Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action followed by general debate under Item:9

Mr. Vice President,

International-Lawyers.Org welcomes the report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action presented by its Chair, Ambassador Stevens.
 
We are concerned, however, by the failure of the OHCHR to carry out the recomendations of both the 13th and 14th sessions of the Working Group on implementing the DDPA and on commemorating the 15th anniversary of the DDPA. We especially regret the failure to create a web-page.
 
The OHCHR is an essential actor for implementing the General Assembly resolutions relating to the ongoing struggle against racism. This Office could have provided drafts for the basis for the multiyear DDPA outreach programme that was requested by the 13th session of the Working Group and which the General Assembly requested the Council to consider at its last session.
 
Due to the failure of the OHCHR to fulfill its responsibilities as required, the further implementation of both the DDPA and the International Decade for People of African Descent is threatened. The implementation of both of these responsibilities has been undermined. We call on the High Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct an independent review of its conduct in implementing the DDPA. We also call on the OHCHR to cooperate with the key NGOs who have made contributions to the Council's efforts to address racism.
 
We therefore call upon all Member States to ensure the implementation of the DDPA and in particular the adoption of the multi-year outreach programme.

Thank you.