"I urge all member states to travel that extra mile that makes historic change possible and to focus on the concrete pledges undertaken in Durban (South Africa, anti-racism conference) that will help bring an end to all forms of discrimination," High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay said in a news release.

Pillay said implementation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action "still lags sorely and lamentably behind the solemn commitments that states pledged to fulfill seven years ago."

Addressing a preparatory meeting for next year's review of progress since the Durban conference, Pillay urged nations to participate in the review "to ensure that victims of racism, inequality, injustice and intolerance are not left to believe that the international community is incapable of overcoming its differences in order to properly and fully address their plight."