HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF DECLARATION OF WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

3 January 2002




We Can Now Get Down to Business of Implementing
the Anti-Discrimination Agenda,
High Commissioner States


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson announced today the publication of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, which clears the way for the implementation of measures adopted in Durban, South Africa, last autumn.

"The anti-discrimination agenda the World Conference gave us is now a living, breathing document", the High Commissioner said. "With this agenda in our hands, we can regain the momentum created by the Conference and get down to the business of making the commitments made at Durban a reality. I cannot think of a better way to start the new year".

Publication of the Declaration and Programme of Action had been delayed due to a difference of views or perceptions regarding mainly where to place several paragraphs of text drafted as the Conference drew to a close in Durban in September. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Foreign Minister of South Africa and President of the World Conference, and Louis Michel, Foreign Minister of Belgium and then-representative of the European Union, have now indicated, however, that all outstanding issues had been resolved. The General Assembly will consider the report of the Conference, including the Declaration and Programme of Action, in the near future.

The Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference are available on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (www.unhchr.ch/pdf/Durban.pdf) (Word I PDF).