The Declarations and Programmes of
Action adopted by the Second (1983) World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial
Discrimination
The Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial
Discrimination was held at Geneva from 1 to 12 August 1983. The following Declaration and
Program of Action were adopted in its final report (United Nations Publication, Sales No.
E.83 XIV.4, chap. II)
Declaration
The Second World Conference to
Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,
Having met at Geneva from 1 to 12 August 1983 in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 37/41, and marking the culmination of the
Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,
Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations is
based on the principles of the dignity and equality of all human beings and seeks among
its basic objectives to achieve international co-operation in solving international
problems of a political, economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in
promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all
without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,
Further recalling that the General Assembly
designated the ten-year period beginning on 10 December 1973 as the Decade for Action to
Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, 5/
Recalling also he first World Conference to Combat
Racism ad Racial Discrimination, held in 1978 in Geneva,
Reaffirming the goals of the Decade: to promote
human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind such as
race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin, especially to resist all policies and
practices that contribute to the strengthening of racism, racial discrimination or apartheid;
to identify, isolate and dispel the fallacious and mythical beliefs, policies and
practices that contribute to racism, racial discrimination and apartheid; and to
counteract the emergence of alliances based on mutual espousal of racism and racial
discrimination,
Having reviewed national, regional and international
activities undertaken in the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,
Determined to promote the implementation of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the
International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid,
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (1958) of the International Labour
Organisation and the Convention Against Discrimination in Education (1960) of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
Endorsing the Programmes of Action Against Apartheid
adopted by the International Conference on Sanctions Against South Africa, held in Paris
from 200 to 27 May 1981, 6/ and the International Conference in Support of the Struggle of
the Namibian People for Independence, held in Paris from 25 to 29 April 19883, 7/
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Considering that racism and racial discrimination
are serious violations of fundamental human rights and that for the full enjoyment of
these rights, which are indivisible and interdependent, national and international actions
are required to improve the living conditions of men and women of all nations, at the
political, economic, social and cultural level,
Noting with the gravest concern that apartheid,
which is a crime against humanity, as well as racism and racial discrimination, which are
an affront to the conscience and dignity of mankind, continue to afflict the world and
pose a serious danger of greater conflict and increased international tension,
Recognizing that the economic and social injustices
emanating from racism, racial discrimination and apartheid call for all-out and
continuous efforts to eradicate the root causes of these evils,
Affirming the importance of education, teaching and
training for the elimination of racism and racial discrimination which, in particular,
should expose the myths and erroneous theories inherent in racism and racial
discrimination,
Affirming its conviction that the mass media can
provide dominated groups with the means of expressing themselves and can thereby
contribute to understanding and to respect for differences,
Recognizing the importance of the support given tot
he international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by
121 States and the additional support provided by States declaring their recognition of
the competence of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to receive
communications from individuals and groups of individuals,
Reaffirming its appeal to States which have not yet
become parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination to do so as part of their contribution to the objectives of the Decade for
Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and its conviction that until such
States ratify the convention they should utilize the provisions of the Convention as
guidelines in combating racial discrimination and in securing the realization of the
principle of equality at both the national and international levels,
Recognizing the central importance of national
legislative, judicial and administrative action to combat racial discrimination, and the
specific value of recourse procedures for the implementation of human rights norms,
Recognizing that persons belonging to national,
ethnic and other minorities are protected under the relevant international instruments, in
particular under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including its
article 27, and that continued vigilance is required to obviate any measures which
discriminate against such groups; and that United Nations initiatives in respect of the
rights of persons belonging to minorities and indigenous populations merit the widest
support,
Recognizing that in order to achieve the aim of
conducting an effective struggle against racism and racial discrimination it is necessary
to work for the immediate establishment a just and equitable international order and that,
to that end, the establishment of a new international economic order would be a very
important step in combating the causes that time rise to racism and racial discrimination.
Recognizing that international co-operation is an
essential condition for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination and apartheid,
Recognizing the rights of indigenous populations as
laid down in existing international instruments,
Recognizing that apartheid is a deliberate
policy of the racist white minority to ensure and perpetuate the exploitation and
degradation of the black majority in South Africa,
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Solemnly reaffirms and declares that:
1. All human beings are born equal in dignity and
rights. Any doctrine of racial superiority, is therefore, scientifically false, morally
condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and has no justification whatsoever;
2. Racism and racial discrimination are continuing
scourges which must be eradicated throughout the world;
3. Consequently, national, regional and international
educational resources should be developed and used in ways which will promote mutual
understanding between all human beings and demonstrate and teach the scientific basis of
ethnic and racial equality and the value of cultural diversity with a view to destroying
the basis of racist attitudes and practices;
4. All peoples and all human groups have contributed
to the progress of civilization and cultures which constitute the common heritage of
humanity;
5. All forms of discrimination are violations of
fundamental human rights, and governmental policies which are based on the theory of
racial superiority, exclusiveness or hatred also jeopardize friendly relations among
peoples and co-operation between nations, and thereby jeopardize international peace and
security;
6. Apartheid as an institutionalized
form of racism is a deliberate and totally abhorrent affront to the conscience and dignity
of mankind, a crime against humanity and a threat to international peace and security;
7. In South Africa the most extreme form of racism
has led to a form of exploitation and degradation which is in clear contradiction to the
principle of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as provided
for in the Charter of the United Nations;
8. The creation of bantustans is an inhuman policy
designed to dispossess the African people of their land, deprive them of their citizenship
and consolidate the political and economic domination of the minority white population of
South Africa; this policy has been condemned by the international community, and should
continue to be rejected and condemned;
9. United Nations sanctions against the racist South
African régime must be implemented strictly and faithfully by all States in order to
isolate it further. Assistance and collaboration in the economic, military, nuclear and
other fields constitutes an impediment to be struggle against apartheid. It is the
obligation of all Governments to develop appropriate legislation and regulations that
would prevent transnational corporations from following those practices which assist and
support the racist régime in Pretoria or which exploit the natural resources and people
of South Africa and Namibia;
10. All those who contribute to the maintenance of
the system of apartheid are accomplices in the perpetuation of this crime;
11. The Conference commends the selfless efforts of
the people of South Africa and Namibia under the leadership of their national liberation
movements for national independence and the establishment of a non-racial democratic
society. It also reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggles and calls upon the
international community to increase its moral, political and material support to these
peoples;
12. Support should be provided to national liberation
movements recognized by their respective regional organizations as a concrete form of
international solidarity with all oppressed peoples and with all victims of racism and
racial discrimination, colonialism and apartheid;
13. The Conference condemns the frequent and
unjustified act of aggression, destruction and sabotage, which the racist South Africa
régime, directly and through the use of mercenaries and armed bandits, continues to
perpetrate against the front-line States and other independent African States in the
subregion because of their opposition to apartheid, assistance to refugees and
support for the liberation movements. It therefore calls on all States to offer such
assistance as would enable the front-line States and the other independent African States
in the subregion to strengthen their defense capacity and peacefully rebuild their
countries;
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14. The Conference expresses its deep concern that
many neo-Nazi and Fascist organizations have stepped up their activities which have
encouraged tendencies towards racism and racial discrimination. Accordingly, measures
should be taken against all ideologies and practices, such as apartheid, nazism,
fascism and neo-fascism based on racial or ethnic exclusiveness or intolerance, hatred,
terror or systematic denials of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
15. The proscription of racism and racial
discrimination by law should be accompanied by vigorous efforts to ensure equality in the
economic, social and cultural fields; and in particular special programmes, such as
affirmative action programmes, should be developed to address the problem of racism and
racial discrimination inherent in the system and institutionalized;
16. Education and information should provide an
efficient means of action to combat racism and racial discrimination; the Conference
supports the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization for a more efficient utilization of education and information to combat
racism and racial prejudice; it is also the responsibility of all Governments and all
leaders of opinion within each society to educate people, especially children and youth,
by all available means, to promote an awareness of the evil of racism, racial
discrimination and apartheid and to ensure respect for the dignity and worth of all
human beings. Information media should be encouraged to disseminate information on United
Nations activities and programmes related to the elimination of racial discrimination;
17. Apartheid, racism and systematic
racial discrimination are gross violations of human rights emanating from and leading to
serious inequalities in the political and economic fields as well as in the fields of
education, health nutrition, housing, job opportunities and cultural development, and
consequently the action required to combat such policies and practices should include
measures at the national, regional and international levels, to improve the political,
economic, social and cultural living conditions of men and women of all nations.
International co-operation for development has an important role to play in securing the
resources required by the developing countries to overcome these obstacles;
18. Governments should make clear their condemnation
of all propaganda and all organizations which are based on ideas and theories of the
superiority of one race or group of persons of one color or ethnic origin, which attempt
to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form, and should adopt
measures designed to eradicate al incitement do, or acts, of such discrimination in
accordance with article 4 or the international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination;
19. The Conference condemns any form of co-operation
with South Africa, notably the existing and increasing relations between Israel and the
racist régime of South Africa, in particular those in the economic and military fields,
and deplores and warns against co-operation between them in the nuclear fields; it
particularly deplores the expansion and intensification of those relations at the time
when the international community is exerting all its efforts towards the objective of
completely isolating the racist régime of South Africa; the Conference views this
co-operation as an act of deliberate choice and a hostile act against the oppressed people
of South Africa, as well as a defiance of the resolutions of the United Nations and the
efforts of the society of nations to ensure freedom and peace in southern Africa; the
Conference also notes with concern the insidious propaganda by Israel against the United
Nations and against Governments which are firmly opposed to apartheid;
20. The Conference recalls with deep regret the
