The Incompatibility Between Democracy and Racism

A/HRC/RES/53/21View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, under agenda item 9 Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, published in 2023.

What other versions does this mandate have?

5 versions · 2004–2023

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2023	A/HRC/RES/53/21	The incompatibility between democracy and racism	1,425	67%Compare
2018	A/HRC/RES/38/19	The incompatibility between democracy and racism	1,068	68%Compare
2015	A/HRC/RES/29/20	The incompatibility between democracy and racism	767	27%Compare
2011	A/HRC/RES/18/15	The incompatibility between democracy and racism	1,108	33%Compare
2004	A/RES/58/159	The incompatibility between democracy and racism	928	–

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Anti-Discrimination Measures Decision-Making Democracy Political Participation Racial Discrimination

What’s in this document?

8 operative paragraphs

Reaffirms that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance condoned by governmental policies, legislative frameworks and judicial decisions violate human rights, as established in the relevant international and regional human rights instruments, and are incompatible with democracy, the rule of law and transparent and accountable governance;

Expresses deep concern about the rise of extremist political parties, movements and groups that seek to normalize racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, both online and offline, particularly against migrants and refugees, and about the negative or derogatory stereotypes that incite hatred of and violence against them;

Condemns hate speech, both online and offline, against all persons, including women and children, and those belonging to groups vulnerable to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and urges States to take measures to address it;

Urges States to develop comprehensive intersectional approaches grounded in international human rights law to counter all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including by extremist political leaders, parties, movements and groups, through solid legal frameworks, complemented by other measures, such as education and awareness-raising programmes, and the creation of a safe and enabling environment, offline and online, with a victim-centred and gender-responsive approach;

Decides to convene, before its fifty-sixth session, an intersessional high-level panel discussion on the incompatibility between democracy and racism, with a view to identifying good practices and challenges on the national, regional and international levels to the meaningful, inclusive and safe participation of persons, including women and children, and those belonging to groups vulnerable to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in public and political affairs, in particular in relation to decision-making processes;

Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to organize a webcast of the panel discussion, to be held in a hybrid format, in consultation with States, relevant United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies, special procedures and regional human rights mechanisms, as well as with civil society, non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions and specialized national equality bodies as appropriate, with a view to ensuring their participation in the panel discussion;

Also requests the High Commissioner to prepare a summary report on the panel discussion and to submit it to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-seventh session;

Invites the relevant mechanisms of the Human Rights Council and the United Nations treaty bodies to continue to pay particular attention to violations of human rights stemming from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in political circles, especially with regard to their incompatibility with democracy.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents