From A/HRC/6/22, Report of the Human Rights Council on its Sixth Session
Adopted September 28, 2007

6/21.	Elaboration of international complementary standards
to the International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination
	The Human Rights Council,
	Recalling the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in September 2001 by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1),
	Recalling also the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution 2106 A (XX) of 4 January 1969,
	Recalling further the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 2200 A (XXI) of 16 December 1966, in particular article 20, paragraph 2, of the Covenant, which stipulates that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, shall be prohibited by law,
	Underlining the importance of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981,
	Emphasizing that general recommendation No. 15 (1993) of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on article 4 of the International Convention stipulates that the prohibition of the dissemination of all ideas based upon racial superiority or hatred is compatible with the freedom of opinion and expression,
	Underlining that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action urged States that had not yet done so to accede to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as a matter of urgency, with a view to achieving its universal ratification by 2005, to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 thereof, and to withdraw reservations contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention, all of which have regrettably not been accomplished to date,
	Deeply alarmed at the sharp increase in xenophobic tendencies and intolerance towards various racial and religious groups and cultures, where people belonging to minorities, migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and illegal migrants are the worst affected victims of such tendencies and acts,
	Emphasizing the imperative need to find the necessary political will to address comprehensively, by all available measures, the various forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to provide adequate remedies to the victims,
	Recalling its decision 3/103 of 8 December 2006, by which, heeding the decision and instruction of the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, it decided to establish the Ad Hoc Committee of the Human Rights Council on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards, with the mandate to elaborate, as a matter of priority and necessity, complementary standards in the form of either a convention or additional protocol(s) to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, filling the existing gaps in the Convention, and also providing new normative standards aimed at combating all forms of contemporary racism, including incitement to racial and religious hatred,
	Regretting that the mandate of the Five Experts on Complementary Standards was not accomplished in accordance with the requirements set out in its decision 3/103,
	Decides:
	(a)	To convene the inaugural session of the Ad Hoc Committee in the first quarter of 2008 to commence its mandate;
	(b)	To allocate no more than two days at the beginning of the inaugural session of the Ad Hoc Committee, to reflect on all contributions and studies presented by various stakeholders and the relevant mechanisms which are necessary for the realization of its mandate.
22nd meeting
28 September 2007
[Adopted by a recorded vote of 32 to 10,
with 4 abstentions. 
In favour:	Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zambia.
Against:	Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Abstaining:	Japan, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, Uruguay.
See chap. IX.]