General Debate under Item 9

Item: 9 - Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

25 September 2018

Statement by: International-Lawyers.Org and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)

Mr. Vice President,

We welcome the continued presence of the issue of racism and discrimination as an item on the agenda of the Human Rights Council. The international attention given to this issue resulted in the welcome development of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Unfortunately, after significant international progress, the prevalence of overt racism is on the rise around the world. The flames of racism and xenophobia are being fanned by leaders in countries and cultures across the globe, using the unprecedented ability of modern communications to rapidly spread messages of hate. A trend toward closing borders and blaming migrants and racial minorities for crimes and other social ills seems to be accelerating. Urgent action is needed.

Racism and discrimination, especially when enshrined in law, ultimately only serve to divide communities, and societies, and humanity against itself. No one wins when we create a concept of “others” that makes “them” less than human. The creative potential of our human family is enriched by our diversity – and attitudes and actions that seek to discourage or destroy that diversity threaten the very core of what makes us human.

Mr. Vice President,

International-Lawyers.Org and Geneva International Centre for Justice request all members of this Council to adopt the DDPA, and more importantly to implement the DDPA. We now have a global society. Only by actively working against parochial, racist attitudes can we hope to have a positive future on this planet we all share.

Thank you.