria;
      H.E. Mr. Jozo Krizanovic, Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
      H.E. Mr. Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique;
      H.E. Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of the Congo.

    5. Questions were put or comments made to the participants in the round table by the representatives of Canada, Comoros, Cuba, Jamaica, Latvia, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Nepal, the Philippines and Spain.

    6. Questions were put or comments made to the participants by representatives of the following non-governmental organizations: Law Society, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

    7. In an interactive dialogue, participants responded to the questions and comments.

    8. Concluding remarks were made by President Mbeki and Mrs. Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

    ANNEX IV
    CLOSING STATEMENTS

    Written statement by H.E. Mr. Thabo Mbeki,
    President of the Republic of South Africa

    We are at the end of an historic World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

    As we prepare to return to our respective homes, I would like to thank you most sincerely for coming to Durban to participate in the important work that has been done at the governmental and non-governmental meetings that have taken place over the last fortnight.

    I would also like to apologize for any inconvenience suffered by any of the delegates, as a result of any failings on our part as South Africans.

    As we prepare to return to our respective homes, naturally, we must ask ourselves the question - did we achieve what we came to Durban to achieve?

    Long before we concluded our work, the sceptics said the Conference had failed. Some of those who did not come stayed away because they do not care about the pain caused to very many by the social evils we have been discussing.

    Clearly, others behaved as they did because they thought there were other matters more important than the effort to unite the peoples of the world to wage a determined struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    Those of us who care deeply about these critically important matters of human rights for all, and human dignity for all, came, stayed and grappled with these issues with the great seriousness they demand.

    This we did in the same way that we stayed the whole course of the struggle to defeat the apartheid crime against humanity.

    We arrived at the positions we have taken without equivocation. At the same time, we refused to make the statement that is difficult to understand that the human rights of some are superior to the human rights of others.

    We resisted the pressure to subscribe to the inhuman proposition that human dignity can be apportioned around the globe in disproportionate shares.

    At the end of our stay in Durban, we can say very firmly that what we sought to achieve, we have achieved.

    We met here not merely as Governments but as the peoples of the world. As these peoples, we have made a clarion call that has been heard in all corners of the globe.

    The call we have made from this World Conference to the peoples of the world is that because racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to blight human society, they must be fought with the greatest determination and perseverance.

    Few in the world can say that they have not heard us. Few in our common universe can now say they did not act, simply because they did not know.

    Because of the courage that all of us have demonstrated to confront the scourge of racism, it should no longer be that this issue, like the similarly important challenge of sexism, is relegated to the margins of social and public policy.

    The clear message from the World Conference against Racism is that the struggle against racism is a struggle for human rights, dignity and the eradication of poverty.

    What the global community will also have heard coming out of Durban is that the peoples of the world are indeed united in their resolve to act together against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and not merely to condemn these evils.

    From today, they will see that united resolve expressed in the Declaration and the Programme of Action that we have adopted and which we all committed to implement.

    The fact that we have adopted a Declaration and a Programme of Action underscores the truth that if we have the political will to succeed, we can find consensus on all issues. It also underlines the fact that international conferences are not platforms dogmatically to impose one's own positions.

    They enable us to have frank and open discussions in order to arrive at agreed solutions. We can be proud that we all worked honestly to arrive at a consensus. None of us achieved everything we wanted, but we have started an historical process, which provides us with a solid foundation to continue the struggle to build a better world for all.

    We trust that those who walked out prematurely will accept the Programme of Action and join the international crusade against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    We can say without hesitation that yet another achievement of the World Conference is that it has answered that question for all of us about what we should do to combat racism and to move forward towards its eradication everywhere in the world.

    Few in our common universe, now and in future, can say they did not act, merely because they did not know what to do.

    Since racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance constitute a global challenge to the effort to construct a human world, they demand that those of us who are committed to confront this challenge should combine into a formidable united movement for the dignity of all human beings everywhere.

    The holding of the World Conference has given us the possibility to reinforce the process towards the building of this global anti-racist movement by enabling us to sit together to seek a common understanding of the challenge we face and to make a commitment to one another that we will act together.

