Scope, Modalities, Format and Organization of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly to Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

A/RES/75/320View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 70b Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, published in 2021.

What other versions does this mandate have?

3 versions · 2011–2026

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/80/299

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2026	A/RES/80/299	Scope, modalities, format and organization of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action	782	44%Compare
2021	A/RES/75/320	Scope, modalities, format and organization of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly to Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action	1,093	36%Compare
2011	A/RES/65/279	Scope, modalities, format and organization of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action	658	–

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Anniversaries Anti-Discrimination Measures Conferences Racial Discrimination Xenophobia

What’s in this document?

16 operative paragraphs

Decides that the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action will be held on Wednesday, 22 September 2021, and consist of an opening plenary meeting from 9 to 11 a.m., two consecutive round tables from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m., and a closing plenary meeting from 6 to 7 p.m., and also decides that the general debate on that day will be held from 11 a.m. to 2.45 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m., and that this arrangement does not constitute a precedent;

Also decides that the speakers at the opening plenary will be the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Head of State of South Africa, one speaker from each regional group, a representative of a non-governmental organization and a youth representative, both of whom are actively engaged in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and who are to be selected by the President of the General Assembly;

Further decides, without setting a precedent for future high-level meetings of the General Assembly, that Member States speaking at the opening plenary meeting may submit a pre-recorded statement by their Head of State or Government, head of delegation or other dignitary, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall, after introduction by their representative who is physically present in the Assembly Hall;

Decides that other speakers, who are not representatives of Member States, invited to make a statement at the opening plenary meeting or the closing plenary meeting may submit a pre-recorded statement, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall, after introduction by the President of the General Assembly;

Also decides that, in addition to the verbatim records of the high-level meeting, the President of the General Assembly will circulate as a document of the Assembly a compilation document of the statements delivered by means of pre-recorded statements during the high-level meeting and submitted to the President no later than the day on which the pre-recorded statement is played in the Assembly Hall, and that such pre-recorded statements will be attached to the verbatim records of the meeting;

Further decides that the political declaration aimed at mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and its follow-up processes shall be adopted by the General Assembly at the opening plenary meeting;

Decides that the organizational arrangements of the round tables will be as follows:

The round tables will address the overall theme of “Reparations, racial justice and equality for people of African descent”;

Each round table will be chaired by a Head of State or Government to be appointed by the President of the General Assembly after consultations with the Member States;

In order to promote a substantive and constructive dialogue, participation in the round tables will include Member States, observers, representatives of entities and experts of the United Nations system, parliamentarians, representatives of local governments, national human rights institutions, where they exist, the private sector, academia, as well as selected representatives of civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations that are actively engaged in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, such as youth and community organizations and indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions, taking into account the principles of transparency, inclusivity, including gender balance, and geographical representation;

Invites Member States, observer States and observers of the General Assembly to be represented at the highest possible level, including at the level of Heads of State and Government, in the high-level meeting;

Invites non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council to participate in the high-level meeting, as appropriate;

Requests the President of the General Assembly to draw up a list of representatives of other relevant non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector who may participate in the high-level meeting, including its round tables, taking into account the principles of transparency and equitable geographical representation, with due regard for gender parity, to submit the proposed list to Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis² and to bring the list to the attention of the Assembly for a final decision by the Assembly on participation in the high-level meeting;

²The list will include proposed as well as final names. The general basis of any objections, if requested by one or more States Members of the United Nations or States members of the specialized agencies, will be made known to the Office of the President of the General Assembly and the requester.

Decides that the closing plenary meeting will comprise the presentation of summaries of the discussions by the Chairs of the round tables, followed by statements from the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and the Deputy Secretary-General;

Also decides that the proceedings of the high-level meeting, namely, the opening and closing plenary meetings, as well as the round tables, will be webcast, and encourages the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General and all relevant United Nations entities to give the highest visibility possible to the meeting;

Requests the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with Member States, to finalize the organizational arrangements for the high-level meeting.

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?

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