20 years after the Durban declaration, racism echoes in “echo chambers of hate” |

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On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA), Heads of State and Government gathered in the General Assembly Hall as part of the UNGA76, To discuss reparations, racial justice and equality for people of African descent.

“People of African descent, minority communities, indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and many more – all continue to face hatred, stigma, scapegoats, discrimination and others. violence, ”Secretary-General António Guterres said.

“Xenophobia, misogyny, hate plots, white supremacy and neo-Nazi ideologies are spreading – amplified in the echo chambers of hate,” he added.

Unmissable links

From blatant violations to rampant transgressions, human rights are under attack, the UN chief said.

Structural racism and systematic injustice continue to deprive people of their basic human rights, and the links between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.

Some of the worst impacts of “overlaps and intersections of discrimination” are experienced by women. And the world is witnessing a “disturbing rise” in anti-Semitism, growing anti-Muslim sectarianism and mistreatment of minority Christians, he said.

The Secretary-General urged everyone to condemn discrimination, hate speech and baseless claims, because those who push this ideology today denigrate “our essential fight against racism”.

New alarm clock

Mr. Guterres pointed to a “transformation agenda” launched by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in an attempt to dismantle systemic racism, ensure accountability and deliver restorative justice.

“This new awareness, often driven by women and young people, has created momentum that we must build on,” he said, also acknowledging the “significant progress” made by the Permanent Forum of the People of African descent in the fight against systemic racism.

The UN chief called on member states to “take concrete steps” to support these efforts at national and global levels and to “recognize the contemporary resonance of past crimes that continue to haunt our present”, such as transgenerational suffering and structural inequalities “deeply rooted in centuries of slavery and colonial exploitation”.

“We must reverse the consequences of generations of exclusion and discrimination – including their obvious social and economic dimensions through restorative justice frameworks.”

Unite in “common humanity”

The UN chief urged everyone to “recognize diversity as an asset” and to understand that the fight against racism is a universal struggle and “concrete in each society”.

“No country can claim to be exempt from it,” he said, stressing the need to correct political, economic and structural imbalances; ensure that everyone feels respected as a valued member of society; and “to stand together as one human family, rich in diversity, equal in dignity and rights, united in solidarity”.

At a time when the world feels more divided than ever, the Secretary-General has encouraged everyone “to unite around our common humanity … and to re-engage in this essential objective”.

Fight racism

General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid said the world has not done enough to “tackle the pervasiveness” of racial discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia.

“Racism breeds violence, displacement and inequity. He survives because we allow it. It permeates society because we don’t recognize diversity, ”he said.

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