A/RES/61/149
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 wellbeing 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
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 Human Rights Council resolution 1/5 of 30 June 2006, 2
Taking note also of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of
25 April 2002, 3 2003/30 of 23 April 2003, 4 2004/88 of 22 April 2004 5 and 2005/64
of 20 April 2005, 6 by which the international community put into effect mechanisms
for the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of
Action,
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 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,
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2
See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one,
chap. II, sect. A.
3
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II,
sect. A.
4
Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A.
5
Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A.
6
Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A.
2