24 May 1988

12th 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 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, set forth in the Charter of the United Nations,

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 also the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, approved 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, to be implemented by the Secretary-General in accordance with General Assembly resolution 39/16 of 23 November 1984,

Recalling the plan of activities for the period 1990-1993 approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 42/47 of 30 November 1987,

Conscious of the responsibility 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 41/94 of 4 December 1986 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 suggestins and recommendations,

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

Emphasizing the need to ensure the co-ordination of activities undertaken by various United Nations bodies and specialized agencies for the purpose of implementing the Programme of Action for the Second Decade,

Noting 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 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, when reporting on the activities undertaken to implement the Programme of Action for the Secod Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, to assess the impact of the actions and decisions taken on the elimination of racism and racial discrimination;

3. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that the Centre for Human Rights of the United Nations Secretariat abides by the letter and spirit of the resolutions on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade;

4. Reaffirms the necessity of co-ordinating the full range of programmes being implemented by the United Nations system as they relate to the objectives of the Second Decade;

5. 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;

6. Urgently requests the Secretary-General to ensure the effective and immediate implementation of those activities proposed for the first half of the Decade that have not yet been undertaken;

7. Invites the Secretary-General to proceed with the implementation of the activities for the period 1990-1993 listed in the annex to General Assembly resolution 42/47, and requests him, in this context, to accord the highest priority to measures to combat apartheid;

8. 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 redouble such efforts;

9. 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 Second Decade by making contributions to the Trust Fund for the Programme for the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, in order to ensure further implementation of activities for the Second Decade;

10. Decides, as a matter of priority, to give particular attention to the specific activities of the Programme of Action for the Second Decade that are directed towards the elimination of apartheid, in view of the present explosive situation in southern Africa;

11. Requests the Secretary-General, in his reports, to continue to pay special attention to the situation of migrant workers and members of their families;

12. Also requests the Secretary-General to organize in 1989 a seminar on cultural dialogue between the countries of origin and the host countries of migrant workers;

13. Emphasizes the importance of public information activities in combating racism and racial discrimination and in mobilizing public support for the objectives of the Second Decade, and, in this context, commends the efforts of the Co-ordinator for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination;

14. Further 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 activities of all Governments, United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.