Draft conclusions and recommendations on Item 5 
Role of politicians and political parties in combatting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

The Working Group reaffirms the critical role, as recognized in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference, of political parties and political leaders in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and recalls all relevant paragraphs of the DDPA and the Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference; 
The Working Group urges States to reinforce their commitment to promote tolerance and human rights and to fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 
The Working Group underlines the key role that all political leaders and political parties at every level, can and ought to play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to strengthening democracy. It encourages political parties to take concrete steps to promote solidarity, tolerance and respect for diversity and human rights. The Working group stresses the necessity for political leaders and political parties to continue to implement measures in this regard; 
The WG notes that several historical injustices were based on and legitimized by messages of racial, religious, national or ethnic hatred disseminated by political parties and political leaders;
The Working Group considers in this regard unacceptable, when political leaders at every level deliver racist speeches and incite hatred and xenophobia and urges political leaders and political parties, to explicitly and strongly condemn the use of political platforms to disseminate all political messages and ideas based on racism, racial superiority or hatred and that incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as well as combating manifestations of generalized rejection of migrants; 
The WG underlines the necessity for political leaders and political parties at every level to take a strong public stance, concrete measures, actions and policies against discourses that propagate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance including when such messages come from their own ranks; 
The Working Group encourages all political parties and politicians, at every level, to consider undertaking the following measures: 
Adopting action plans against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
Encouraging diversity among candidates presented for election and within their own structures; 
Promoting the development of diversity within political leadership as a fundamental value of the political systems;
Establishing strong, positive and sustained cooperation with the media to build a platform against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 
Seeking to promote and achieve the respect for diversity through political action and legislative measures;
Committing to take decisive action against racist discourse; condemn openly all political messages or discourses that disseminate ideas based on racial superiority or hatred and that incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
The WG urges all political parties and political leaders at every level, to engage with civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
The Working Group further encourages political parties to develop codes of conduct in accordance with international human rights law that include internal disciplinary measures for violations thereof, so their members refrain from public statements and actions that encourage or incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
The Working Group notes the necessity of implementing existing legislations in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. These legislations should be comprehensively well drafted to encompass all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including all its contemporary forms and manifestations. Related to the foregoing, the Working Group recognizes that legislation alone, while fundamental, is not sufficient by itself to respond fully to the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 
The Working Group further notes that States should focus systematically and methodically on the root causes of the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as identified in the DDPA and apply a combination of measures towards its elimination. The Working Group recognizes that education plays a significant role in eliminating racial and negative stereotypes;
The Working Group believes that human rights education and awareness-raising, including amongst political parties and political leaders, is critical in addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The Working Group recommends States to adopt educational campaigns with the aim of preventing and combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The Working Group emphasises the importance of the DDPA as an instrumental source for education, in particular in the elaboration of educational programmes and plans aimed at addressing negative stereotypes that appear to be the enduring legacy of historical injustices, and in countering all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including contemporary ones; 
The WG recognizes the positive contribution that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression particularly by the media and new technologies, including the Internet, and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can make to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; the WG reiterates the need to respect the editorial independence and autonomy of the media in this regard;
The Working Group notes with regret that certain media, by promoting false images and negative stereotypes of vulnerable individuals or groups of individuals, particularly of migrants and refugees, have contributed to the spread of xenophobic and racist sentiments among the public and in some cases have encouraged violence by racist individuals and groups;
The Working Group condemns political platforms and organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as incompatible with democracy and transparent and accountable governance. The Working Group reaffirms that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance condoned by governmental policies violate human rights and may endanger friendly relations among peoples, cooperation among nations and international peace and security; 
The Working Group reiterates that the preservation and promotion of tolerance, pluralism and respect for diversity is important in producing more inclusive societies. Furthermore, the Working Group strongly encourages political parties and political leaders to take actions in their work to combat the continuing incidents of racial or religious intolerance and violence manifested in particular by the derogatory stereotyping and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief. The WG also strongly encourages all political parties and politicians to take an active and firm stance in combating hate speech, incitement to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including vis-à-vis their own membership and candidates; 
The Working Groups invites OHCHR to continue cooperating with the Inter Parliamentary Union with a view to mobilizing parliaments and parliamentarians in their role in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.