practices of racial discrimination against the Palestinians as well as other inhabitants
of the Arab occupied territories which have such an impact on all aspects of their daily
existence that they prevent the enjoyment of their fundamental rights; the Conference
expresses its deep concern about this situation and calls for the cessation of all the
practices of racial discrimination to which the Palestinians and other inhabitants of the
Arab territories occupied by Israel are subjected;
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21. Persons belonging to national, ethnic and other
minorities can play a significant role in the promotion of international co-operation and
understanding, and the national protection of the rights of persons belonging to
minorities in accordance with the international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
including its article 27, is essential to enable them to fulfil this role; the Conference
stresses that granting persons belonging to minority groups the opportunity to participate
fully in the political, economic and social life of their country can contribute to the
promotion of understanding, co-operation and harmonious relations between persons
belonging to the different groups living in a country; the Conference also recognizes that
in certain cases special protection of the rights of persons belonging to minority groups
may be called for, in particular by the adoption of effective measures in favor of persons
belonging to particularly disadvantaged minority groups; the Conference endorses the
action taken so far by the competent United nations bodies to protect persons belonging to
minorities, especially the present action of the Commission on Human Rights to elaborate a
draft declaration on the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, and
is confident that future action currently envisaged will appropriately enhance the
international protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities; in promoting
and guaranteeing the rights of persons belonging to minorities, there should be strict
respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the
countries where they live and for non-interference in their international affairs;
22. The rights of indigenous populations to maintain
their traditional economic, social and cultural structures, to pursue their own economic,
social and cultural development and to use and further develop their own language, their
special relationship to their land and its natural resources should not be taken away from
them; the need for consultation with indigenous populations as regards proposals which
concern them should be fully observed; the Conference welcomes the establishment of the
United Nations Group on Indigenous Populations;
23. Whenever there is racial discrimination, women
are often doubly discriminated against; consequently, further special efforts are called
for to eliminate the effects of racial discrimination on the status and situation of
women, and to ensure conditions promoting women's equal participation in the political,
economic, social and cultural life of their societies. In this context, the implementation
of the international convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women is of particular importance;
24. Relevant national and international bodies should
consider specifically the psychological and physical consequences for children who are
victims of racial discrimination, and should take care that special measures to counteract
these effects are included in their future programmes;
25. The general principle of non-discrimination, with
particular regard to refugees fleeing from apartheid, racism and racial
discrimination, should be applied scrupulously in regard to refugees, particularly in
respect of their admission, treatment and non-refoulement in countries providing
refuge, including refuge on a temporary basis, and of international solidarity in
providing assistance and in promoting durable solutions;
26. The urgent need to protect the rights of
immigrants, migrant workers, as well as the human rights of those who are undocumented,
and their families all over the world requires that States should ensure that their
legislation, administration and other practices fully conform with international standards
protecting the rights of migrant workers and their families, to mitigate and eliminate the
social, economic and other causes of discriminatory measures or attitudes still existing
to the detriment of migrant workers and their families; the Conference urges States
Members of the United Nations to speed up the present work within the United Nations to
elaborate a draft Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and
Members of their Families;
27. States, international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental organizations, local and private institutions, religious institutions
and trade unions should ensure the total and effective realization of the goals and
objectives of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;
28. A Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial
Discrimination should be launched by the General Assembly with a view to achieving the
total elimination of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid;
To this end, the Second World Conference to Combat Racism
and Racial Discrimination adopts the following Programme of Action:
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Programme of Action
A. Action to combat apartheid
1. The Conference calls on all States, United
Nations organs and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to ensure the full
and universal implementation of mandatory Security Council resolutions and to make efforts
to implement other United Nations resolutions. Particular Attention should be paid to
specific measures, including those contained in the present Programme of Action, designed
to ensure the implementation of the provisions relating to apartheid.
2. The Conference reaffirms that the system of apartheid
in South Africa is the most extreme form of institutionalized racism, a crime against
humanity, an affront to the conscience and dignity of mankind, and that South
Africa’s policies and practices constitute serious breaches of and threats to
regional stability and to interantional peace and security. The Conference calls upon all
States, international organizations, private institutions and non-governmental
organizations to render increased political and material assistance to the oppressed
people of South Africa and Namibia, and to accelerate greatly campaigns for obtaining the
release of al political prisoners imprisoned for their activities against apartheid.
3. The Conference further reaffirms the legitimacy of
the struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa and Namibia and their national
liberation movements for the elimination of apartheid by all available means,
including armed struggle, and the special responsibility of the United Nations and the
international community to provide them with moral, political and material assistance in
the realization of their quest to exercise their right to self-determination.
4. The Conference reiterates the commitment of the
United Nations to the total eradication of apartheid and to the establishment of a
democratic society in which all the people of South Africa as a whole, irrespective of
race, colour, sex or creed, will enjoy equal and full human rights and fundamental
freedoms and participate freely in the determination of their destiny.
5. The Conference reaffirms the international
community’s rejection of the bantustanization policy and similar measures which are
an integral part of the discriminatory apartheid system and which deny the black
majority their legitimate rights to their land and to their citizenship of South Africa.
6. The Conference further confirms the international
community's rejection of the régime's so-called reforms, especially the limited
parliamentary representation for the coloreds and Asians designed to split the black
alliance and buttress the apartheid system.
7. The Conference requests all States to implement
strictly the embargo on the sale and transfer of arms and related military materials
imposed against South Africa under Security Council resolution 418 (1977). The Conference
further urges the Security Council to adopt urgent measures to strengthen the arms embargo
in accordance with the recommendations of the Council's committee established under its
resolution 421 (1977).
