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Background

Movement against racism and racial discrimination

The 20th anniversary of the adoption of the (DDPA) comes at a crucial time in the fight against racism and racial discrimination. The global movement against racism and racial discrimination is creating a momentum to:

• review the efficiency of previous measures,
• revisit challenges,
• rectify shortcomings, and
• commit to prompt and more effective measures against racism and racial discrimination.

Reparations, racial justice and equality

The General Assembly adopted , deciding to hold a one-day high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the DDPA, at the level of Heads of State and Government, on the theme "Reparations, racial justice and equality for people of African descent".

The commemoration of the DDPA is a timely event. It provides an opportunity for the world to address multiple and intersecting forms of racial discrimination and to stress the importance of solidarity across equality movements.

Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

The DDPA is a victims centred document, which emphasises the plight of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including:

• Africans and people of African descent,
• Asians and people of Asian descent,
• indigenous peoples,
• migrants,
• refugees,
• displaced persons,
• victims of human trafficking,
• minorities, including Roma/Gypsies/ Sinti/Travellers.

It reaffirms, that States have the duty to protect and promote the human rights of all victims and should apply a gender perspective, recognising the multiple forms of discrimination.

Comprehensive international framework

The DDPA, including its follow-up processes - the and the , together with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination () create a comprehensive international framework to address various forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Reparations

Slavery - a crime against humanity

The linkages between the legacy of the past and contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination were clearly established at the 2001 World Conference. In the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), states agreed that slavery and slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so. They also recognized that colonialism has led to racism and racial discrimination, and that Africans and people of African descent, people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples continue to be victims of its consequences.

Centuries of colonialism and enslavement

In his recent remarks to the General Assembly¡¯s observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Secretary-General pointed out that much of today¡¯s racism is deeply entrenched in centuries of colonialism and enslavement. He emphasized that it is especially important to recognize historical injustices, repair longstanding wrongs and reverse their consequences.

Reparatory justice - making amends

The Secretary-General emphasized that reparatory justice is crucial for reconciliation, prevention of conflicts and the creation of societies based on fairness, equality, respect and solidarity.

The UN , the , and other Durban follow-up mechanisms have also called for reparatory justice. In this regard, the noted that in practical terms, this would require making amends for centuries of violence and discrimination, including through:

• formal apologies,
• truth-telling processes, and
• reparations in various forms.