28 October 1981

42nd plenary meeting

Implementation of the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination

The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolve to bring about the total and unconditional eradication of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid, which still represent serious obstacles to further progress and to the strengthening of international peace and security,

Recalling that, in its resolution 3057 (XXVIII) of 2 November 1973 and in the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination annexed thereto, and in other relevant resolutions, it called upon all peoples, Governments and institutions to continue their efforts to eradicate racism, racial discrimination and apartheid and thus to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin,

Taking into account the Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,

Recalling that, in the programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination contained in the annex to its resolution 34/24 of 15 November 1979, it called upon all States, United Nations organs and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify their efforts to achieve the speediest attainment of the objectives of the Decade, aimed at the complete and final elimination of all forms of racism and racial discrimination,

Bearing in mind the resounding victory of the people of Zimbabwe, achieved as a result of the struggle which it waged for the reconquest of its sovereignty and independence against the racist colonial regime that was oppressing it,

Expressing its serious concern, however, at the situation prevailing in South Africa and throughout southern Africa as a result of the policies and actions of the apartheid regime, particularly its efforts to perpetuate and strengthen racist domination of the country, its policy of "bantustanization", its brutal repression of opponents of apartheid and its renewed acts of aggression against neighbouring States,

Reaffirming that apartheid is a crime against humanity, Particularly concerned at the persistence of the illegal occupation of Namibia by the racist minority regime of South Africa, Disappointed that the talks between the United Nations and the South African racist and illegal occupation regime aimed at reaching a negotiated settlement of the question of Namibia have thus far failed because of the bad faith of that regime,

Reaffirming that any collaboration with the racist regime of South Africa constitutes a hostile act against the oppressed people of South Africa and a contemptuous defiance of the United Nations and the international community,

Considering that such collaboration strengthens the racist regime, encourages it to persist in its repressive and aggressive policy and seriously aggravates the situation in southern Africa, thus constituting a threat to international peace and security,

Seriously concerned at the fact that the principal Western and other trading partners of South Africa are continuing to collaborate with the racist regime and that their collaboration constitutes the main obstacle to the abolition of that regime and the elimination of the inhuman and criminal system of apartheid,

Alarmed at the persistent collaboration by certain Western States and Israel with the racist regime of South Africa in nuclear matters,

Aware of the constant need to mobilize public opinion against any political, military, economic and other assistance granted to the racist regime of South Africa,

Aware of the need to promote solutions to the problems of discrimination facing migrant workers and their families wherever such problems exist,

Recalling its resolution 35/33 of 14 November 1980, in which it decided to hold in 1983 a Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, which, while reviewing and assessing the activities undertaken during the Decade, should have as its main purpose the formulation of ways and means and of specific measures aimed at ensuring the full and universal implementation of United Nations resolutions and decisions on racism, racial discrimination and apartheid,

Stressing the importance of attaining the objectives of the Decade, Convinced that the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination will make a useful and constructive contribution to the attainment of those objectives,

1. Proclaims that the elimination of all forms of racism and of discrimination based on race and the attainment of the objectives of the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and of the programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade are matters of high priority for the international community and, therefore, for the United Nations;

2. Strongly condemns the policies of apartheid, racism and racial discrimination pursued in southern Africa, all occupied Arab territories and elsewhere, including the denial of the right of peoples to self-determination and independence;

3. Reaffirms its strong support for the national liberation struggle against racism, racial discrimination, apartheid, colonialism and foreign domination and for self-determination by all available means, including armed struggle;

4. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Namibian people to self-determination and independence;

5. Vigorously condemns the repeated acts of aggression committed by South Africa against neighbouring States, particularly against Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia;

6. Expresses its profound solidarity with the front-line States that are victims of the racist aggression and destabilization attempts of the Pretoria regime;

7. Once again invites all Member States, United Nations organs, specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations, national liberation movements, anti-apartheid and anti-racist organizations and other solidarity groups to strengthen and enlarge the scope of their activities in support of the objectives of the Programme for the Decade;

8. Again requests the Security Council to consider, as a matter of urgency, the imposition of full mandatory sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations against the racist regime of South Africa, including, in particular, an embargo on the delivery of oil and oil products to South Africa and the strengthening of the embargo on arms, with a view to putting an end to all military and nuclear collaboration with South Africa;

9. Approves the Declaration of the International Seminar on the Implementation and Reinforcement of the Arms Embargo against South Africa, which was held in London from 1 to 3 April 1981 under the sponsorship of the Special Committee against Apartheid;

10. Vigorously condemns the collaboration of certain Western countries, Israel and other States and of transnational corporations and other organizations which are maintaining or continuing to increase their collaboration with the racist regime of South Africa, particularly in the political, economic, military and nuclear fields, thereby encouraging that regime to persist in its inhuman and criminal policy of brutal oppression of the peoples of southern Africa and its denial of human rights;

11. Calls once again upon all Governments which have not yet done so to take legislative, administrative and other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own enterprises in southern Africa in order to put an end to such enterprises;

12. Calls upon all States to adopt, as a matter of high priority, measures declaring punishable by law any dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and outlawing organizations based on racial hatred and prejudice, including neo-Nazi and Fascist organizations and private clubs and institutions established on the basis of racial criteria or propagating ideas of racial discrimination and apartheid;

13. Invites Member States, the organs and bodies of the United Nations system and the specialized agencies to continue their efforts with a view to the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and their families;

14. Takes note of the progress made by the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session of 1981 in connexion with the preparatory work for the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

15. Decides that the Preparatory Sub-Committee for the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, established by the President of the Economic and Social Council in accordance with Council decision 1981/130 of 6 May 1981, shall hold its first session in New York during the first quarter of 1982, for a period of two weeks, and shall report to the Council at its first regular session of 1982, the Council being the Preparatory Committee for the Conference;

16. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Preparatory Sub-Committee with all necessary assistance;

17. Further requests the Secretary-General to appoint, in 1982, after consultation with the regional groups, a Secretary-General for the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, who shall have the rank of Assistant Secretary-General and shall be responsible for the organization of the Conference and co-ordination with Member States, organs and bodies of the United Nations, specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations;

18. Invites Member States to continue to co-operate with the Secretary-General as part of the Programme for the Decade and the preparations for the Conference;

19. Invites the appropriate organs and bodies of the United Nations system to contribute to the preparations for the Conference;

20. Expresses its satisfaction to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Special Committee against Apartheid, the United Nations Council for Namibia, the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Commission on Human Rights, through its Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Southern Africa, for their contribution to the implementation of the Programme for the Decade and invites them to include in their activities the preparations for the Conference;

21. Decides to consider at its thirty-seventh session the status of preparations for the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

22. Decides to consider at its thirty-seventh session, as a matter of high priority, the item entitled "Implementation of the Programme for the Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination".