Annan reports momentum against racism continues following Durban conference

Momentum generated by the United Nations World Conference against Racism four years ago is fuelling a trend towards reporting and monitoring, often using statistics, of racist crimes and incidents, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in his latest report on the issue to the General Assembly.

"New forms of racism are receiving increasing attention. Governments are reacting more often against cybercrime and/or the dissemination of racist ideologies via the Internet," he writes.

"At the same time, governments, intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are using the Internet to inform the public about their work and to spread positive messages of equality and non-discrimination."

The report, requested by the Assembly, focuses on activities relating to the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in the South African port city in 2001.

The study, consisting largely of contributions submitted by Member States and civil society organizations from around the globe, concludes that 21 March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, remains a rallying point around the world.