ACTION TAKEN BY WORKING GROUPS ON DRAFT DECLARATION AND DRAFT ACTION

PROGRAMME, 31 AUGUST - 2 SEPTEMBER

DURBAN, 3 September -- As of 2 September, Working Group I on the draft declaration had so far held four meetings, while Working Group II on the draft programme of action had held six meetings.  Working Group I is being chaired by Marc Bossuyt of Belgium, and Working Group II is being chaired by Bonaventure M. Bowa of Zambia. 

Texts Adopted -- Working Group I, Draft Declaration

So far, the group has adopted 12 paragraphs contained in the draft (document A/CONF.189/4):  Preambular paragraphs 8, 9, 12, 16, 19, 25, 26, 33, 34 and 38; and operative paragraphs 19 and 30.

The working group also deleted two paragraphs (preambular paragraph 10 and operative paragraph 9) because they were similar to other paragraphs.

The texts adopted by Working Group I are contained in Annex I.

Texts Adopted -- Working Group II, Draft Action Programme

Working Group II has so far adopted the following paragraphs of the draft programme of action (document A/CONF.189/5):  12, 18, 20, 33, 34 and 35g

The texts adopted by Working Group II are contained in Annex II.

ANNEX I – DRAFT DECLARATION

Following are the texts of paragraphs adopted so far by Working Group I:

Preambular Paragraph (PP)8 Welcoming the decision of the General Assembly to proclaim the year 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, which underlines tolerance and respect for diversity and the need to seek common grounds among and within civilizations in order to address common challenges of humanity threatening shared values, universal human rights, including the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance through cooperation, partnership and inclusion; (ADOPTED by WG on 2/9)

PP9 Welcoming also the decision of the General Assembly to proclaim the Decade (2001-2010) for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World, as well as the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration and Plan of Action on a Culture of Peace; (ADOPTED by WG on 2/9)

PP12 Recalling the United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 1960; (ADOPTED by WG on 1/9)

PP16 Convinced of the fundamental importance of universal accession to or ratification of and full implementation of our obligations arising under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as the principal international instrument to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (ADOPTED by WG on 1/9)

PP19 Noting with appreciation the Vision Statement launched by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa under the patronage of The Honourable Nelson Mandela, first President of the new South Africa, and at the initiative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference, and signed by seventy-four heads of State, heads of Government and dignitaries; (ADOPTED by WG on 1/9)

PP25 Recognizing that national and international actions are required to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights, economic, social, cultural, civil and political, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and to improve the living conditions of men, women and children of all nations; (ADOPTED by WG on 1/9)

PP26 Reaffirming the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (ADOPTED by WG on 1/9)

PP33 Alarmed by the emergence and continued occurrence of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their more subtle and contemporary forms and manifestations, as well as by other ideologies and practices based on racial or ethnic discrimination or superiority; (ADOPTED by WG on 2/9)

PP34 Strongly rejecting any doctrine of racial superiority along with theories which attempt to determine the existence of so-called distinct human races; (ADOPTED by WG on 2/9)

PP38 Determined in an era when globalization and technology have contributed considerably to bringing people together to materialize the notion of a human family based on equality, dignity and solidarity, and to make the twenty-first century a century of human rights, the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the realization of genuine equality of opportunity and treatment for all individuals and peoples (ADOPTED by WG on 2/9)

Operative Paragraph (OP)19. We recognize that xenophobia against non-nationals particularly migrants, refugees and asylum seekers constitutes one of the main sources of contemporary racism and that human rights violations against members of such groups widely occur in the context of discriminatory, xenophobic and racist practices; (ADOPTED by WG on 2/9)

OP30. We express our concern that beyond the fact that racism is gaining ground, contemporary forms and manifestations of racism and xenophobia are striving to regain political, moral and even legal recognition in many ways, including through the platforms of some political parties and organizations, and the dissemination through modern communication technologies of ideas based on the notion of racial superiority; (ADOPTED by WG on 2/9)

PP 10 and OP 9 were deleted.

ANNEX II—DRAFT PROGRAMME OF ACTION

The following paragraphs were adopted by working group II on the draft programme of action as at 6 p.m. 2 September:

12. Calls upon the United Nations, international financial and development institutions and other appropriate mechanisms to develop capacity-building programmes intended for Africans and people of African descent in the Americas and around the world; ADOPTED by WG on 31/8

18. Calls upon States to take specific steps to ensure full and effective access to the justice system for all individuals, particularly those of African descent; ADOPTED by the WG on 31/8

20. Urges States

(a) To adopt or continue to apply, in concert with them, constitutional, administrative, legislative, judicial and all necessary measures to promote, protect and ensure the enjoyment by indigenous peoples of their rights, as well as to guarantee them the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms on the basis of equality, non-discrimination and full and free participation in all areas of society, in particular in matters affecting or concerning their interests ; (ADOPTED at 3rd PrepCom) (brackets around indigenous peoples removed by WG on 1/9.)

33. Calls upon States to facilitate family reunification, in an expeditious and effective manner which has a positive effect on integration of migrants, with due regard for the desire of many family members to have an independent status; (ADOPTED at WG on 2/9)

34. Urges States to take concrete measures that would eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the work place against all workers, including migrants, and ensure the full equality of all before the law, including labour law, and further urges States to eliminate barriers, where appropriate, to: participating in vocational training, collective bargaining, employment, contracts and trade union activity; accessing judicial and administrative tribunals dealing with grievances; seeking employment in different parts of their country of residence; and working in safe and healthy conditions; (ADOPTED at third Prep Com:; bracketed part of text resolved and adopted at WG on 2/9)

35. (g) To take all possible measures to promote the full enjoyment by all migrants of all human rights, including those related to fair wages and equal remuneration for work of equal value without distinction of any kind, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control, social security including social insurance, access to education, health care, social services and respect for their cultural identity; (ADOPTED by the WG on 1/9).

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