A/RES/66/143
14. Stresses the importance of other positive measures and initiatives aimed
at bringing communities together and providing them with space for genuine
dialogue, such as round tables, working groups and seminars, including training
seminars for State agents and media professionals, as well as awareness-raising
activities, especially those initiated by civil society representatives which require
continued State support;
15. Underlines the potentially positive role that relevant United Nations
entities and programmes, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization, can play in the aforementioned areas;
16. Reaffirms that, according to article 4 of the International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, States parties to that
instrument are under the obligation:
(a) To condemn all propaganda and all organizations that are based on ideas
of racial superiority or that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and
discrimination in any form;
(b) To undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to
eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination, with due regard to the
principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights
expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention;
(c) To declare as an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas
based on racial superiority or hatred, and incitement to racial discrimination, as well
as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons
of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist
activities, including the financing thereof;
(d) To declare illegal and prohibit organizations and organized and all other
propaganda activities that promote and incite racial discrimination, and to recognize
participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law;
(e) To prohibit public authorities or public institutions, national or local,
from promoting or inciting racial discrimination;
17. Also reaffirms that, as underlined in paragraph 13 of the outcome
document of the Durban Review Conference, any advocacy of national, racial or
religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence
should be prohibited by law, that all dissemination of ideas based on racial
superiority or hatred, or incitement to racial discrimination as well as all acts of
violence or incitement to such acts shall be declared offences punishable by law, in
accordance with the international obligations of States, and that these prohibitions
are consistent with freedom of opinion and expression;
18. Expresses concern about the use of the Internet to propagate racism,
racial hatred, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance, as outlined
in the latest report of the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly, and in this
regard calls upon States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights to implement fully articles 19 and 20 of the Covenant, which guarantee the
right to freedom of expression and set out the limitations thereto;
19. Underlines, at the same time, the positive role that the exercise of the
right to freedom of opinion and expression, as well as full respect for the freedom to
seek, receive and impart information, including through the Internet, can play in
combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
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