11 April 2011

“Scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”


The General Assembly,

PP1 Recalling its resolution 65/240 of 24 December 2010, by which it decided to hold a one-day high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, at the level of Heads of State and Government, on the second day of the general debate of the sixty-sixth session, under the theme “Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance: recognition, justice and development”,


OP1 Decides that the high-level meeting will be held on Thursday, 22 September 2011, consisting of an opening plenary meeting from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., two consecutive round tables  from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a closing plenary meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.;

OP2 Decides that the speakers at the opening plenary will be the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the High-Commissioner for Human Rights as well as one speaker from each regional group, a representative of South Africa and a representative of a NGO active in this field; 

OP3 Decides that the organizational arrangements of the round tables will be as follows: 
The round tables will address the overall theme of “Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance: recognition, justice and development”;

Each round table  will be co-chaired by two Heads of State or Government to be invited by the President of the General Assembly after consultations with the regional groups;

In order to promote interactive and substantive discussions, participation in each roundtable will include Member States, observers, and representatives of entities of the United Nations system, civil society organizations, including NGOs that are active in the field of the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the private sector; 

 Accredited NGOs representatives as well as accredited media representatives will be able to follow the proceedings of the round table sessions in the overflow room.

OP4 Invites the Holy See, in its capacity as Observer State, and Palestine, in its capacity as observer, to participate in the preparatory activities and in the high-level meeting; 

OP5 Invites the President of the General Assembly to draw up a list of representatives of non-governmental organizations, relevant civil society organizations, including NGOs that are active in the field of the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the private sector, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical representation, and to submit the list to Member States for consideration on a no-objection basis, for participation in the high-level meeting; 

OP6 Decides that the closing plenary meeting will comprise the presentation of summaries of the discussions by the Co-Chairs of the roundtables and the adoption of a short and concise political declaration.