    We must also salute the Secretary-General of the Conference for the important initiative the United Nations took to ensure that Governments, non-governmental organizations and the youth all focus on the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    As Governments we may disagree with some of the conclusions arrived at by the non-governmental organizations. However, this should not detract from the important reality that these organizations constitute an important component part of the global anti-racist movement of which we have spoken.

    It should also not weaken our resolve as Governments to work together with the youth and the non-governmental sector to mount a united and sustained offensive to push back the frontiers of racism.

    This must also mean that as Governments we have to hold ourselves accountable to the peoples of the world by ensuring that we report regularly on what we are doing to implement the Programme of Action we have adopted, and by responding to legitimate public criticism if we fail to act.

    I trust that all of us will also agree that the commitment we have made to act is also an undertaking that we will act in solidarity with one another across the globe.

    We must recall and draw inspiration from the powerful international movement we built together, so that we could act in unity against apartheid racism in South Africa.

    Together we must make the statement in action that we represent a new internationalism based on the recognition that an injury to one is an injury to all.

    Thus will we give strength and hope to victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance who might be too weak if they act on their own, but strong if we all respond to the purpose of this World Conference of uniting the peoples of the world against racism.

    We ourselves who have been privileged to be present at this Conference as delegates cannot say we did not hear the voices of those whose voices are never heard, because they are the forgotten, the marginalized and the despised.

    None of us will leave Durban without having learnt something new. None of us can truthfully say that we depart from this city without having been exposed to the suffering of communities to whose plight we had not been sensitized before.

    Even if we had achieved nothing else, we would have achieved much simply by enabling those who have never had the possibility to break the barriers of silence in the past, to tell the world their moving stories of oppression and exploitation at the hands of other human beings who do to others what they would not allow to be done to themselves.

    It must surely be one of the responsibilities of the United Nations and all of us to ensure that the billions who did not hear the testimonies we heard are given the possibility to acquaint themselves with the gross injustices that still constitute an inherent part of a human society that prides itself on its achievements with regard to such centrally important issues as democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

    Madam President,

    Distinguished delegates.

    Our contemporary world is characterized by at least four distinguishing features.

    One of these is the end of the cold war and therefore the assumption by some of a position of exclusive dominance in the global exercise of power.

    The second, arising from the first, is the reality of a global political and economic agenda set by this collective dominant power, resulting in the implementation of measures determined by this power as representing the essence of what is good.

    The third of these features is the process of globalization, which both informs and is informed by this global agenda, thus giving the agenda the character of a natural process against which there can be no alternative.

    The fourth feature of our time that we would like to mention is the further disempowerment of those who are already disempowered, which subjects them to imperatives they cannot influence and over which they have no control.

    We met in Durban to discuss what we can do collectively to change the life conditions of those who are affected by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    Put in other words, we met in Durban to agree, to the extent that we could, about what we should do to change the life conditions of those who are, today, the most disempowered and the worst victims of the process of further disempowerment.

    More than anybody else, these masses cry out for democracy and therefore for their voice to be heard, listened to seriously and responded to.

    They are unwavering militants of the struggle for human rights and the rule of law and therefore the right to lead humane lives, as equals with other human beings.

    They entertain great hopes about the future because they have taken at their word those who foretell that the process of globalization will bring prosperity for all.

    They are pleased that they have the possibility to be treated as human beings and not mere changeable and disposable ciphers in a gigantic ideological game played by those who exercise power so that they can hold on to power and maintain a particular balance of power.

    But they also know from their daily experience that the future they have been promised has yet to be. They know that they remain, still, unequal to others.

    The lives they lead and their alienation from institutions of power compel some to doubt the efficacy of democratic means to improve their lives.

    They are aware that they have no access to the world to which they are told they should belong as their human right.

    They know that as much as hunger and misery was their lot yesterday and today, so will they be their bedfellows tomorrow.

    Because they know all these things, these masses sent their representatives to Durban so that their concerns and their aspirations should become part of the global agenda that will determine what our common world will look like in the twenty-first century.

    The decisions we have taken constitute what should be on that agenda. Their importance dictates that we take seriously the task of translating them into reality.

