September 22, 2021 is the day of the 20th anniversary of the Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action. Twenty years ago, leaders from across the globe came together in Durban, South Africa to address the pernicious effects of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. The World Conference against Racism, as it was known, led to the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) – a comprehensive and visionary document that embodies the world’s commitment to tackle the scourge of racism in all its forms and manifestations.

The 20th anniversary of the DDPA – together with its follow up processes and mechanisms, the International Decade for People of African Descent, the Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality and 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda – is a renewed opportunity to place racial equality and justice as the centrepiece of international, regional, and national agendas.

The National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, in partnership with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, published the book The Durban Declaration and Program of Action to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

This publication was published as part of the implementation of paragraph 13 of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Concluding Observations and Recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination following the consideration of the Tenth - Twelfth periodic reports of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination for 2020-2022, approved by the Chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on October 15, 2020.

The Durban Declaration and Action Program are of great importance in the implementation of the state policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of interethnic relations, strengthening the atmosphere of friendship and tolerance in society, creating organizational and legal mechanisms to protect the rights of citizens from discrimination on the basis of race or nationality. International documents are of a recommendatory nature and inform about who can become a victim of racism and the responsibility of states for solving the problem of eradicating this negative phenomenon.

The publication is intended for representatives of legislative, executive and judicial authorities, law enforcement agencies, scientific and educational institutions and civil society institutions.

The National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights expresses its gratitude to the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan for assistance in publishing this book.

Press Service of the

National Center of the

Republic of Uzbekistan for

Human Rights