8. The Conference requests the Security Council to
consider urgently the imposition of mandatory sanctions, under Chapter VII of the Charter
of the United Nations, against the apartheid régime of South Africa, and in
particular:
(a) The cessation of all collaboration with South
Africa in the nuclear field as such collaboration would enhance South Africa's capacity to
develop nuclear weapons;
(b) The prohibition of all technological assistance
or collaboration in the manufacture of arms and military supplies to South Africa;
(c) The cessation of foreign investments in, and
financial loans to, South Africa;
(d) An embargo on the supply of petroleum, petroleum
products, and other strategic commodities which would enable South Africa to continue
implementing its apartheid policy;
(e) The interruption of trade relations with South
Africa.
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9. The Conference strongly condemns the racist
régime of South Africa for its systematic oppression of and discrimination against the
overwhelming majority of the population of South Africa and for its continuing illegal
occupation of Namibia. The Conference also condemns acts of military aggression and acts
of political and economic destabilization perpetrated by South Africa against the
independent neighbouring States of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Seychelles,
Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as South Africa's activities of recruiting,
training, financing and arming mercenaries for aggression against and destabilization of
the neighbouring States which creates instability in this part of the world.
10. The Conference calls for increased international
assistance and support to front-line States and other independent States in the subregion
subjected to threats and actions of aggression and destabilization by the apartheid
régime of South Africa, in order to enable them to strengthen their defense capacity,
defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity, fight the adverse South African and
other propaganda that undermines the racial harmony and peace in the subregion, and
peacefully rebuild and develop their countries.
11. The Conference calls upon States to sever all
sporting, cultural and scientific links with the racist régime and with organizations or
institutions in South Africa which practice apartheid and to discourage their
nationals from having any such contacts.
12. The Conference calls on all States that have not
yet done so:
(a) To refrain from any relations with the apartheid
régime which should contribute to the continuance of the apartheid policy;
(b) To discourage or prevent, all business
enterprises, including transnational corporations, in so far as they are under their
jurisdiction or control, from any collaboration with the racist régime of South Africa,
as such collaboration may contribute towards the continuance of its apartheid
policy,
13. The Conference, reaffirming the direct
responsibility of the United Nations for Namibia pending its achievement of genuine
self-determination, national independence and territorial integrity, demands the immediate
and unconditional implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978) of 29 September
1978 and calls upon all States, intergovernmental organizations, private institutions and
non-governmental organizations to make an active contribution to this aim. The Conference
further calls on all Governments and transnational corporations to implement Decree No. 1
for the protection of the natural resources of Namibia adopted by the United Nations
Council for Namibia, and also calls for the implementation of the measures referred to in
section C of the General Assembly resolution 37/233 on Namibia.
14. The Conference calls on all States,
intergovernmental organizations, private institutions and non-governmental organizations
to continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the termination of all economic and
financial collaboration with the racist régime of South Africa as such assistance will
contribute to the continuance of the policies of apartheid and to refrain from
taking any action that might imply recognition of, or support for, the illegal occupation
of the Namibian territory by that régime. In this connection, the Conference cautions
against unilateral attempts to relax the application of the sanctions already imposed by
the Security Council.
15. The Conference urges the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund as well as similar
institutions to refrain from extending any credits to the racist régime of South Africa.
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B. Education, teaching and training
16. The Conference calls upon all States to use
effectively education, teaching and training to create an atmosphere for the eradication
of racism and racial discrimination. These media should serve as channels for exposing the
myths and fallacies of theories, philosophies, ideas and attitudes that are inherent in
discriminatory actions based on differences of race, colour, descent and ethnic or
national origin. It is imperative for all States to apply strictly the principle of
non-discrimination and equality in the matter of education as contained in the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Convention against
Discrimination in Education. The Conference invites States:
(a) To examine history, geography and social studies
textbooks with a view to correcting any erroneous assessment of historical and social
data, or their unbalanced presentation, giving rise to racial prejudice;
(b) To ensure that teachers are made conscious of the
degree to which they may reflect the prejudice of their society and are instructed to
avoid such prejudices;
(c) To provide adequate opportunities in schools and
institutions of higher learning for the study of the activities of the United Nations in
combating racism, racial discrimination and apartheid;
(d) To provide pupils and students at all levels with
access to literature and documentation on racism, racial discrimination and apartheid;
(e) To ensure that the teaching staff of institutions
reflect as far as possible, the racial and ethnic composition of the community.
Affirmative action programmes should be instituted to facilitate the hiring of teachers
who represent the racial, ethnic and linguistic composition of the community;
(f) To make available the resources of schools and of
teaching and training facilities to persons belonging to all population groups;
(g) To take remedial measures in instances where
particular racial, ethnical, linguistic or other groups have had a history of being placed
at a disadvantage because of their origin and where such a situation has contribution to a
lower level of education and a lower standard of living for persons belonging to various
population groups. This is the responsibility of society. This might necessitate special
educational programmes at all levels of the society;
(h) To make law enforcement agents aware in their
training of the possibility of reflecting the prejudice of their society;
(i) To ensure that school curricula promote a
dialogue between persons belonging to the various groups of the society. These should be
responsive to the needs and backgrounds of all these persons and foster, where possible,
an interchange of cultural experience. In this regard, persons belonging to ethnic
minorities and racial groups should be allowed to inculcate in students the practices and
values of the respective cultures. Efforts should also be made to allow the topic of human
rights to permeate the curricula.
