| Sources, causes, forms and contemporary
manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance
13. We
acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade, including the
transatlantic slave trade, were appalling tragedies in the history of
humanity not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms
of their magnitude, organized nature and especially their negation of
the essence of the victims, and further acknowledge that slavery and the
slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so,
especially the transatlantic slave trade and are among the major sources
and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent,
Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims
of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences;
14. We
recognize that colonialism has led to racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of
African descent, and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were
victims of colonialism and continue to be victims of its
consequences. We acknowledge the suffering caused by colonialism
and affirm that, wherever and whenever it occurred, it must be condemned
and its reoccurrence prevented. We further regret that the effects
and persistence of these structures and practices have been among the
factors contributing to lasting social and economic inequalities in many
parts of the world today;
15. We
recognize that apartheid and genocide in terms of international law
constitute crimes against humanity and are major sources and
manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance, and acknowledge the untold evil and suffering caused by
these acts and affirm that wherever and whenever they occurred, they
must be condemned and their recurrence prevented;
16. 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 occur widely in the context of discriminatory, xenophobic
and racist practices;
17. We
note the importance of paying special attention to new manifestations of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to
which youth and other vulnerable groups might be exposed;
18. We
emphasize that poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social
exclusion and economic disparities are closely associated with racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and
contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices which in
turn generate more poverty;
19. We
recognize the negative economic, social and cultural consequences of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which
have contributed significantly to the underdevelopment of developing
countries and, in particular, of Africa and resolve to free every man,
woman and child from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme
poverty to which more than one billion of them are currently subjected,
to make the right to development a reality for everyone and to free the
entire human race from want;
20. We
recognize that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance are among the root causes of armed conflict and very
often one of its consequences and recall that non-discrimination is a
fundamental principle of international humanitarian law. We
underscore the need for all parties to armed conflicts to abide
scrupulously by this principle and for States and the international
community to remain especially vigilant during periods of
armed conflict and continue to combat all forms of racial
discrimination;
21. We
express our deep concern that socio-economic development is being
hampered by widespread internal conflicts which are due, among other
causes, to gross violations of human rights, including those arising
from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,
and from lack of democratic, inclusive and participatory governance;
22. We
express our concern that in some States political and legal structures
or institutions, some of which were inherited and persist today, do not
correspond to the multiethnic, pluricultural and plurilingual
characteristics of the population and, in many cases, constitute an
important factor of discrimination in the exclusion of indigenous
peoples;
23. We
fully recognize the rights of indigenous peoples consistent with the
principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and
therefore stress the need to adopt the appropriate constitutional,
administrative, legislative and judicial measures, including those
derived from applicable international instruments;
24. We
declare that the use of the term "indigenous peoples" in the
Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is in
the context of, and without prejudice to the outcome of, ongoing
international negotiations on texts that specifically deal with this
issue, and cannot be construed as having any implications as to rights
under international law;
25. We
express our profound repudiation of the racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance that persist in some States in the
functioning of the penal systems and in the application of the law, as
well as in the actions and attitudes of institutions and individuals
responsible for law enforcement, especially where this has contributed
to certain groups being over-represented among persons under detention
or imprisoned;
26. We
affirm the need to put an end to impunity for violations of the human
rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals and groups of individuals
who are victimized by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance;
27. 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;
28. We
recall that persecution against any identifiable group, collectivity or
community on racial, national, ethnic or other grounds that are
universally recognized as impermissible under international law, as well
as the crime of apartheid, constitute serious violations of human rights
and, in some cases, qualify as crimes against humanity;
29. We
strongly condemn the fact that slavery and slavery-like practices still
exist today in parts of the world and urge States to take immediate
measures as a matter of priority to end such practices, which constitute
flagrant violations of human rights;
30. We
affirm the urgent need to prevent, combat and eliminate all forms of
trafficking in persons, in particular women and children, and recognize
that victims of trafficking are particularly exposed to racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
31. We
also express our deep concern whenever indicators in the fields of, inter
alia, education, employment, health, housing, infant
mortality and life expectancy for many peoples show a situation of
disadvantage, particularly where the contributing factors include
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
1. Urges
States in their national efforts, and in cooperation with other States,
regional and international organizations and financial institutions, to
promote the use of public and private investment in consultation with
the affected communities in order to eradicate poverty, particularly in
those areas in which victims of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance predominantly live;
2. Urges
States to take all necessary and appropriate measures to end enslavement
and contemporary forms of slavery-like practices, to initiate
constructive dialogue among States and implement measures with a view to
correcting the problems and the damage resulting therefrom;
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