International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

A/RES/2785(XXVI)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1972.

What subjects does this mandate have?

10 subjects

Education Friendly Relations Among States Information Dissemination International Years Mass Media Public Opinion Racial Discrimination Radio Programmes Television Broadcasting Youth

What’s in this document?

10 operative paragraphs

Expresses its appreciation to the Governments, United Nations organs, specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations which have acted in good faith without political motivation and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and contributed positively to the observance of the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

Further expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the effective co-ordination of the measures and activities undertaken to date in connexion with the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and for the informative progress reports he has submitted thereon to the General Assembly;

Recommends that the measures and activities undertaken on the occasion of the International Year for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination by Governments, United Nations organs, specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations genuinely concerned with the elimination of racism and racial discrimination be continued, developed and enlarged, and that the initiatives which have emerged from the observance of the International Year should serve as guidelines for action-oriented programmes designed to ensure that the work accomplished in 1971 will be pursued;

Urges all States concerned to implement a programme of political, social, cultural and economic redress to improve the conditions of those suffering from the effects of past and present policies of racial discrimination and, in particular, appeals to Governments and all organizations in the United Nations system to devote their urgent attention to the problems involved in the education of youth, in a spirit of world peace, justice, mutual respect and understanding, as well as respect for the value and dignity of the human person and generally recognized principles of morality and international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States, in order to combat racial policies and to promote equal rights and economic social and cultural progress for all;

Requests every competent United Nations organ, specialized agency, regional intergovernmental organization and non-governmental organization in consultative status, acting in good faith without political motivation and in accordance with the Charter of the BA/C.5/1320/Rev.l and Add.I.

United Nations, to consider, as a matter of highest priority:

The further action that it might itself take with a view to the speedy elimination of racial discrimination throughout the world;

( b) The action that it might suggest to its subsidiary organs, to States and to international and national bodies for this purp..:ise;

( c) The follow-up measures required to ensure full and effective implementation of its decisions in this matter;

Endorses the invitation addressed by the Economic and Social Council to the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to provide the Commission on Human Rights with reports on the nature and effect of any racial discrimination of whose existence they have knowledge in their sphere of competence and requests that such reports should be submitted annually, and also endorses the invitation addressed by the Council to the non-governmental organizations in consultative status referred to in paragraph 5 above which have a special interest in the elimination of racism and racial discrimination to communicate biennially to the Council, and for the information of any interested organ of the United Nations, their endeavours and progress in the struggle against racism, apartheid and racial discrimination in all its forms;

Requests the Secretary-General:

In conformity with the conclusions stated in paragraphs 52 and 57 of his report on the review and reappraisal of United Nations information policies and activities, 9 to study information programmes on all questions relating to racial discrimination, taking into account the views of the Economic and Social Council and its competent subsidiary bodies with a view to intensifying the realization of such programmes;

( b) To pursue, as a major feature of action to combat racism and racial discrimination after the International Year, a world-wide programme intended to build up public opinion, especially through radio and television broadcasts, and the distribution of appropriate literature such as the Statement on Race and Racial Preiudice, 10 adopted by a committee of experts on the subject convened by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris in September 1967, and the special study on racial discrimination in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres, prepared by the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, 11 with a view to eradicating once and for all false racial beliefs based upon distortion or lack of scientific knowledge and showing how the different races complement one another;

Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its twenty-seventh session a report on the measures taken by United Nations organs, which would make possible a detailed assessment and formulation of further new methods and measures to combat racism, racial discrimination and apartheid.

6 December 1971.

e Official Records of the General Assemblv, Twenty-sixth 13 Final Act of the International Conference on Human p. 9.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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