A/RES/62/220
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 2005/64 of 20 April 2005 6 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;
1H
5F
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
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 Rights 7 and
article 5 of the Convention;
6F
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; 8
7F
_______________
6
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda
(E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A.
7
Resolution 217 A (III).
8
See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18),
chap. XI, sect. E.
4