    It demands that we overcome the opposition of those who benefit from the silence and invisibility of those who suffer from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    These will continue to argue that those who suffer from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are wrong to represent their cause, that they are mistaken to broadcast the pain they feel.

    As they attempted to do here in Durban, they will ask us to talk about things other than what we want to talk about. Because they see us as the denizens of the periphery of human society, they will work to decide for us what our agenda should be.

    In Durban, we said no to all that.

    As we did what we had to do at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance we chose to listen to the voice of the outstanding Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, when he said:

      "You are going to ask:

      and where are the lilacs?
      And the poppy-petalled metaphysics?

      And the rain repeatedly spattering in words and drilling them
      full of apertures and birds? ...

      "And you will ask: why doesn't his poetry
      speak of dreams and leaves
      and the great volcanoes of his native land?

      "Come and see the blood in the streets.

      Come and see
      the blood in the streets.

      Come and see the blood
      In the streets!"

    It should not be that those who heard a message of hope emanate from Durban should, one day, have occasion to repeat after Pablo Neruda:

      "and from every dead child a rifle with eyes,
      and from every crime bullets are born
      which will one day find the bull's eyes of your hearts."

    I wish you each a safe journey home and success in the common struggle to rid the world of the demon of racism.

    Statement by H.E. Ms. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa and President of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

    At the end of this landmark and historic Conference, I think we will all agree that it was right that this Conference was held and consensus reached on practical steps to be taken to push back the frontiers of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance which are frighteningly on the rise in many parts of the world. I would imagine that we would also agree that it was proper that this Conference should be held in South Africa, a country that has witnessed the most egregious form of institutionalized racism, yet rose to become a living testimony that racism can be defeated with the collective efforts of the international community.

    Gathered at this Conference, as Member States, we have at some time or another stood at the precipice. At each moment we stepped back and courageously dug deep into our strength and made a supreme effort to make the Conference the success, that really it is. It was the daring act of faith that sustained us through to the finish, because we must have said to ourselves that for the sake of posterity we must lay a firm foundation for the future of tolerance and harmonious coexistence that will be free from the cancer of racism.

    Indeed, we have found our way through the turbulent sea of events. At each point along the way, we had to respond creatively to both anticipated and unanticipated events. Like the blooming and blossoming flower in the spring, we have agreed on a fresh start and a new road map. We have agreed that the depredation of the systems of slavery and colonialism had a degrading and debilitating impact on those who are black, broadly defined.

    We also agreed that slavery is a crime against humanity and that an apology is necessary, not for monetary gain, but to restore the dignity and humanity of those who suffered. We also looked at the Middle East. I think everybody in this Conference could not help but be moved by the suffering they saw every day on their television screens. It was those images of suffering Palestinian men, women and children that made us here feel that this matter needed to be discussed.

    Consequently, we agreed that a clear and unequivocal apology constitutes a starting point in a long and arduous journey of finding one another. An apology restores the dignity, self-worth and humanity of the black body, broadly defined. We also agreed that other remedial actions would have to be adopted to correct the legacy of slavery and colonialism and all other forms of racism. We agreed to work consciously to uplift women who have been victims of these ills because of their race and gender.

    We agreed that the discrimination against and the lack of opportunities for minorities and indigenous people everywhere as a result of their origin, culture, tradition, language, standing in society and their refugee status could only be ignored to our perpetual peril. Accordingly, we have reached consensus that access to education and changing curricula to reflect the interests of every group in every society must be encouraged. We requested the media and other forms of communication medium to help promote positive values of tolerance, understanding, ubuntu-humaness and the richness of our world diversity.

    We have agreed at the Conference, that the notion and the process of globalization are entering our jargon and global discourse. We have equally agreed that globalization has impacted on countries differently. It has rendered precarious the economies of countries with the terrible legacy of slavery and colonialism, while benefiting mostly the developed countries.

    Wherever it went, especially in the developing South, it has left in its wake dehumanizing absolute poverty, economic marginalization, social exclusion and underdevelopment. Globalization has created the economic refugees who have taken to fleeing the misery of poverty in their countries in search of succour and better living conditions in the rich and prosperous developed countries. Unfortunately, these refugees have been at the receiving end of the worst form of racism and xenophobia.

