Human Rights Council

Thirt y- six th session

11–29 September 2017

Agenda item 9

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 29 September 2017

36/23.Mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

The Human Rights Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/266 of 27 March 2002, in which the Assembly endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, reaffirming the commitments contained therein with regard to people of African descent; Assembly resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002,in which the Assembly invited all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; and all previous Human Rights Council resolutions on the comprehensive follow-up to the World Conference and the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,

Recalling also all previous resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular Commission resolutions 2002/68 of 25 April 2002 and 2003/30 of 23 April 2003, and Council resolutions 9/14 of 18 September 2008, 18/28 of 17 October 2011 and 27/25 of 26September 2014 on the mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent,

Reaffirming the obligations of States under relevant international human rights instruments, in particular the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 2106 (XX) of 21 December 1965,

Underlining that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, remains the only instructive outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance that prescribes comprehensive measures and remedies for the effective combating of all the scourges of racism at all levels,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, on institution-building of the Council, and resolutions 5/2, on the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders of the Council, both of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his/her duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,

Alarmed at the resurgent violent manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance precipitated by scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous ideologies, such as white supremacy, as well as by extremist nationalist and populist ideologies, and underlining in this respect that human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person,

Stressing the imperative need for the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent to accomplish its mandate,

1.Decides to extend the mandate of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent for a further period of three years, in accordance with the terms of reference contained in Human Rights Council resolution 9/14;

2.Also decides that the Working Group shall undertake a minimum of two country visits per year;

3.Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Working Group in the discharge of its mandate, including by responding promptly to the Working Group’s communications and by providing the information requested;

4.Requests the Working Group to submit an annual report to the Human Rights Council on all activities relating to its mandate, and to the General Assembly in the context of the International Decade for People of African Descent;

5.Also r equests the Working Group to pay special attention in its annual report to the rising tide of racism and racial hatred, as evidenced by the resurgence of white supremacist ideologies, and extremist nationalist and populist ideologies, and to make specific recommendations in this regard;

6.Requests States, non-governmental organizations, relevant human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, and national human rights institutions, international financial and development institutions, and specialized agencies, programmes and funds of the United Nations to collaborate with the Working Group, including by, inter alia, providing it with the necessary information and, where possible, reports in order to enable the Working Group to carry out its mandate, including with regard to field missions;

7.Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Working Group with all the human, technical and financial assistance necessary for the sustainable and effective fulfilment of its mandate;

8.Recalls the establishment of a voluntary fund to provide additional resources for, inter alia, the participation of people of African descent, representatives of developing countries, especially the least developed countries, non-governmental organizations and experts in the open-ended sessions of the Working Group, and invites States to contribute to that fund;

9.Decides to remain seized ofthis important issue.

42nd meeting 29 September 2017

[Adopted without a vote.]