19 May 1986

15th plenary meeting

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

The Economic and Social Council,

Reaffirming the purpose set out in the Charter of the United Nations of achieving international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

Recalling the proclamation by the General Assembly, in its resolution 38/14 of 22 November 1983, of the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,

Recalling further the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 38/14 to achieve the objectives of the Second Decade,

Reaffirming the plan of activities for the period 1985-1989 adopted by consensus by the General Assembly in its resolution 39/16 of 23 November 1984,

Conscious of the responsibilities conferred upon it by the General Assembly for co-ordinating and, in particular, evaluating the activities undertaken in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade,

Bearing in mind, in particular, its mandate under General Assembly resolution 40/22 of 29 November 1985 to submit an annual report containing, inter alia:

(a) An enumeration of the activities undertaken or contemplated to achieve the objectives of the Second Decade, including the activities of Governments, United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and other international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations;

(b) A review and appraisal of those activities;

(c) Its suggestions and recommendations;

Having examined the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade,

Deeply concerned that in their present form the reports provide an inadequate basis for discharge by the Council of the above-mentioned mandate,

Noting with concern the apparent lack of co-operation between the Centre for Human Rights and the office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Co-ordinate Activities Concerning the Second Decade,

Noting also that, despite the efforts of the international community, the first Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the first years of the Second Decade have not attained their principal objectives and that millions of human beings continue to this day to be victims of varied forms of racism, racial discrimination and apartheid,

Aware of the efforts of the international community to improve the protection of the human rights of migrant workers, including those from the developing countries,

1. Reaffirms the importance of achieving the objectives of the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-first session a revised report on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade, taking into account the relevant comments and observations made during the deliberations of the Council;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure effective co-operation between the Centre for Human Rights and the office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Co-ordinate Activities Concerning the Second Decade in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade;

4. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Centre for Human Rights, in complying with the above request, shall abide by the letter and spirit of the relevant resolutions on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade;

5. Reaffirms the necessity of co-ordinating the full range of programmes under implementation by the United Nations system as they relate to the objectives of the Second Decade;

6. Invites all Governments, United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations, as well as interested non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, to participate fully in the implementation of the plan of activities for the period 1985-1989;

7. Commends those Governments, United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have intensified and expanded their efforts to ensure the rapid elimination of apartheid and all forms of racism and racial discrimination and urges them to further redouble such efforts;

8. Invites all Governments to take or continue to take all necessary measures to combat all forms of racism and racial discrimination and to support the work of the Decade by making contributions to the Trust Fund for the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

9. Decides to pay particular attention to the specific activities of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade directed towards the elimination of apartheid, in view of the present explosive situation in southern Africa;

10. Requests the Secretary-General, in his revised report, to pay special attention to the situation of migrant workers and members of their families;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to present, in his future annual reports to the Council on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade, more detailed information on the relevant activities of all Governments, United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.