17. National institutions should inform the general
public of the nature of their human rights as provided for in the existing international
instruments directed towards combating racism, racial discrimination and apartheid
as well as in other instruments based on the principles contained in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights or as otherwise covered in national legislation. The general
public should be advised by the national institutions on the means of enforcing their
rights according to national law. National institutions should ensure that persons are
made aware of their own rights and those of others and should assist them in the matter of
protecting and enforcing their rights. These institutions should mobilize public opinion
in their countries against violations of human rights, especially gross and massive
violations, and in particular against the practice of apartheid, racism and
genocide.
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18. One of the fundamental objectives of programmes
of education and scientific research undertaken in national institutions should be the
elimination of racial discrimination and prejudice.
19. It is imperative that all States apply strictly
the principle of non-discriminnation and equality in the matter of education and adhere to
the principles set forth in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization Convention against Discrimination in Education. It is important that the
rights to enter any school should be guaranteed to every child. The availability of
special or supplementary education for children belonging to disadvantaged racial and
ethnic groups may be appropriate in some cases for their development.
20. International agencies such as UNESCO should
continue their work in the field of human rights education and promote such programmes on
a continuing basis as guidelines for textbook analysis, teacher training, curriculum
development and other undertakings and, in particular, should develop materials explaining
how discrimination inherent in the system and institutionalized can be addressed through
remedial programmes such as affirmative action plans.
21. As recommended by the International Conference on
Apartheid and Health, which was held in Brazzaville from 16 to 20 November 1981,
the World Health Organization should continue to implement the Plan of Action in favour of
the victims of apartheid, in particular I the fields of health, education and
training.
C. Dissemination of information and
the role of the mass media in combating racism and racial discrimination
22. The mass media should play a vital role in
disseminating information on methods and techniques used in combating racism, racial
discrimination and apartheid. The mass media should, taking into account the
Declaration 8/ adopted by UNESCO in 1978 on basic principles concerning contribution of
the mass media to strengthening peace and international understanding, promoting human
rights and cinbating racism and apartheid and incitement to war, regard it as their
task, by disseminating information on the aims, aspirations, cultures and needs of all
peoples, to contribute to eliminating ignorance and misunderstanding between peoples, to
making nationals of a country sensitive to the needs and desires of others, to ensuring
respect for the rights and dignity of all nations, all peoples and individuals without
distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or nationality and in that way to
contribute to protecting them against any influence of propaganda supporting racism and
racist régimes.
23. Mass media should contribute to raising the
awareness of peoples of the close link between the struggle against apartheid and
all forms of racism and racial discrimination and the struggle for international peace and
security, in formality with the provisions contained in the UNESCO Declaration of 1978.
24. Lack of self-expression through the mass media on
the part of persons belonging to racial and ethnic minorities in society can often cause
the mass media to become one-sided or distorted. Media of all kinds - radio, television,
films, the press, advertising, booklets and public meetings - as well as traditional forms
such as drama and story-telling could play a vital role.
25. Events and activities aimed at combating racism
and racial discrimination should be given broad coverage by the media. Mention may be made
of such activities as conferences, siminar workshops and round-tables, as well as meetings
of United Nations organs dealing with a particular question and publication and wide
distribution of pertinent resolutions and decisions of such bodies. Success stories in
combating racial discrimination through legislation, executive action or community action
programmes should be given publicity, and the negative and evil side of racism and racial
discrimination highlighted. Comic strips, films and magazines for children and adults
should be screened with a view to eliminating any form of racial stereotyping, whether
favorable or unfavorable. Events having a racial aspect should be presented in their
economic and social, cultural and political context; they should not be treated as mere
ness items.
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26. The negative and positive influences exercised by
the media in their role as information-conveyors, entertainers, educators and advertisers
should be studied. In addition, the media should seek to raise public consciousness about
the positive roles and achievements of racial and ethnic groups of all walks of live
throughout history. Efforts should be made to produce radio and television programmes
depicting the evils of racial discrimination in a vivid way - for example, by illustrating
the plights of individual victims of racial discrimination. Such audio and visual
presentations are likely to have great impact, particularly in areas where literacy is not
widespread.
27. There should be adequate opportunity within the
mass media for persons belonging to groups which are victims of discrimination to express
their own points of view, particularly by producing programmes or reports themselves. In
addition, persons belonging to such groups should have equal access to the professions
within the mass media, especially journalism.
28. National institutions should widely publicize
basic texts on the elimination of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid as
well as other human rights texts.
D. Measures for the promotion and protection
of human rights of persons belonging to minority groups, indigenous populations and
peoples and migrant workers who are subjected to racial discrimination
29. Throughout the various regions of the world
there is a diversity of peoples, cultures, traditions and religions that encompasses, in
many instances, various minority groups. There is a need for constant effort and continued
vigilance on the part of all Governments to obviate any form of racial discrimination
based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, in accordance with article 1
of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
30. National and local institutions, as adapted to
the needs and conditions of each country, can play an important role in the promotion and
protection of human rights, in the prevention of discrimination and the protection of the
rights of persons belonging to national and ethnic minorities, of indigenous populations
and of refugees. Such national and local institutions could be of a varying types,
including judicial, administrative, conciliatory, social and educational. Any or all of
these types of institutions could be utilized by individual countries according to their
own circumstances and needs.
31. In the area of legislation, Governments should
abolish and prohibit any discrimination within their jurisdiction. Such legislation should
seek to promote and protect the human rights of persons belonging to minority groups in
accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination and other relevant international instruments. Persons belonging
to minorities should enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms out any
discrimination as to national or ethnic origin, language, religion or sex.
32. Governments should create favorable conditions
and take measures that will enable persons belonging to national or ethnic minorities
within their jurisdiction to express their characteristics freely and to develop their
education, culture, language, traditions, and customs and to participate on a
non-discriminatory and stable basis in the cultural, social, economic and political life
of the country in which they live. In maintaining their culture and traditions such
persons should be in a position to develop the necessary contacts inside and outside their
country with due respectful the sovereignty, territorial integrity, the principle of
non-interference by one State in the internal affairs of another State, and the political
independence of the States concerned.
33. States should undertake to combat the causes of
inter-group antagonism by promoting concrete measures designed to promote understanding,
co-operation and harmonious relations among members of population groups. Where tension
and friction exist, their elimination cannot be achieved if the realities of political,
economic, cultural, religious and linguistic differences between the various components of
the society concerned are not taken into account.
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34. With respect to the indigenous populations,
Governments should recognize and respect the basic rights of such populations:
(a) To call themselves by their proper name and to
express freely their own identity;
(b) To have official status and to form their own
representative organizations;
(c) To maintain within the areas where they live
their traditional economic structures and way of life; this should in no way affect their
right to participate freely on an equal basis in the economic, social and political
development of the country;
(d) To maintain and use their own language, wherever
possible, for administration and education;
(e) To enjoy freedom of religion or belief;
(f) To have access to land and natural resources,
particularly in the light of the fundamental importance of rights to land and natural
resources to their traditions and aspirations;
(g) To structure, conduct and control their own
educational systems.
35. Indigenous populations should be free to manage
their own affairs to the fullest practicable extent, and should be conculted in all
matters concerning their interests and welfare, wherever possible through formal
consultative arrangements. Special measures should be taken to remedy past dispossession,
dispersal and systematic discrimination.
36. Funds should be made available by the national
authorities for investments, the uses of which are to be determined with the participation
of the indigenous populations themselves, in the economic life of the areas concerned, as
well as in all spheres of cultural activity.
37. Governments should allow indigenous populations
within their territories to develop cultural and social links with related or similar
populations, taking into account the important role of international organizations or
associations of indigenous populations, and with due respect for the sovereignty,
territoriel integrity and political independence of those countries in which indigenous
populations live.
38. The Conference further urges States to facilitate
and support the establishment of representative non-governmental international
organizations for indigenous populations through which they can share experiences and
promote common interests. The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and
Protection of Minorities should ensure that the urgent work being carried out by its
Working Group on Indigenous Populations is continued so that the complex issues involved
can be analyzed and appropriate measures taken at the international and national levels.
39. In view of the vulnerability of indigenous
populations to discrimination and violations of their human rights, and of the gravity of
the threat faced by indigenous populations in some parts of the world, Governments should
pay close attention to situations in which the rights of indigenous populations may be
violated or denied, in order to prevent such violations, which should be widely publicized
as soon as they are detected.
40. States receiving migrant workers should eliminate
all discriminatory practices against such workers and their families by giving them
treatment no less favorable than that accorded to their own nationals. Host countries
should eliminate from their legislation any type of legal or other provisions which may
discriminate against migrant workers on the basis of their respective nationalities. This
should pertain, inter alia, to vocational training, the type of posts that migrants
may occupy, the type of contracts accorded to migrant workers, the right to seek
employment in any part of the country, regulations governing working conditions,
trade-union activity and access to judicial and administrative tribunals to air grievances
concerning discrimination. With a view to combating xenophobia, host countries should
develop information campaigns in order to disseminate the idea of equality between
nationals and migrant workers.
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41. The following measures could also be undertaken
by Governments to protect the rights of migrant workers:
(a) The General Assembly should complete, as soon as
possible, the elaboration of an international convention on the protection of the rights
of all migrant workers and their families. The Conference considers that the conclusion of
this convention by the United Nations would constitute an important contribution to its
endeavours to protect fundamental human rights, because the convention would be added to
the other instruments protecting these rights; the Conference recommends, pending the
conclusions of the above-mentioned Convention, that a joint consultative mechanism be
established in host countries with a view to contributing to good relations and mutual
understanding;
(b) States should ratify, accede to and implement the
international instruments aimed at protecting migrant workers from discrimination,
including the relevant conventions of the International Labour Organisation;
(c) Migrant workers and members of their families
should have the same rights as citizens of the State concerned as regards access to and
treatment by the courts and tribunals;
(d) All migrant workers should enjoy treatment no
less favorable than that accorded to nationals of the receiving State in respect of
remuneration;
(e) Migrant workers should be ensured equal treatment
with national workers in the field of social security, including the right to a retirement
pension and similar social rights, while having their lawful residence in the host
country;
(f) Host countries should be invited to co-operate
with countries of origin to provide migrant workers and their families with the necessary
facilities in the fields of education and information for safeguarding their cultural
identity;
(g) The children of migrant workers should be enabled
to receive education in their mother tongue and on different aspects of their cultural
achievements with a view to preserving their national identity;
(h) The State of origin and State of employment
should as far as possible co-operate with a view to helping to create new job
opportunities for migrant workers returning to the State of origin.
