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UN General Assembly
56th session
28 January 2002



Statement by Mary Robinson,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
to the Third Committee

Agenda item 117: Elimination of racism and racial discrimination





Distinguished Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am pleased to be with you today for the discussion of agenda item 117, and thank you, Chairman, for facilitating this debate. The elimination of racism and racial discrimination is a central tenet of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also one of the fundamental objectives of virtually every international human rights instrument adopted by the United Nations. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the key human rights treaty in this field, has established widely accepted human rights standards to eliminate racial discrimination, and my Office is committed to achieving universal ratification of this Convention, and its effective implementation by all States Parties.

Although the standard of non-discrimination has been established as a bedrock principle of international law, the persistence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance clearly demonstrates the need to look for new ways to address this problem with more resolve, with more humanity and with greater efficiency. Last year, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of which I was Secretary-General, helped focus the international community’s thinking about where action to date has been insufficient, and in what areas and in what ways we can do more to create just and fair societies free of racial discrimination.

As most of you know, the Conference involved nine days of intensive and frequently difficult negotiation. Even after the Conference, there was a difference of views or perceptions that principally concerned the placement of several paragraphs in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and which delayed the issuance of the report of the Conference. Nevertheless, despite all of the obstacles that had to be overcome, the Conference was ultimately successful in negotiating a Declaration and Programme of Action by consensus. The report of the Conference was issued and is now before you.

The documents adopted at the Conference address a wide range of subjects. Common language was found on difficult issues relating to slavery, the slave trade and colonialism, as well as the issues relating to the Middle East.

Agreement was reached on the need for national action plans, tougher national legislation and more legal assistance to victims of racial discrimination. Improvement in the administration of justice and the reinforcement of national institutions to combat racial discrimination were also emphasized. In this regard, the importance of appropriate remedies and positive action for victims of racial discrimination was underlined.

A wide variety of educational and awareness raising measures were adopted. Measures were also included to ensure equality in the fields of employment, health and the environment. In this regard, the need to have accurate data collection and research was identified as an important prerequisite for taking corrective measures. Measures to counter racism in the media and through the use of new technologies such as Internet were also included in the documents adopted.

The documents adopted specified that a victims oriented approach was an important tool to eliminate racial discrimination. In this regard, specific reference was made to Africans and persons of African descent, Asians and persons of Asian descent, indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, minorities, the Roma and others. Durban also put the gender dimension of racial discrimination on the map, as well as the more general question of multiple discrimination. Finally, the importance of involving not only States, but a wide variety of actors including civil society, NGOs and youth, in the implementation of the Durban commitments was emphasized.

In reflecting on the World Conference, I believe it is important to note that the documents adopted in Durban are both historic and forward looking. They provide a new and innovative anti-discrimination agenda, and, as such, constitute an essential element of an emerging global dialogue on how to eliminate the scourge of racial discrimination from our world. Indeed, the World Conference texts have become all the more important in the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attacks here in New York on 11 September. Their vision of a world which embraces diversity and stands for equality is an antidote to terrorism.

The real issue today, then, is not to look back and dwell on how difficult the process was in Durban. We all knew it would be a difficult Conference, and it was. We all knew the issues involved were not ones that lent themselves to easy solutions, and difficult compromises had to be made. But we also knew that was precisely the reason why this Conference was so important, why we accepted the challenge to have it, and why we persisted in our efforts until we finally had agreement.

The real question now is the credibility of the international community in living up to the commitments made at the Conference today, tomorrow and beyond. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for implementation. People in all parts of the world continue to suffer daily from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. I am sure they are hoping that the United Nations and its member States will lead the way forward and help them to have the conditions for a better life, a decent life, and one free of discrimination. We should respond to these hopes and aspirations. We must make Durban a reality. We cannot let the victims of discrimination down at this crucial moment, after all our efforts to date. There is an enormous consensus around the world, amongst peoples and governments alike, on the need to do more to implement the principles of equality and non-discrimination. The World Conference documents give us the tools to do this. But the best tools are only of value if they are put to use.


Distinguished delegates,

After the debate on this item, you will be considering and eventually adopting a draft resolution on the World Conference. I would appeal to you to show the same resolve in adopting this resolution as you demonstrated at the Conference. In this regard, I would strongly urge you to adopt this resolution by consensus. Only such an approach would send a clear and unambiguous message that the international community is united in its determination to follow-up on the commitments made in Durban, and to consolidate the gains made there.

I would also like to highlight that the Programme of Action contained in the report before you refers to the establishment of an anti-discrimination unit within OHCHR to follow-up on implementation. This unit will have a number of important functions. Among its major tasks will be the mainsteaming of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the activities of OHCHR as well as in those of other UN bodies and specialized agencies. The unit will also prepare the annual progress reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly on follow-up to Durban, as well as undertake public awareness and information activities worldwide. In addition, the unit will provide input to OHCHR technical assistance programmes designed to fight racial discrimination, including in the development of national action plans. The anti-discrimination unit will also be organizing seminars both in Geneva and on a regional basis, and establishing a database on best practices and national legislation to combat racism and racial discrimination.

I have taken the necessary steps already to establish this unit on an interim basis. It began functioning at the beginning of this year. However, budgetary support is required in order to ensure the long-term functioning of this unit. The interim anti-discrimination unit is a key element in the ability of OHCHR to do its part in implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and it is therefore a priority for my Office to put it on a solid financial footing.

The Programme of Action also recommended the establishment of a group of five independent eminent experts, appointed by the Secretary-General, on recommendation by the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights. The purpose of this body is to follow the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, in cooperation with my Office. This proposal will also require budgetary support in order to ensure that this new mechanism can be established, that it can meet as required, and that it can be serviced by my Office in an appropriate manner.

I would like to conclude my comments on the report of the World Conference by reiterating what I said at the conclusion of the Conference. Durban must be seen as a beginning and not an end. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action will be meaningless unless governments follow through and act on them. This is why I appeal to you all that, at the end of this debate, and after consultations have resolved outstanding issues, you should endorse the World Conference texts and adopt a consensus resolution that will allow the next phase of the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to begin.

Distinguished delegates,

You also have before you the report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and co-ordination of activities. The United Nations has so far devoted three Decades and three World Conferences to the topic of the elimination of racism and racial discrimination. There is a close association between the subject matter of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade and that of the World Conference against Racism. The Commission on Human Rights, by its Resolution 1998/26 of 17 April 1998 requested that activities under the Third Decade programme be oriented to preparations for the World Conference against Racism. As a result, this document focuses principally on activities undertaken by OHCHR to prepare for the World Conference since the report to the General Assembly last year, in addition to highlighting some of the main events of the Conference itself.

The report of the Secretary-General also includes information on follow-up to the World Conference; on how the Declaration and Programme of Action can contribute to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; information on the situation of migrant workers; proposals for supplementing the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism, and information on the status of the Trust Fund for the Programme of Action.

The third report before you is that of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which will be considered at next year’s General Assembly session, in accordance with the General Assembly’s resolution last year. Nevertheless, in accordance with the original mandate of the General Assembly when it adopted the Convention, a report of the Committee’s activities is prepared annually. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was the first human rights treaty to have a monitoring body, and the work of the Committee is of great importance. This report is available and may be consulted by interested delegations.

Distinguish delegates,

In lieu of a report by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on measures to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, a statement will be delivered on behalf of Mr. Maurice Glèlè-Ahanhanzo by the Director of my New York Office, Mr Bacre Ndiaye.

I thank you for your close attention and would welcome your observations and questions after Mr. Bacre Ndiaye delivers the statement on behalf of the Special Rapporteur on racism.