A/RES/56/266 GA

United Nations A/RES/56/266 General Assembly Distr.: General 15 May 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 117 01 49784 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/581)] 56/266. Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997, in which it decided to convene the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and all other resolutions on this matter, Reaffirming its commitment to a global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Welcoming the adoption by the Conference, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, of the Declaration and Programme of Action,1 Convinced that the Conference made an important contribution to the cause of the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and that its results have to be fully implemented without delay through effective action, Stressing the need to maintain continued political will and momentum at the national, regional and international levels in order to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking into account commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and recalling the importance of enhancing national action and international cooperation to this end, 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, Bearing in mind the need for the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Human Rights and other relevant organs and bodies of the United Nations system to continue to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking into account the relevant recommendations _______________ 1 See A/CONF.189/12, chap. I. A/RES/56/266 2 contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and as reflected in the report of the Conference,2 Emphasizing that, in the implementation of commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adequate resources at the national, regional and international levels are necessary and constitute an important element in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Expressing its gratitude to the Government and people of South Africa for hosting the Conference, for the excellent arrangements, for the hospitality extended to all participants and for its vital leadership during the whole process of the Conference, Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the Conference and the members of the Secretariat for their endeavours in the preparation for and servicing of the Conference, Appreciating the active participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and youth, in the preparatory process and the Conference, and encouraging its involvement at the national, regional and international levels in the continuing fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Recognizing that, in the implementation of commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the formulation and implementation of strategies, policies, programmes and actions should be carried out efficiently and promptly by States with the full involvement of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, Appreciating the input and participation of national human rights institutions in the preparatory process and the Conference, and encouraging their active involvement in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking into consideration recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, 1. Takes note of the report of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;2 2. Endorses the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted on 8 September 2001 by the Conference;1 3. Expresses its satisfaction with the outcome of the Conference, which constitutes a solid foundation for further action and initiatives; 4. Recognizes that the success of the Programme of Action will require political will and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels, and international cooperation; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to ensure that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action are made available as widely as possible among the competent organs and bodies of the United Nations and the specialized agencies in all the official languages of the United Nations; 6. Invites all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up to the Conference, and invites specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system to _______________ 2 A/CONF.189/12. A/RES/56/266 3 strengthen and adjust, within their respective mandates, their activities, programmes and medium-term strategies to take into account the follow-up to the Conference; 7. Requests the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Human Rights and other relevant organs and bodies of the United Nations system related to human rights to continue the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking into account the relevant recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and to reflect progress in this regard in their reports, as appropriate; 8. Invites all human rights treaty-monitoring bodies and all mechanisms and subsidiary bodies of the Commission on Human Rights to consider the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the discharge of their respective mandates; 9. Invites States to give widespread publicity to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 10. 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; 11. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay at the national, regional and international levels policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; 12. Supports the decision by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish an anti-discrimination unit to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promote equality and non-discrimination; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, to appoint five independent eminent experts, one from each region, 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; 14. Requests the High Commissioner, in follow-up to the Conference, to cooperate with these five independent eminent experts, and to report annually to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights taking into account information and views provided by States, relevant human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other mechanisms of the Commission, international, regional and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions; 15. Recognizes the critical importance of placing the outcome of the Conference on an equal footing with that of previous United Nations world conferences in the human rights and social fields; 16. Recognizes that review and appraisal will be critical for effective follow- up to the Conference, and decides to consider the progress made in this regard and to consider, overall, the modalities of the review and appraisal at its fifty-ninth session; 17. Decides to include in the agenda of its forthcoming sessions, under the item entitled “Elimination of racism and racial discrimination”, a sub-item entitled “Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”. 97th plenary meeting 27 March 2002

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