    The Conference, therefore, agreed that this process should be harnessed and directed at the most pressing challenge of our time - "poverty eradication". Globalization has generated enough wealth and resources to do that. We also agreed to deal with the structural conditions that sustain the inequality and inequity of the global economy that in turn encourage underdevelopment and marginalization, which is at the root of racism today.

    Through the Programme of Action and the Declaration we unanimously agreed to launch the Global Army against Racism in all countries to work assiduously to roll back and uproot the scourge of racism. From the intergovernmental, to non-governmental and civil society, we agreed in our various forums to work jointly in partnerships to take our work forward. The political Declaration we have just adopted is indeed action orientated and practical. It is now up to Governments and civil society to ensure its implementation.

    We have agreed that coming from the centuries that entrenched chauvinism and the pernicious system of segregation, this current century must at its end serve as a fulcrum against racism and free us, once and for all, from all those outdated anti-human and anti-social ideologies whose burden we all carry up to today.

    At this juncture, it is in order to express our heartfelt and sincere thanks to the Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance for the excellent service she and her hard-working team provided towards the success of the Conference.

    We also wish to thank Madame Diallo and the Preparatory Committee for the groundwork which became the basis of our deliberations. Our gratitude also goes to the Group of 21, which produced proposals that helped us move forward. It is in order to thank countries that hosted regional conferences and allowed Member States to formulate their regional positions that fed into this process, Chile, Iran, France and Senegal.

    Ours has been truly an inclusive and broadly consultative process. Our big thank you also goes to the members of the Bureau whose perseverance has seen us conclude our work. The interpreters who made our work easy and more manageable deserve the special mention for their unstinting work. Last but not least, I wish to thank all regional coordinators, especially Brazil, Kenya and Mexico, who led the parallel processes with utmost distinction. I also extend my sincere thanks to the United Nations family for working so tirelessly to make ours a truly successful Conference.

    We thank you Member States most dearly for honouring us with your presence in the country you helped liberate through your unfeigned commitment to liquidate the most stubborn system of the apartheid crime against humanity. We apologize for any inconvenience suffered by any delegation during the Conference. I wish to thank also President Mbeki and Deputy President Zuma, as well as my compatriots for their hard work and support.

    Shakespeare's Tempest eloquently and elegantly reminds us of our beautiful world when Miranda, the daughter of the deposed Prospero, proclaims at the top of her voice "Oh brave, new world, to have such people". Indeed you are the brave and wondrous people, and have so remarkably risen to the challenge of our time.

    In closing, I want to refer to one of our finest poets, Wally Mongale Serote, who had these beautiful words to say in his work Ofay-Watcher Looks Back:

      "I want to look at what happened;

      That done,
      As silent as the roots of plants pierce the soil
      I look at what happened
      Whether above the houses there is always either smoke or dust

      I want to look at what happened
      That done
      As silent plants show the colour; green
      I want to look at what happened,
      When houses make me ask: do people live there?
      As there is something wrong when I ask - is that man alive?

      I want to look at what happened,
      That done
      As silent as the life of a plant that makes you see it as silent as plants bloom and the eyes
      tells you: something has happened."

    Something historic has indeed happened here today.

    Statement by Mrs. Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

    It has been an exhausting nine days for all of us, but I believe it has been worth it. We have come a very long way. Many questioned whether it would be possible to reach consensus, but we have succeeded and that is no small achievement.

    I pay tribute to the delegates who have had to deal with a difficult process but who have not been deterred from the goal of making a breakthrough in Durban.

    I do not claim that this Conference has solved the problems of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The issues have been addressed, not answered. But we have a framework. We have made a start and that is what counts. The true measure of our work will be whether it makes a real difference in the lives of the victims of racism and discrimination.

    It is not surprising that the Middle East has played such a prominent part during the preparations for Durban and in the discussions here. Nobody could be unmoved by the human tragedy which continues unabated in the region. After my visit there last November I reported my impression of two peoples who are linked by history and geography, but are currently separated by a wide and growing gap in their perceptions of each other. The violence has resulted in a hardening of positions, with little willingness on either side to understand or accept the narrative of the other. The main conclusion I drew - that the only path to lasting peace and stability is through peaceful negotiation, which calls for courage and responsibility on the part of the leadership of both sides - remains valid and is even more urgent today.

    The past has been very present in Durban. The text adopted on the past is historic in that it sets out the issues in plain, unequivocal language for the first time in a document of this kind, agreed to by the international community.

    The language on the past will resonate throughout the world and especially among those who still bear the scars. That is a major achievement of which all of us should be very proud.

    I welcome the inclusion of language on the international community's commitment to integrate developing countries into the global economy and to resist their marginalization. I welcome, too, the support expressed for the New African Initiative. The New African Initiative proclaims that African leaders are making a commitment to the African people and the world to work together in rebuilding the continent.

    While the main focus of attention has been the intensive negotiations on text, it is far from being the whole picture of Durban.

    What I have seen this week is a Conference that has taken place at different levels. For the first time, the world in all its rich variety has gathered to discuss the range of forces that threaten diversity. Durban has given a voice to the excluded and the marginalized.

    We heard the voices of young people: Roma children, young Latin American people of African descent, young people who have experienced slavery, young indigenous people. They impressed and touched us with their accounts of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of racism and discrimination. But they gave us hope, too, in their determination to rise above these abuses for their own sake and for the sake of the next generations.

    Durban has put the gender dimension of racism on the map. The linkages between gender, racism and poverty were clearly shown and the urgent need to tackle this dimension emphasized. We learned more about the intersection between health, stigma, racism and discrimination in the seminar on HIV/AIDS, and about racism and development in the panel organized by the United Nations Development Programme. Our understanding was deepened by publications such as UNESCO's book of articles and standard-setting instruments entitled United to Combat Racism, the report on International Migration, Racism and Xenophobia jointly prepared by my Office, the International Organization for Migration and the International Labour Office and by the gathering of academic experts organized by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development on "Racism and public policy".

    At the Voices Forum there was proof of the global nature of racism as we listened to moving stories of discrimination from every part of the world.

    The main message I would like to leave you with is that Durban must be a beginning and not an end. There must be follow-up. The documents we have agreed here will be meaningless unless Governments act on them. Civil society must work as allies of Governments in this task and must ensure that the commitments entered into here are honoured.

    I take heart from the new alliances I saw taking shape in Durban: the role that parliamentarians can play was highlighted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union; the national human rights commissions sent us a powerful expression of their determination to play their part; the treaty bodies and the special mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights played an active part; the vital role of the media and the private sector in combating racism was emphasized. And I believe that the non-governmental organizations will go away with a renewed resolve to integrate the Durban agenda into their activities. I am relying on civil society to take up the torch from this Conference and carry it forward.

    I welcome the recommendations of this Conference in regard to follow-up by my Office and me and look forward to the cooperation and support of Governments in implementing this.

    We now have a series of concrete recommendations - for national plans and programmes, for better treatment of victims, for tougher anti-discrimination legislation and administrative measures, for universal ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and other relevant international treaties, for strengthening education (a most important area), for improving the remedies and recourses available to victims, and many more. These are where our attention should now be concentrated. This is the work we have to do.

    There are many people who deserve thanks and I would like to mention some of them. I wish, first of all, to express my appreciation to the Government and the people of South Africa for the arrangements which were made for us in Durban. The efficiency and good humour of those we worked with over the past fortnight were such as to make our work much easier and our stay in Durban memorable.

    I thank President Mbeki for his solidarity with us during a very difficult week for him. Our thoughts are with him today.

    I would like to say a special word of thanks to you personally for being such an excellent chair and to your colleagues who worked so unstintingly.

    Among the delegations it would be invidious to single out individuals but I feel that I must put on record my appreciation to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Louis Michel, who went that extra mile for the Conference.

    Tributes are rightly being paid to the regional coordinators, the chairs of the two working groups and the facilitators on difficult issues and I am happy to join in those.

    Without their tireless contributions, this outcome would not have been possible. I wish to pay tribute also to the many delegates who took on the task of sorting out individual issues as they arose. This, too, was vital work. Many delegates made substantive inputs to the debate which had a less visible, but no less important role in ensuring this successful outcome.