E. Recourse procedures for victims of racial
discrimination
42. The Conference invites States to take into
account, within their domestic recourse procedures, the following considerations:
(a) Access to such procedures should be as broad as
possible;
(b) Existing recourse procedures should be publicized
within their respective jurisdictions, and victims of racial discrimination should
assisted in utilizing the procedures where appropriate;
(c) In each jurisdiction the rules relating to the
initiation of complaints should be made simple and flexible and capable of being
entertained in the language of the complainant;
(d) Complaints of racial discrimination should be
dealt with as expeditiously as possible, and there should be a reasonable time-limit with
regard to the length of investigations;
(e) Indigent victims of racial discrimination should
receive legal aid and assistance in prosecuting their complaint, with the help of an
interpreter when necessary, in civil or criminal proceedings.
43. Victims of racial discrimination should have the
right to seek from tribunals just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any damage
suffered as a result of such discrimination.
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F. Implementation of the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and other related
international instruments
44. The Conference urges States which have not yet
become parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination to do so as part of their contribution to the objectives of the Decade for
Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and until such States ratify the
Convention they should utilize the provisions of the Convention as guidelines in combating
racial discrimination and in securing the realization of the principles of equality at
both the national and international levels. The Conference calls upon States parties to
the Convention to consider the possibility of making the Declaration provided for in
article 14 of the Convention.
45. Such States should enact, as a matter of the
highest priority, appropriate legislation and other suitable measures to prohibit and
bring to an end racial discrimination, to abrogate, amend, rescind or nullify any policies
or regulations that have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial hatred and to
declare the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority and hatred to be an offence
punishable by law, taking duly into account the provisions appearing in the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
46. The Conference also appeals to States which have
not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to, as soon as possible, other relevant
international instruments adopted under the aegis of the United Nations and specialized
agencies, such as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
(1948), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the Convention on the
Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity
(1968), the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid
(1973), the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (1958) of the
International Labour Organisation, the Convention against Discrimination in Education
(1960) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979); States
are urged to comply with the reporting requirements called for by the relevant
conventions.
G. National legislation and institutions
47. The Conference suggests that States that have not
already done so should consider the urgent enactment, as a matter of the highest priority,
of appropriate legislation and other suitable measures to prohibit and bring to an end
racial discrimination, to abrogate, amend, rescind or nullify any policies or regulations
that have the effect of creating or perpetrating racial hatred and, with due regard to the
principles embodies in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the UNESCO
Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to
Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and
to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War (1978), the UNESCO
Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978), and the rights set forth in the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to
declare the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority and hatred to be an offence
punishable by law.
48. The Conference calls on all States that have not
yet done so to take effective legislative and other measures, including those in the field
of penal law, to prevent the recruitment, use, financing and training, transit and
transport of mercenaries, in particular when they are aimed at assisting racist régimes,
and to punish such mercenaries as common criminals. The Conference urges the Ad Hoc
Committee established by the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth session to complete, as
soon as possible, the draft international convention against the recruitment, use,
financing and training of mercenaries.
49. The Conference urges all States to adopt strict
legislation to declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on
racial superiority or hatred and to prohibit organizations based on racial prejudice and
hatred, including neo-Nazi and Fascist organizations, private clubs and institutions
established on the basis of racial criteria or propagating ideas of racial discrimination
and apartheid.
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50. With regard to national legislation, the
Conference recommends that:
(a) Governments, where necessary, should guarantee
non-discrimination on grounds of race and equal rights of all individuals in their
constitutions and legislation;
(b) Governments, where necessary, should undertake to
review and update all national legislation and remove all discriminatory provisions;
(c) Legislation should be consistent with
international standards embodied in relevant international instruments;
(d) Victims of discrimination should be informed and
advised of their rights, by all possible means, and given assistance in securing those
rights;
(e) Governments should, where necessary, establish
appropriate and effective mechanisms, including conciliation and mediation procedures and
national commissions, to ensure that such legislation is enforced effectively, and thereby
to promote equality of opportunity and good race relations.
51. A regular system of review and appraisal should
be continued to enable Member States, all organizations of the United Nations system,
including relevant regional bodies and non-governmental organizations, to assess the
measures taken towards achieving the aims and objectives of the Decade.
52. Within the framework of their national
legislation and policy and according to their means, States should set up national
institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. National institutions
should study legal developments and review the laws and policies of the national
Government with a view to ensuring the elimination of all discriminatory laws, prejudices
and practices based on race, sex, descent, colour and national and ethnic origin.
H. Seminars and Studies
53. The Conference recommends that, as part of future
activities to combat racism and racial discrimination, consideration should be given to
the organization of international and regional seminars and such subjects as:
(a) Political, historical, economic, social and
cultural factors leading to racism, racial discrimination and apartheid;
(b) International support and assistance to peoples
and movements struggling against colonialism, racism, racial discrimination and apartheid;
(c) Ways and means of denying support to racist
régimes with a view to making them change their policies;
(d) The historical and current dimensions of
tribalism;
(e) Main obstacles to the full eradication of racism,
racial discrimination and apartheid;
(f) The human rights and persons belonging to ethnic
groups in immigrant countries;
(g) Equality of treatment of persons belonging to
ethnic and racial minorities and disadvantaged groups, such as indigenous populations;
(h) Community relations commissions and their
functions.
