Full Breakdown
UN General Assembly Marks 25th Anniversary of the Durban Declaration
By Drooid · · How we work
Background and Context
The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) was adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. The 153-page political declaration addressed racism, xenophobia, gender-based discrimination, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and the legacy of slavery, apartheid and genocide. It also affirmed the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and called for security for all states in the region, including Israel. An early draft had equated Zionism with racism, but that language was removed after opposition from Israel and its Western allies. A ten-year anniversary meeting in 2011 saw leaders reaffirm commitments, while the United States and Israel withdrew from the original conference over the Israel-Palestine clauses.
Purpose of the 25th-Anniversary Meeting
The event is intended to reflect on progress since 2001, address persistent and emerging challenges, and promote the full and effective implementation of the declaration’s provisions.
Key Participants
The opening plenary will feature statements from Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st UN General Assembly; UN Secretary-General António Guterres; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk; a representative of South Africa’s head of state; an NGO representative; and a youth representative. Delegations from UN member states, observer states and General Assembly observers will join the subsequent general debate.
Agenda and Expected Outcome
An interactive panel will focus on youth leadership, examining how young people from marginalized racial and ethnic groups shape public discourse and advance anti-racism action. A draft political declaration is slated to be tabled, reaffirming the messages of the original DDPA, the 2009 Durban Review Conference outcome, and the declarations adopted on the 10th and 20th anniversaries.
Implications
By convening governments, NGOs and youth leaders, the UN aims to reinvigorate international commitment to combating racism and related forms of discrimination. The meeting provides a platform to assess how the DDPA’s recommendations have been implemented and to chart renewed strategies for addressing both longstanding and new forms of racial injustice worldwide.