Anti-Racism
Racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on a daily basis, hindering progress for millions of people around the world. Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), the United Nations has worked against racism as a priority.
UN Human Rights provides extensive support to all UN mechanisms involved in combating racism and works with them to make the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action a reality.
The Office coordinates the Programme of Activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent and, since 2020, is mandated to coordinate the effective implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 43/1 towards transformative change for racial justice and equality.
Our work on Anti-Racism
Anti-racism is at the heart of the work of the UN Human Rights Europe Office, including in addressing discrimination affecting Africans and people of African descent, Roma and Travellers, Muslims and Jewish people. The Office engages strongly in awareness raising, including through an intersectional approach, opens consultation spaces for civil society participation, and supports stakeholders on anti-racial discrimination and racial justice initiatives, including with a focus on redress of racial trauma.
Our work in this area focuses on the following priorities:
- Contributing to the formulation and implementation of EU strategies and action plans related to racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance by mainstreaming a human rights-based approach
- Working with stakeholders, including EU institutions, Equality Bodies, civil society, academic institutions, selected Member States and human rights cities networks, to strengthen their capacities for implementing and monitoring anti-racism actions and policies
- Raising awareness about the determining role of racism in the implementation of social rights, particularly the right to health
- Promoting the role of culture and education in addressing and redressing the impact of racism on victims
