Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 2004  [on the report of the Third Committee (A/59/501)]  59/177. 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 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, 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 as a solid foundation for a broad-based  consensus for further actions and initiatives towards the total elimination of the  scourge of racism,    Recalling also 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,    Recalling further 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,    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  _______________  1 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I.   A/RES/59/177  2  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 Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of  25 April 2002, 2 2003/30 of 23 April 2003 3 and 2004/88 of 22 April 2004, 4 by  which the international community put into effect mechanisms for the effective  implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,    Reaffirming its commitment to a global drive for the total elimination of  racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,    Reaffirming that universal adherence to and full implementation of the  International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial  Discrimination5 are of paramount importance for the promotion of equality and  non-discrimination in the world,    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 all the regional initiatives being undertaken to implement the  Durban commitments and, in this context, expressing its appreciation to the  Governments of Mexico, Kenya, the Czech Republic and Belgium for hosting  the regional expert seminars with a view to the implementation of the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action within their respective regions, and  encouraging the remaining region to take the necessary action in this regard,    Welcoming also 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 Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II,  sect. A.  3 Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A.  4 Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A.  5 Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex.   A/RES/59/177  3  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.  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;    4.  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;    5.  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;    6.  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;    7.  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;    8.  Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and  social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and  respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries;    9.  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;   A/RES/59/177  4  II  International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms  of Racial Discrimination    10. Reiterates the call made by the World Conference against Racism, Racial  Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in paragraph 75 of the Durban  Programme of Action1 to achieve universal ratification of the International  Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination5 by 2005 and  for all States to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 of the  Convention, and endorses the concern expressed by the Commission on Human  Rights in its resolution 2004/884 to the effect that, at the current pace, with one  hundred and seventy ratifications and only forty-five declarations, the deadline of  2005 for universal ratification decided by the World Conference will, regrettably,  not be realized;    11. Urges, in that context, the Office of the United Nations High  Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain and issue regular updates on its web  site of a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention, and to encourage  such countries to demonstrate their practical commitment to meet the deadline for  universal ratification as decided upon by the World Conference;    12. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to  article 8 of the Convention, on the financing of the Committee on the Elimination of  Racial Discrimination, and calls for adequate additional resources from the regular  budget of the United Nations to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate  fully;    13. 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 Rights6 and  article 5 of the Convention;    14. Notes 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;    15. 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;7    III  Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to   the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action    16. 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  _______________  6 Resolution 217 A (III).  7 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18),  chap. XI.   A/RES/59/177  5    17. Also emphasizes, in that context, 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;    18. 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 measures  taken to implement the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of  Action;    19. 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;    20. 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 or centres in all regions where they do not exist;    21. 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;    22. Emphasizes that, in accordance with the Durban Declaration and  Programme of Action, States have a shared responsibility, at the international level  and within the framework of the United Nations system, to determine modalities for  the overall review of the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of  Action;    23. 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  Commission on Human Rights shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental  process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action;    24. 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;    25. 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;    26. Decides that the Economic and Social Council shall oversee system-wide  coordination of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of  Action;   A/RES/59/177  6    27. Also decides that the Commission on Human Rights, as a functional  commission of the Economic and Social 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 Council thereon;    28. Expresses  its  appreciation  for  the  continuing  work  of  the  Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action and the Working Group of Experts on  People of African Descent, and looks forward to the consideration of the outcomes  of their third sessions by the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first  session;    29. Acknowledges that the World Conference against Racism, Racial  Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South  Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, 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;    30. Welcomes the work of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial  Discrimination in applying the International Convention on the Elimination of All  Forms of Racial Discrimination5 to the new and contemporary forms of racism and  racial discrimination;    31. Underlines the importance of the elaboration of complementary  standards with a view to strengthening and updating international instruments  against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking  into  account  issues  discussed  during  the  previous  sessions  of  the  Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban  Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as issues identified by the  high-level  seminar  to  be  convened  during  the  next  session  of  the  Intergovernmental Working Group;    32. Underlines also the importance of considering progress made in the  implementation of the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of  Action related to the media and racism, including the use of the Internet, with the  participation of all stakeholders, inter alia, States, the World Summit on the  Information Society, international and regional organizations, non-governmental  organizations, the private sector and the media;    33. Takes note of the recommendation of the Intergovernmental Working  Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme  of Action, in that context, to request the Office of the United Nations High  Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a high-level seminar, the format of  which should be agreed among Member States, assisted by the Office of the High  Commissioner, and which could include, but would not necessarily be limited to, a  core group of ministers responsible for human rights and/or equivalent  participants from all regions as panellists;8    34. Strongly recommends that no intersessional meetings of the working  groups of the Commission on Human Rights in follow-up to the World Conference  _______________  8 See E/CN.4/2005/20, sect. VI, para. 73.   A/RES/59/177  7  and the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action be  scheduled in a manner that clashes or overlaps with the sessions of the General  Assembly, and in this regard calls upon the Commission to address this issue and  to ensure that the future sessions of the Working Group of Experts on People of  African Descent are scheduled to precede those of the Intergovernmental  Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and  Programme of Action;    35. Requests the Secretary-General to reflect the outcome of the  high-level seminar in his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session  on the follow-up to the World Conference;    36. 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 central role to be played by the group of independent eminent experts on the  implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in  mobilizing  the  necessary  political  will  required  for  the  successful  implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action;    37. 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;    38. Condemns the resurgence of xenophobia, and underlines the fact that,  while anchoring human rights in legal instruments is a fundamental way of  expressing their universality, it is no longer capable of eliminating the  underlying causes of discriminatory culture and mentalities, and that action on  human rights must henceforth include discussion of the deep cultural roots of  racism;    39. Expresses its concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various  sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some  sporting governing bodies to combat racism;    40. Invites Member States to adopt measures to counter the dissemination  of discriminatory, racist and xenophobic messages on the Internet, in accordance  with paragraphs 144 to 147 of the Durban Programme of Action, and to promote  a positive use of the Internet to foster social harmony and to combat racism;    41. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for  Human Rights to convene the second meeting of the group of independent  eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and  Programme of Action before the sixty-first session of the Commission on  Human Rights to produce a concrete programme of action related to their  mandate, based on the core values of racial equality and dignity as elaborated in  the outcome document of their first meeting, held in Geneva from 16 to  18 September 2003;9  _______________  9 See E/CN.4/2004/112.   A/RES/59/177  8  IV  Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms  of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance  and follow-up to his visits    42. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special  Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism,  racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages its  continuation;    43. 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;    44. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue his exchange of views with  Member States and relevant mechanisms and treaty bodies within the United  Nations system in order to enhance further their effectiveness and mutual  cooperation;    45. 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,  communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent  and other communities;    46. Requests the Special Rapporteur to collect information from all  concerned, to respond effectively to reliable information that becomes available to  him, to follow up on communications and country visits and to seek the views and  comments of Governments and reflect them, as appropriate, in his reports;    47. Calls upon States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give  serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries so as to enable him to  fulfil his mandate fully and effectively;    48. 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;    49. 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;    50. 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 sixtieth session;    51. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the  Special Rapporteur,10 and encourages the continuation of his work;    52. Urges Member States to consider implementing the recommendations  contained in the reports of the Special Rapporteur, and invites other relevant  stakeholders to implement those recommendations;  _______________  10 See A/59/329.   A/RES/59/177  9    V  General    53. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation  of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session;    54. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixtieth session  under the item entitled “Elimination of racism and racial discrimination”.