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10th anniversary of the Durban Declaration
and Programme of Action,
General Assembly High-level meeting, September 2011

The General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution titled "United against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" (document A/66/L.2).

On 22 September 2011, the United Nations General Assembly held a one day high-level meeting in New York to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. This document, which is the international community's blueprint for action to fight racism, was adopted by consensus at the 2001 UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa. It is an innovative and action oriented agenda to combat all forms of racism and racial discrimination.

This 10th anniversary was a chance to strengthen political commitment in fighting racism and racial discrimination. Coming as it did during the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent, it reminded us about all victims identified in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and created another opportunity to focus on how to prevent and combat racism and racial discrimination in all its manifestations.

At the opening plenary of the High-Level Meeting, world leaders adopted by consensus a political declaration proclaiming their "strong determination to make the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the protection of the victims thereof, a high priority for [their] countries."
See Closing Press Release PDF document

The General Assembly meeting commemorating the 10th anniversary was a one-day event at the level of Heads of State and Government taking the form of a plenary session and a series of round table discussions. The arrangements for this anniversary meeting were handled by the President of the General Assembly, assisted by the Ambassadors of Cameroon and Monaco.

The meeting opened at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday 22 September in the General Assembly hall at United Nations headquarters in New York. A short ceremonial opening was followed by two consecutive round tables from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A closing plenary session took place from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. where summaries of the round table discussions were presented.

The theme for the anniversary event was: "Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance: recognition, justice and development."

UN Web Services Section, Department of Public Information, United Nations © 2011