“World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

31 August – 7 September 2001, Durban

Background

A comprehensive framework

In 1997, the General Assembly decided to hold the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The Conference was held four years later from 31 August to 7 September 2001, in Durban, South Africa.

The outcome document of the 2001 Conference was the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action [adopted by the UN General Assembly in March 2002; ed.], a comprehensive framework for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

It encompassed far-reaching measures to combat racism in all its manifestations, calling for tougher anti-discrimination legislation and administrative measures; for better education, access to health and administration of justice; for greater efforts to fight poverty and secure development; for improved remedies and resources available to victims of racism; and for greater multiculturalism and respect for the rule of law and human rights.

[…].”

Editor’s note:

The World Conference in Durban ended with adoption of the declaration on 8 September 2001. Worldwide media coverage and debate were cut short three days later by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.

• See the full background on the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on the website of the United Nations (last checked in March 2026).

• See the text of the declaration, later also referred to as the ‘Durban Declaration” (downloaded in October 2022). Adopted by the World Conference without a vote on 8 September 2001. Source: page on the website of the United Nations (last checked in March 2026).

• See the document (A/CONF.189/12) “Report of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Durban, 31 August – 8 September 2001” as PDF. Containing the text of the ‘Durban Declaration’. Published by the UN on 1 January 2002. Source: page on the website of the United Nations (last checked in March 2026)

• See also article “World Conference against Racism 2001” on Wikipedia (last checked in March 2026)

• See also the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference Against Racism, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 27 March 2002 by recorded vote, in the ‘Primary Sources’ section of this website.