United Nations
A/RES/56/268
General Assembly
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 117
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/581)]
56/268. Measures to be taken against political platforms and
activities based on doctrines of superiority and violent
nationalist ideologies which are based on racial
discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia,
including neo-Nazism
The General Assembly,
Recalling that the United Nations emerged from the struggle against Nazism,
fascism, aggression and foreign occupation, and that the people expressed their
resolve in the Charter of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the
scourge of war,
Aware of the determination proclaimed by the peoples of the world in the
Charter to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of
the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and
small and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is
scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that
there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere,
Welcoming the fact that the World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa,
from 31 August to 8 September 2001, condemned political platforms and
organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and
related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as incompatible with democracy
and transparent and accountable governance,
Noting with regret that, in the contemporary world, there continue to exist
various manifestations of neo-Nazi activities, as well as other political platforms
and activities based on doctrines of superiority and violent nationalist ideologies
which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia,
which entail contempt for the individual or a denial of the intrinsic dignity and
equality of all human beings and of equality of opportunity in the civil, political,
economic and social and cultural spheres and in social justice,
01 49796
Distr.: General
15 May 2002