Faced with the escalation of racism and the emergence of new forms of discrimination, as well as with the rising ideologies of intolerance, UNESCO wishes to take steps in order to revitalize, complete and/or ratify the normative texts that it produced and that are related to the problem of racism and discrimination.
- The Convention against Discrimination in Education acknowledges the crucial role of education in ensuring equality of opportunity for members of all racial, national or ethnic groups.
- The Declaration of Principles on Tolerance revitalizes the concept of tolerance by presenting it as an active attitude arising from recognition of and respect for the human rights of others.
- The Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, apartheid and incitement to war underlines the responsibility of the media.
- Demonstrating the invalidity of racist theories and racial prejudices, the Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice specifically approaches the racial issue from the scientific and political point of view.
- The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was set up to monitor how states implement the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
- The Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms underlines the importance given to culture and the respect of differences in a non-discriminatory environment.
- The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity is a fundamental text of a new ethics, representing the culmination of UNESCO's long efforts in defence of cultural pluralism.
- Puting the ethical debate on table to alert international opinion, the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights also prevents possible discriminations based on genetic manipulation.