Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination

UN General Assembly, Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, A/RES/2142, UN General Assembly, 26 October 1966, https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/unga/1966/en/6805 [accessed 12 May 2025]
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XXI. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
2142. Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 1905 (XVIII) of 20 November 1963 and 2017 (XX) of 1 November 1965 on measures to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Recalling also its resolution 2106 A (XX) of 21 December 1965, in which it adopted and opened for signature the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Noting the information in the report of the Secretary-General,[1] furnished in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1076 (XXXIX) of 28 July 1965 and General Assembly resolution 2017 (XX) on the action taken by Member States, the United Nations, the specialized agencies and regional inter-governmental organizations and directed towards the implementation of the Declaration, Noting also that a seminar on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination is to be held, under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights, in 1968, Noting further that the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities is undertaking a special study of racial discrimination in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, and has already appointed a Special Rapporteur for that purpose, Reaffirming that racial discrimination and apartheid are denials of human rights and fundamental freedoms and of justice and are offences against human dignity, Recognizing that racial discrimination and apartheid, wherever they are practised, constitute a serious impediment to economic and social development and are obstacles to international co-operation and peace, Deeply concerned that racial discrimination and apartheid, despite the decisive condemnation of them by the United Nations, continue to exist in some countries and territories, Convinced of the urgent necessity of further measures to attain the goal of the complete elimination of all forms of racial discrimination and apartheid,

1. Condemns, wherever they exist, all policies and practices of apartheid, racial discrimination and segregation, including the practices of discrimination inherent in colonialism;

2. Reiterates that such policies and practices on the part of any Member State are incompatible with the obligations assumed by it under the Charter of the United Nations;

3. Calls again upon all States in which racial discrimination or apartheid is practised to comply speedily and faithfully with the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and with the above-mentioned resolutions and all other pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly, and to take all necessary steps, including legislative measures, for this purpose;

4. Calls upon all eligible States without delay to sign and ratify or to accede to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

5. Calls upon Member States which have not already done so to initiate appropriate programmes of action to eliminate racial discrimination and apartheid, including in particular the promotion of equal opportunities for educational and vocational training, and guarantees for the enjoyment, without distinction on grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin, of basic human rights such as the rights to vote, to equality in the administration of justice, to equal economic opportunities and to equal access to social services;

6. Appeals to Member States that, in combating discriminatory practices, education and culture should be directed, and mass media and literary creation should be encouraged, towards removing the prejudices and erroneous beliefs, such as the belief in the superiority of one race over another, which incite such practices;

7. Requests the Member States which have not yet replied to the Secretary-General's inquiry as to the measures they have taken to implement the Declaration to do so without delay;

8. Proclaims 21 March as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its twenty-second session a report on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution;

10. Decides to place this item on the provisional agenda of its twenty-second session.

1452nd plenary meeting,
26 October 1966.
[1] E/4174 and Add.1, Add.2 and Corr.1, and Add.3-9.
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