Third Committee

Agenda item 68 (b)

Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights

questions, including alternative approaches for improving the

effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,

El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States of

America and Uruguay: revised draft resolution

Programme of activities of the International Year for People of

African Descent

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1 which proclaims that

all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is

entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any

kind, as well as other relevant international human rights instruments,

Reaffirming also its resolution 64/169 of 18 December 2009, in which it

proclaimed the year beginning on 1 January 2011 the International Year for People

of African Descent,

Stressing the importance of strengthening national actions and regional and

international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent in relation to

their full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, their full

and equal participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural

aspects of society, and the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for their

diverse heritage and culture,

Recalling that, in its resolution 64/169, the General Assembly encouraged

Member States and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, within

their respective mandates and existing resources, to identify possible initiatives that

could contribute to the success of the Year,

Recalling also the relevant provisions of the outcomes of all major United

Nations conferences and summits, in particular the Vienna Declaration and

Programme of Action2 and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,3

Recalling further Human Rights Council resolution 14/16 of 18 June 2010,4

and welcoming the decision of the Council to convene a panel discussion during the

high-level segment of its sixteenth session focusing on the full enjoyment of the

human rights of people of African descent, to mark the Year,

Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the

draft programme of activities for the International Year for People of African

Descent,5

Recalling the human suffering of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic

slave trade, and of people of African descent in particular, and the lessons, history

and consequences of slavery,

Noting the decision of the African Union on the convening of the African

Diaspora Summit, which will be hosted by South Africa in 2012,

1. Takes note of the draft programme of activities for the International Year

for People of African Descent;6

2. Takes note with appreciation of the ongoing efforts of the Working Group

of Experts on People of African Descent and of its recommendation on the theme

“People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development” contained in its

report;7

3. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary fund for the

activities of the Year, to which Member States and all relevant donors are

encouraged to contribute;

4. Also requests the Secretary-General to close the International Year for

People of African Descent with the convening of a high-level thematic debate on the

achievement of the goals and objectives of the Year;

5. Invites Member States to support the implementation of activities for the

Year, and to cooperate constructively and decisively to ensure rapid progress and

concrete results in the achievement of the objectives of the Year;

6. Encourages Member States, donors and other stakeholders to participate

and contribute, on a voluntary basis, to activities related to the Year;

7. Encourages the specialized agencies of the United Nations system,

within their respective mandates and existing resources, and intergovernmental

organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to

develop activities for the Year, taking into account its goals and objectives and, as a

guideline, the draft programme of activities;

__________________

2 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.

3 See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I.

4 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/65/53),

chap. III, sect. A.

5 A/65/227 and Add.1.

6 See A/65/227, sect. IX.

7 A/HRC/14/18.

ORIGINAL TEXT ATTACHED

Submitted by

Barryl Biekman
Secretariat Facilitators Working Group
African Diaspora AU 6th Region Strategy
website: www.AU6thRegionFWG.nl
e-mail: secretariat@AU6thRegionFWG.nl
P.O.Box 139
2501CC The Hague
The Netherlands

NewYorkresolution on 2011_N1064347.pdf