    Finally, I pay tribute to all who supported the smooth running of the Conference, the interpreters, translators, press officers and editors and all the support staff here at the International Conference Centre.

    It has been, as I said, exhausting and I am sure that everyone will benefit from a break. But not for too long! There is plenty of work ahead of us.

    ANNEX V
    PARALLEL AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES

    1. A wide variety of parallel and associated activities took place at Durban on the occasion of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in consultation with the Government of South Africa and the Secretary-General of the Conference.a

    2. The NGO Forum was held at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium from 28 August to 1 September 2001. The Forum was the conclusion of a process that began at the Strasbourg preparatory conference in October 2000 and was attended by 8,000 individuals representing close to 3,000 NGOs from all continents. For five days, NGOs discussed issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, built networks and alliances and shared their own experiences. Twenty-five thematic commissions were created and the results of these were submitted to the Drafting Committee for the NGO Declaration and Plan of Action. Workshops, exhibitions and plenaries chaired by experts were just some of the parallel activities that took place. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki and the Secretary-General of the World Conference, Mrs. Mary Robinson. The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, addressed the Forum on 30 August 2001. The work of the NGO Forum resulted in the adoption of a Declaration and Plan of Action. Both the Declaration and Plan of Action were presented at the plenary of the World Conference on 4 September 2001.

    3. The International Youth Summit, held in Durban on 26 and 27 August 2001, brought together more than 700 young people from all regions of the world and from a diversity of cultural, religious and political backgrounds. They exchanged experiences and opinions on a wide variety of topics relating to racism, including education, employment, justice, poverty and the economy including globalization, the media, new information technologies including the Internet, minority rights, multiple forms of discrimination, human rights and citizenship, colonialism and foreign occupation, slavery and the slave trade including compensation. This work continued throughout the NGO Forum and concluded with the adoption of the International Youth Summit Declaration and Plan of Action. These documents were received by Mrs. Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mrs. Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF on 2 September 2001. The Youth Summit Declaration and Plan of Action were submitted to the Plenary on 5 September 2001.

    4. During the Conference, 42 separate parallel events took place at the Durban Exhibition Centre at the Conference site. Twenty-six of those events were either organized or co-organized by United Nations bodies, agencies and programmes. The Secretary-General of the World Conference, Mrs. Mary Robinson, participated in almost half of all parallel activities. Almost all of the events were open to the participation of everyone at the Conference, including delegates, the media and representatives of NGOs.

    5. The following 22 parallel events were organized by United Nations bodies, agencies and programmes: daily briefing for NGOs (WCAR NGO Liaison Unit); panel, "Double jeopardy: the impact of racism and armed conflict on children" (Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict); high-level panel, "Discrimination is everybody's business" (OHCHR); panel, "The impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on sustainable development" (UNDP); round table, "Indigenous media dialogue" (OHCHR); briefing, "Working with the United Nations" (Department of Economic and Social Affairs); symposium, "Cooperation for the better protection of the rights of minorities" (OHCHR); panel, "Addressing racism through peace education and conflict resolution - lessons from experience" (UNICEF); panel, "The impact of multiple forms of discrimination on women" (Division for the Advancement of Women); workshop, "The intersectionality of gender and race discrimination" (OHCHR); conference, "Racism and public policy" (United Nations Research Institute for Social Development); panel, "The new aspects of racism in the age of globalization and the gene revolution" (UNESCO); round table, "Indigenous peoples and crisis: approaches and strategies for building peace" (UNDP); panel, "Global alliance against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" (OHCHR); panel, "The child's right to education" (UNICEF and OHCHR); panel, "Diversity is everybody's business - Implementing equality and diversity policies: Private sector action" (ILO and OHCHR); panel, "The slave route: slavery and racism" (UNESCO); panel, "Voices of indigenous women" (OHCHR); round table, "Racism and Indigenous Peoples" (OHCHR); panel, "Exploring the link: HIV/AIDS, stigma, discrimination and racism" (UNAIDS and OHCHR); panel, "Gender, race and ethnicity: women at the intersection of peace, justice and human rights" (UNIFEM); and panel, "Race and gender within the context of CEDAW" (UNIFEM).

