Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Effective Elimination of Discrimination based on Work and Descent
PREAMBLE
Bearing in mind the commitment to the principles and obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, including the Preamble and Articles 1, 2, 13, 55, and 56, to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims a common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations, to respect for the equal freedom and dignity of all human beings, and their entitlement to the rights and freedoms specified therein without distinction of any kind, including race, colour, sex, language, religion, social origin, birth or other status,
Recalling also the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which seeks to eliminate discrimination based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin,
Taking into account General Recommendation 29 of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which confirms the Committee’s consistent view that the term ‘descent’ in article 1, paragraph 1 of the Convention applies not only to race but also other forms of inherited status and strongly condemns discrimination based on work and descent as a violation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Committee’s concluding observations addressed to States parties to the Convention,
Affirming the condemnation of discrimination in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,
Noting that the World Summit 2005 Outcome emphasized the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Taking into account also International Labour Organization Convention No. 111 concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, and its accompanying General Recommendation No. 111,
Affirming the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity, and on Discrimination in Education,
Affirming also the principles set forth in the United Nations Global Compact, to the end of eliminating discrimination in respect of employment and occupation,
Highlighting that discrimination based on work and descent exacerbates poverty and constrains progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals,
Reaffirming the importance of universal education expressed in the Millennium Development Goals,
Noting with grave concern the persistence of discrimination based on work and descent in many regions as reported by the Special Rapporteurs on Discrimination based on Work and Descent of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and by the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the Human Rights Council,
Aware of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Guidelines on Companies
Taking note of the Kathmandu Dalit Declaration, the Ambedkar Principles, and the Sullivan Principles, (1)
Commending the efforts of governments to eliminate discrimination based on work and descent through national constitutional and other legislation and other measures,
Respecting and attaching the highest importance to ongoing efforts by affected communities, and international and regional organizations to eliminate discrimination based on work and descent,
Strongly condemning discrimination based on work and descent, including discrimination based on caste and analogous systems of inherited status, as a violation of human rights and international law,
Confirming the need for the concerted efforts of not only States but also regional and international bodies, donors, local authorities, political parties, private sector actors such as companies, schools, social, cultural and religious institutions, other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media in order effectively to eliminate discrimination based on work and descent in their sphere of influence,
Recommends the following principles and guidelines for the effective elimination of discrimination based on work and descent.
