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The General Assembly,
Considering that the Charter of the United Nations is based
on the principles of the dignity and equality of all human beings
and seeks, among other basic objectives, to achieve international
co-operation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race,
sex, language or religion,
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms
set out in the Declaration, without distinction of any kind, in
particular as to race, colour or national origin,
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
proclaims further that all are equal before the law and are entitled
without any discrimination to equal protection of the law and that
all are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination
and against any incitement to such discrimination,
Considering that the United Nations has condemned colonialism
and all practices of segregation and discrimination associated therewith,
and that the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples proclaims in particular the necessity of bringing
colonialism to a speedy and unconditional end,
Considering that any doctrine of racial differentiation
or superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially
unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial
discrimination either in theory or in practice,
Taking into account the other resolutions adopted by the
General Assembly and the international instruments adopted by the
specialized agencies, in particular the International Labour Organisation
and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
in the field of discrimination,
Taking into account the fact that, although international
action and efforts in a number of countries have made it possible
to achieve progress in that field, discrimination based on race,
colour or ethnic origin in certain areas of the world continues
none the less to give cause for serious concern,
Alarmed by the manifestations of racial discrimination still
in evidence in some areas of the world, some of which are imposed
by certain Governments by means of legislative, administrative or
other measures, in the form, inter alia, of apartheid, segregation
and separation, as well as by the promotion and dissemination of
doctrines of racial superiority and expansionism in certain areas,
Convinced that all forms of racial discrimination and, still
more so, governmental policies based on the prejudice of racial
superiority or on racial hatred, besides constituting a violation
of fundamental human rights, tend to jeopardize friendly relations
among peoples, co-operation between nations and international peace
and security,
Convinced also that racial discrimination harms not only
those who are its objects but also those who practise it.
Convinced further that the building of a world society free from
all forms of racial segregation and discrimination, factors which
create hatred and division among men, is one of the fundamental
objectives of the United Nations,
1. Solemnly affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating
racial discrimination throughout the world, in all its forms and
manifestations, and of securing understanding of and respect for
the dignity of the human person;
2. Solemnly affirms the necessity of adopting national and
international measures to that end, including teaching, education
and information, in order to secure the universal and effective
recognition and observance of the principles set forth below;
3. Proclaims this Declaration:
Article 1
Discrimination between human beings on the ground of race, colour
or ethnic origin is an offence to human dignity and shall be condemned
as a denial of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as an obstacle to
friendly and peaceful relations among nations and as a fact capable
of disturbing peace and security among peoples.
Article 2
1. No State, institution, group or individual shall make any discrimination
whatsoever in matters of human rights and fundamental freedoms in
the treatment of persons, groups of persons or institutions on the
ground of race, colour or ethnic origin.
2. No State shall encourage, advocate or lend its support, through
police action or otherwise, to any discrimination based on race,
colour or ethnic origin by any group, institution or individual.
3. Special concrete measures shall be taken in appropriate circumstances
in order to secure adequate development or protection of individuals
belonging to certain racial groups with the object of ensuring the
full enjoyment by such individuals of human rights and fundamental
freedoms. These measures shall in no circumstances have as a consequence
the maintenance of unequal or separate rights for different racial
groups.
Article 3
1. Particular efforts shall be made to prevent discrimination based
on race, colour or ethnic origin, especially in the fields of civil
rights, access to citizenship, education, religion, employment,
occupation and housing.
2. Everyone shall have equal access to any place or facility intended
for use by the general public, without distinction as to race, colour
or ethnic origin.
Article 4
All States shall take effective measures to revise governmental
and other public policies and to rescind laws and regulations which
have the effect of creating and perpetuating racial discrimination
wherever it still exists. They should pass legislation for prohibiting
such discrimination and should take all appropriate measures to
combat those prejudices which lead to racial discrimination.
Article 5
An end shall be put without delay to governmental and other public
policies of racial segregation and especially policies of apartheid,
as well as all forms of racial discrimination and separation resulting
from such policies.
Article 6
No discrimination by reason of race, colour or ethnic origin shall
be admitted in the enjoyment by any person of political and citizenship
rights in his country, in particular the right to participate in
elections through universal and equal suffrage and to take part
in the government. Everyone has the right of equal access to public
service in his country.
Article 7
1. Everyone has the right to equality before the law and to equal
justice under the law. Everyone, without distinction as to race,
colour or ethnic origin, has the right to security of person and
protection by the State against violence or bodily harm, whether
inflicted by government officials or by any individual, group or
institution.
2. Everyone shall have the right to an effective remedy and protection
against any discrimination he may suffer on the ground of race,
colour or ethnic origin with respect to his fundamental rights and
freedoms through independent national tribunals competent to deal
with such matters.
Article 8
All effective steps shall be taken immediately in the fields of
teaching, education and information, with a view to eliminating
racial discrimination and prejudice and promoting understanding,
tolerance and friendship among nations and racial groups, as well
as to propagating the purposes and principles of the Charter of
the United Nations, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
and of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples.
Article 9
1. All propaganda and organizations based on ideas or theories
of the superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour
or ethnic origin with a view to justifying or promoting racial discrimination
in any form shall be severely condemned.
2. All incitement to or acts of violence, whether by individuals
or organizations against any race or group of persons of another
colour or ethnic origin shall be considered an offence against society
and punishable under law.
3. In order to put into effect the purposes and principles of the
present Declaration, all States shall take immediate and positive
measures, including legislative and other measures, to prosecute
and/or outlaw organizations which promote or incite to racial discrimination,
or incite to or use violence for purposes of discrimination based
on race, colour or ethnic origin.
Article 10
The United Nations, the specialized agencies, States and non-governmental
organizations shall do all in their power to promote energetic action
which, by combining legal and other practical measures, will make
possible the abolition of all forms of racial discrimination. They
shall, in particular, study the causes of such discrimination with
a view to recommending appropriate and effective measures to combat
and eliminate it.
Article 11
Every State shall promote respect for and observance of human rights
and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations and shall fully and faithfully observe the provisions of
the present Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples.
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