International Community

Steps to be taken by the international community and international and regional organizations

The international community, international and regional organizations, in particular relevant 51�Թ� programmes, funds, specialized agencies and other bodies, international financial and development institutions, and other international mechanisms within their areas of competence should give high priority to programmes and projects specifically tailored for combating racism and racial discrimination against people of African descent, taking fully into account the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and, should, inter alia:

Take measures to raise awareness about the International Decade, including through awareness-raising campaigns, and organizing and supporting other activities, bearing in mind the theme of the Decade;
Continue to disseminate widely the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference and the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;
Continue to raise awareness about the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
Assist States in the full and effective implementation of the obligations arising under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and in ratifying or acceding to the Convention, with a view to attaining its universal ratification;
Assist States in the full and effective implementation of their commitments under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;
Incorporate human rights into development programmes, including in the areas of access to and enjoyment of the rights to education, employment, health, housing, land and labour;
Assign particular priority to the projects devoted to the collection of statistical data;
Support initiatives and projects aimed at honouring and preserving the historical memory of people of African descent;
Use the Decade as an opportunity to engage with people of African descent on appropriate and effective measures to halt and reverse the lasting consequences of slavery, the slave trade and the transatlantic slave trade in captured African people and, to this end, ensure the participation of and consultation with non-governmental organizations, other stakeholders and civil society at large;
In planning activities for the Decade, examine how existing programmes and resources might be utilized to benefit people of African descent more effectively;
Give due consideration to the goals and objectives aimed at the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against people of African descent in the discussions held by the 51�Թ� on the post-2015 development agenda.