    6. The following four events were co-organized by the United Nations and other partners: symposium, "National human rights institutions and conflict prevention" (UNDP and the South African Human Rights Commission); multi-stakeholder workshop, "Discrimination is everybody's business" (Volvo Car Corporation and the United Nations Global Compact office); round table, "Racism and the impact and role of media" (UNESCO, OHCHR, the International Council on Human Rights Policy and the International Federation of Journalists); and panel "Discrimination in reproductive health and reproductive rights" (UNFPA and the Government of South Africa).

    7. The following 16 events were organized by governmental, non-governmental and other institutions and organizations: panel, "An exploration of the convergences between racism and religious belief, with particular emphasis on Islamophobia" (Al-Khoei Foundation); forum, "Voices of victims" (International Human Rights Law Group and the South African Human Rights Commission); parliamentary meeting, "Action of Parliaments and their members in the fight against racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance" (Inter-Parliamentary Union and the South African Parliament); panel, "Denied a future? Right to education of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children" (Save the Children Federation); colloquium, "The French law of 21 May 2001 recognizing slavery and the slave trade as crimes against humanity" (Government of France); colloquium, "The death penalty and restorative justice: Church challenges to institutional racism" (World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Restorative Justice Center for Capital Cases); colloquium, "New Africa Initiative: an African response to the legacy of racism" (South African Human Rights Commission); panel, "Racism and the West: the theory of inferiority" (COBASE); colloquium, "Strategies to combat racism: comparable case studies" (South African Human Rights Commission); panel, "African women's voices" (African Committee on Peace and Development, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa and Femmes Africa Solidarite); strategy session (NGO International Steering Committee); strategy meeting (The African and African Descendants Caucus); colloquium, "Racism and the administration of justice" (South African Human Rights Commission); panel, "Connecting the disconnected - WCAR - the vision forward" (Conference of NGOs); panel, "Roma education for identity and self-esteem building" (Aven Amentza); meeting, "Healing the human community: a celebration of hope for WCAR and beyond" (Spiritual and Religious NGO Caucus).

    8. Some of the parallel activities were major meetings that took place over an entire day or more. The Inter-Parliamentary Union and the South African Parliament organized on 2 September a parliamentary meeting of hundreds of parliamentarians from around the world to discuss "Action of Parliaments and their members in the fight against racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance". The meeting adopted a declaration which, among other things, underlined the importance of adhering to and implementing the relevant international treaties; and recognized the personal responsibility of members of parliament to use their influence on public opinion to promote the values of diversity and tolerance. Also among the parallel activities was a three-day conference organized by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), which brought together social scientists, historians and legal scholars from various regions to present papers and lead discussions on "Racism and public policy".

    9. A total of 1,100 journalists were accredited and covered the proceedings of the World Conference. Among them were many journalists invited on a special OHCHR fellowship from the different regions of the world. Live coverage of the Conference was televised by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), BBC and CNN. In addition to that coverage, the Talent Consortium from Johannesburg provided a series of television and radio programmes related to the World Conference that were broadcast to 13 countries in eastern and southern Africa before, during and after the World Conference. The Consortium also produced a 30-minute video that was screened during the Conference.

    10. Two independent daily newspapers on the Conference were produced in Durban and distributed free of charge to all Conference participants. With support from OHCHR, the Earth Times Foundation published the Conference News Daily with 15,000 copies, and a Durban daily, the Mercury, carried a special supplement, titled "Human rights features", which was published by the Human Rights Documentation Center and the South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre. Both of the Conference dailies offered up-to-date reports on activities in the plenary and Main Committee meetings and the parallel events, as well as analyses of the issues under negotiation, interviews with participants and background articles on a variety of topics related to the Conference. During the Conference, the Earth Times Web site recorded 50,000 persons accessing the Conference News Daily from around the world.

    Notes:

    a It should be noted that the Conference, per se, took no formal note of these activities.

    1. For the purpose of this Declaration and Programme of Action, it was understood that the term "gender" refers to the two sexes, male and female, within the context of society. The term "gender" does not indicate any meaning different from above.[Back]

    2. Reference should be made to chapter VII of the report of the Conference, which lists all the reservations to and statements on the Declaration and the Programme of Action. [Back]

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