Commemoration of a Declaration

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

The 10th anniversary was seen as a chance to strengthen political commitment in fighting racism and racial discrimination, came during the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent.

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 our countries."