United Nations
International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination
CERD/C/GC/34
Distr.: General
3 October 2011
Original: English
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Seventy-ninth session
8 August–2 September 2011
General recommendation No. 34 adopted by the Committee
Racial discrimination against people of African descent
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Recalls the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
according to which all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and are
entitled to the rights and freedoms enshrined therein without distinction of any kind, the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
Recalls also that people of African descent received greater recognition and visibility at the
World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance, held in Durban in 2001, South Africa, its preparatory conferences, particularly
the + 5 Conference of Santiago, Chile, in 2000, reflected in the respective declarations and
plans of action,
Reaffirms its general recommendations Nos. 28 (2002) on the follow-up to the World
Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,
and 33 (2009) on follow-up to the Durban Review Conference, in which the Committee
expressed its commitment to press for the implementation of the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action,
Notes also the condemnation of discrimination against people of African descent as
expressed in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,
Observes that it has become evident from the examination of the reports of States parties to
the Convention that people of African descent continue to experience racism and racial
discrimination,
Having held a day-long thematic discussion on racial discrimination against people of
African descent in the seventy-eighth session (February–March 2011) on the occasion of
the International Year for People of African Descent, in which the Committee heard and
exchanged ideas with States parties, United Nations organs and specialized agencies,
special rapporteurs and their representatives, as well as non-governmental organizations,
and decided to clarify some aspects of discrimination against such people and further
support the struggle to overcome this discrimination worldwide,
GE.11- 46043