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Anti-racism Durban Review Conference adopts final outcome document
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay addresses a press conference after the Durban Review Conference adopted its final outcome document on 21 April. 漏 UN Photo/ Pierre Virot
The anti-racism Durban Review Conference on 21 April adopted its final outcome document. High Commissioner for Human Rights warmly welcomed the latest development and called upon the international community to continue the fight against all forms of racism.
The outcome document was adopted by consensus on Tuesday afternoon in the plenary of the Durban Review Conference.
"It鈥檚 great news indeed," Pillay, who is Secretary-General of the Review Conference, told a press conference late Tuesday.
Calling the final outcome document a successful achievement, Pillay said "it reinvigorates political commitment to implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action."
"It highlights the increased suffering, since 2001, of many different groups of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and similar forms of intolerance.
"It identifies, shares and disseminates some best practices in the fight against racism," said the High Commissioner.
She pointed out that the outcome document "unequivocally reaffirms the positive role of freedom of expression in the fight against racism, while also deploring derogatory stereotyping and stigmatization of people based on their religion or belief."
"It launches a process that will examine how the prohibition of incitement to hatred, as reflected in Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has been implemented in various parts of the world."
"I hope that those who decided to stay away from this Conference will join the international community again soon in the fight against these scourges," the High Commissioner added.
President of the Review Conference Amos Wako said the adoption of the final outcome document demonstrated that "one can remain constructively engaged and reach a consensus."
"I am optimistic that this document will have a great future and will lead the states in combating racism and racial discrimination all over the world," said Russian diplomat Yuri Boychenk, who chaired the negotiations process in drafting the outcome document.
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