Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2006  [on the report of the Third Committee (A/61/441)]  61/149. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial  discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and  the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to  the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action        The General Assembly,    Recalling its resolution 60/144 of 16 December 2005, in which it reiterated its  firm commitment to continue its global efforts towards the total elimination of the  scourges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and  towards the effective and comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the  Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference  against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in  Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,1    Recalling also its resolution 59/177 of 20 December 2004, in which it firmly  consolidated the global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial  discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and recognized the absolute  necessity and the imperative nature of the political will for the achievement of the  commitments undertaken in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,     Recalling further its resolution 58/160 of 22 December 2003, in which it  decided to place emphasis on the concrete implementation of the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action as a solid foundation for a broad-based  consensus for further action and initiatives towards the total elimination of the  scourge of racism,     Recalling its resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002, in which it outlined the  important roles and responsibilities of the various organs of the United Nations and  other stakeholders at the international, regional and national levels, including, in  particular, the Commission on Human Rights, and its resolution 56/266 of 27 March  2002, in which it endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as  constituting a solid foundation for further action and initiatives towards the total  elimination of the scourge of racism,  _______________  1 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I.   A/RES/61/149  2    Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights  and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well- being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically  false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected,  together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human  races,     Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  intolerance manifest themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and  may 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, and recognizing 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,     Taking note of Human Rights Council resolution 1/5 of 30 June 2006,2    Taking note also of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of  25 April 2002,3 2003/30 of 23 April 2003,4 2004/88 of 22 April 20045 and 2005/64  of 20 April 2005,6 by which the international community put into effect mechanisms  for the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of  Action,     Underlining the primacy of political will, international cooperation and  adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels for the successful  implementation of the Durban Programme of Action,     Alarmed at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts  of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at  large, inter alia, as a result of the resurgent activities of associations established on  the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of  those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies,    Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent  trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of  impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in  weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such  crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication,    Welcoming the determination of the United Nations High Commissioner for  Human Rights to profile and increase the visibility of the struggle against racism,  racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and her intention to make  this a cross-cutting issue in the activities and programmes of her Office,  _______________  2 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one,  chap. II, sect. A.  3 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II,  sect. A.  4 Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A.  5 Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A.  6 Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A.   A/RES/61/149  3    Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,7 the interim report of the  Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination,  xenophobia and related intolerance8 and Human Rights Council decision 1/102 of  30 June 2006,9    I  Basic general principles    1.  Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial  discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined  in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments;    2.  Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation  of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially  motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities  and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination,  xenophobia and related intolerance in any form;     3.  Expresses deep concern at recent attempts to establish hierarchies among  emerging and resurgent forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and  related intolerance, and urges States to adopt measures to address these scourges  with the same emphasis and vigour with a view to preventing this practice and  protecting victims;    4.  Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility  to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in  purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin,  and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling;     5.  Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and  effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and  protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations;     6.  Also recognizes 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;     7.  Reaffirms that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that  constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by  law;     8.  Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective  measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination,  xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such  motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to  prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law;   _______________  7 A/61/337.  8 See A/61/335.  9 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one,  chap. II, sect. B.   A/RES/61/149  4    9.  Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration  laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and  compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments;     10. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and  new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence  motivated by racial hatred, and calls upon States to take all necessary measures to  combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they have  undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,1 in particular  paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing  international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all  necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression;     11. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social  programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for  all cultures, civilizations, religions, peoples and countries;     12. Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective  in the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures  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;     II  International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms  of Racial Discrimination    13. Reaffirms that universal adherence to and full implementation of the  International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination10  are of paramount importance for the fight against racism, racial discrimination,  xenophobia and related intolerance, including contemporary forms of racism and  racial discrimination, and for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in  the world;    14. Reiterates the call made by the World Conference against Racism, Racial  Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in paragraph 75 of the Durban  Programme of Action,1 to achieve universal ratification of the Convention by 2005  and for all States to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 of  the Convention, and endorses the grave concern expressed by the Commission on  Human Rights in its resolution 2005/646 to the effect that, with one hundred and  seventy-three ratifications and only forty-nine declarations, the deadline for  universal ratification decided by the World Conference has, regrettably, not been  realized;    15. Urges, in the above context, the Office of the United Nations High  Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain and issue regular updates on its  website of a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention and to  encourage such countries to ratify it at the earliest;    16. Expresses its concern at the serious delays in the submission of overdue  reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which  impedes the effectiveness of the Committee, makes a strong appeal to all States  _______________  10 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464.   A/RES/61/149  5  parties to the Convention to comply with their treaty obligations, and reaffirms the  importance of the provision of technical assistance to the requesting countries in the  preparation of their reports to the Committee;    17. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to  article 8 of the Convention on the financing of the Committee, and calls for  adequate additional resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to  enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully;    18. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to  implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention,  with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights11  and article 5 of the Convention;    19. Welcomes the work of the Committee in applying the Convention to the  new and contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination;     20. Recalls that the Committee holds that the prohibition of the  dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with  the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the  Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention;     21. Welcomes the emphasis placed by the Committee on the importance of  follow-up to the World Conference and the measures recommended to strengthen  the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee;12    III  Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration   and Programme of Action    22. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism,  Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing  with the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special  sessions in the human rights and social fields;     23. Also acknowledges that the World Conference, which was the third world  conference against racism, was significantly different from the previous two  conferences, as evidenced by the inclusion in its title of two important components  relating to contemporary forms of racism, namely, xenophobia and related  intolerance;    24. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating  racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States,  and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure full and  effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the  Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;1    25. Also emphasizes the fundamental and complementary role of national  human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working  jointly with States towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action;  _______________  11 Resolution 217 A (III).  12 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18),  chap. XI, sect. E.   A/RES/61/149  6    26. Welcomes the steps taken by numerous Governments, in particular the  elaboration and implementation of national action plans to combat racism, racial  discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and steps taken by national  human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, towards the full  implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and affirms  this trend as a demonstration of commitment for the elimination of all scourges of  racism at the national level;     27. Calls upon all States that have not yet elaborated their national action  plans on combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  intolerance to comply with their commitments undertaken at the World Conference;     28. 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;    29. Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies or  centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such  bodies in all regions where they do not exist;     30. Recognizes 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;    31. Decides that the General Assembly, through its role in policy  formulation, the Economic and Social Council, through its role in overall guidance  and coordination, in accordance with their respective roles under the Charter of the  United Nations and Assembly resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and the Human  Rights Council shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental process for the  comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and  Programme of Action;     32. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental  mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters related to the  economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter,  including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and  targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special  sessions;    33. Decides to convene in 2009 a review conference on the implementation  of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to be conducted within the  framework of the General Assembly, and, to this end, requests the Human Rights  Council to undertake preparations for this event, making use of the three existing  and ongoing follow-up mechanisms, and to formulate a concrete plan and provide  updates and reports on this issue on an annual basis starting in 2007;    34. Reaffirms that the Human Rights Council shall have a central role in the  monitoring of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of  Action within the United Nations system and in advising the General Assembly  thereon;     35. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing work in follow-up to the  World Conference undertaken by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the  Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the   A/RES/61/149  7  group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action and the Working Group of Experts on People  of African Descent;     36. Welcomes the conclusions and recommendations agreed upon by the  Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action at its fourth session, 13 and welcomes in  particular the identification and/or consideration of substantive and procedural gaps,  as well as the request for the nomination of five highly qualified experts to further  study the content and scope of those gaps, including but not limited to the areas  identified in the conclusions of the Chair of the high-level seminar, and, in  consultation with human rights treaty bodies, the Special Rapporteur on  contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  intolerance and other relevant mandate-holders, to produce a base document that  contains concrete recommendations on the means or avenues to bridge those gaps,  including but not limited to the drafting of a new protocol to the International  Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination or the  adoption of new instruments, and for the Committee on the Elimination of Racial  Discrimination to conduct further study on possible measures to strengthen the  implementation of the Convention and its proposals regarding the assessment and  evaluation of the implementation of existing international human rights instruments  by States parties, and to this end encourages the Intergovernmental Working Group  to continue its work related to the preparation of complementary international  standards in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;    37. Acknowledges the centrality of resource mobilization, effective global  partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158  of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of commitments  undertaken at the World Conference, and to this end emphasizes the importance of  the mandate of the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of  the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, especially in mobilizing the  necessary political will required for the successful implementation of the  Declaration and Programme of Action;     38. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources for the  effective fulfilment of the mandates of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the  Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the  Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and the group of  independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and  Programme of Action;    39. Expresses its concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various  sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some governing  bodies of the various sporting codes to combat racism, and in this regard invites all  international sporting bodies to promote, through their national, regional and  international federations, a world of sport free from racism and racial  discrimination;    40. Invites, in this context, the Fédération internationale de football  association, in connection with the 2010 soccer World Cup tournament to be held in  South Africa, to consider introducing a visible theme on non-racism in football,  _______________  13 E/CN.4/2006/18, sect. VI.   A/RES/61/149  8  requests the Secretary-General to bring this invitation to the attention of the  Fédération and to bring the issue of racism in sport to the attention of other relevant  international sporting bodies, and, in this regard, appreciates the joint efforts of the  Government of Germany, the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on  contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  intolerance during the 2006 World Cup;    IV  Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination,  xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits    41. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special  Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and  related intolerance, and encourages its continuation;    42. Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations,  relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental  organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, and calls upon States  to consider responding favourably to his requests for visits so as to enable him to  fulfil his mandate fully and effectively;    43. Recognizes  with  deep  concern  the  increase  in  anti-Semitism,  Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the  emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory  ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as  all religious communities, communities of people of African descent, communities  of people of Asian descent, communities of indigenous people and other  communities;     44. Encourages closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the  Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular  the Anti-Discrimination Unit;     45. Urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to  provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to  enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur;    46. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with  all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently,  effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the  General Assembly at its sixty-second session;     47. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the  Special Rapporteur,8 and urges Member States and other relevant stakeholders to  consider implementing those recommendations;    48. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue giving particular attention to  the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related  intolerance on the full enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social  rights by national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, immigrant  populations, asylum-seekers and refugees;    49. Invites Member States to demonstrate greater commitment to fighting  racism in sport by conducting educational and awareness-raising activities and by  strongly condemning the perpetrators of racist incidents, in cooperation with  national and international sports organizations;     A/RES/61/149  9  V  General    50. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation  of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session;    51. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixty-second  session under the item entitled “Elimination of racism and racial discrimination”.