54. The Conference also recommends that studies
should be continued regarding ways and means of ensuring implementation of United Nations
resolutions on apartheid, racism and racial discrimination. In particular, the
Conference strongly encourages the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to
continue to research, study and conduct seminars on racism and racial discrimination.
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I. Action by non-governmental organizations
55. By virtue of their independent status,
non-governmental organizations individually and collectively have an important
contribution to make to the achievement of the objectives of the Decade of Action to
Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. Through various activities sponsored by them,
non-governmental organizations can be effective in identifying and publicizing areas of
racial discrimination which otherwise may not come to light, and in helping to create
greater practical understanding among young people of the importance of actively combating
all forms of discrimination, in their own countries as well as in the international
community.
56. Non-governmental organizations have the
opportunity to create and sustain awareness among their members and in society at large
regarding the evils of racism and racial discrimination. Such awareness can be transmitted
from a national to an international organization with all the added benefits of the
concrete experience of a particular country. Governments should therefore ensure that
non-governmental organizations are enabled to function freely and openly within their
societies and thereby to make an effective contribution to the elimination of racism and
racial discrimination throughout the world.
J. International co-operation
57. In order to obtain the full promotion and
protection of human rights of individuals and peoples, it is necessary to intensify
national, regional and international action for the purpose of combating and eliminating
the causes of the policies and practices of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid.
58. The Conference underlines that the maintenance
and strengthening of international co-operation, peace, the implementation of human rights
and the combating of apartheid and racial discrimination are clearly linked. In
order to improve mutual understanding among peoples, exchange visits and educational,
cultural and scientific exchange programmes should be expanded. The free flow of
information and ideas with respect to combating racism and racial discrimination should be
ensured. The Conference calls on States to exchange information and ideas with respect to
combating racism and racial discrimination.
59. The Conference calls on the World Conference to
Review and Appraise the achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, to be held in
1985, to contribute to the struggle against racism, racial discrimination and apartheid
by recommending the adoption of measures aimed at ensuring the active participation of
women in the struggle against those evils.
60. Taking International Youth Year (1985) into
account, the conference recommends that the United Nations and the specialized agencies
should undertake activities to encourage the effective contribution of youth to the
struggle against racism, racial discrimination and apartheid.
61. The Conference calls upon all Governments and
international organizations to make every effort to change the economic, political and
social conditions on which policies and practices of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid
are based and to give all their support to the victims of racism, racial discrimination
and apartheid, and declares that the struggle against the remnants of colonialism
and support of the liberation movements recognized by the regional organizations is worthy
of particular attention.
62. Article 28 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights establishes that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which
the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized. For this
purpose, it is necessary to work for the establishment of a just and fair international
order. The establishment of a new international economic order would be an important means
of combating the causes which generate racism and racial discrimination.
63. The national, regional and international action
to combat and eliminate the causes of the policies and practices of racism, racial
discrimination and apartheid should include measures aimed at improving the
conditions of life of peoples and individuals in the economic, political, social and
cultural spheres in order that the great inequalities now existing in the matters of
employment, nutrition, health, housing and education, among others, may disappear.
International development co-operation has an important role to play in securing the
resources required by the developing countries to realize these objectives.
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64. The Conference urges Governments, with the
co-operation of the relevant international organizations, to consider adopting measures to
guarantee, through special conventions or other provisions, asylum and transit facilities
to those who desert from the armed forces of the racist régime in southern Africa on
grounds of conscience or who are forced to leave because of their opposition to apartheid.
65. The Conference proclaims that the elimination of
all forms of racial discrimination is a matter of high priority to the United Nations and
the international community. It proclaims that racism and racial discrimination in all
their manifestations are crimes against the conscience and dignity of mankind and must be
eradicated by effective and concerted international action. The Conference pays tribute to
UNESCO for its activities during the Decade and recommends that UNESCO should, within the
framework of its Second Medium-Term Plan (1984-1989), continue:
i. Its work (studies and research) on the factors of
influence in the maintenance, transmission and alteration of prejudice and on the causes
of effects of the various forms of racism and racial and ethnic discrimination;
ii. Its efforts to ensure that all groups which
suffer from discrimination in the fields of education, science, culture and information
enjoy equal opportunities with others and that the members of such groups have full
representation and are able to exercise their rights in those fields;
iii. Its programme on the appreciation of differing
cultures and the promotion and recognition of the equality of cultures and peoples;
iv. Its research and studies on apartheid, and
the widest possible dissemination of the results of its work.
66. In spite of the efforts of the international
community during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels, racism,
racial discrimination and apartheid continue unabated and have shown no sign of
diminishing. With a view to reaffirming its unalterable determination to mobilize maximum
international pressures to attain the objectives of the Decade, the Conference strongly
recommends that the General Assembly declare a second Decade for Action to Combat Racial
Discrimination at the end of the current Decade in December 1983.
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