UNGA81: Racism continues to poison societies, UN chief warns

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says racism continues to poison societies, calling for tangible actions to address it.

Guterres said this at a high-level event marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

It was reported that the event was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York on Monday.

The Durban Declaration’s accompanying Programme of Action outlines the actions that states can take, acting as another blueprint for ensuring respect for human rights.

Concrete actions include investments in health systems, education, housing, electricity, drinking water, environmental control measures and promoting equal opportunities in employment.

Others are ensuring access to education and new technologies, women and children and inclusion of the history and contribution of Africans and people of African descent in the education curriculum.

The UN Chief stressed that the fight against racism and the fight against discrimination is even more urgent today than when the Declaration was adopted 25 years ago.

He warned that racism continued to poison societies, deepen inequalities, and deny people their fundamental rights and freedoms.

Guterres added that the antidote to this “poison” was unity and tangible action.

“The antidote to this poison is unity and tangible action.

“Governments must strengthen and effectively implement anti-discrimination and equality laws, and the institutions that enforce them.

“They must also spare no effort to dismantle systemic discrimination, and invest in inclusive and equal societies,’’ he said.

He urged governments to strengthen anti-discrimination laws, businesses to create workplaces where everyone can contribute, and technology companies to address bias in artificial intelligence.

The UN chief also called for concrete measures to deliver reparatory justice and urged everyone to stand against injustice and build societies where racism and discrimination have no place.

According to African group at the event, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action continue to provide a road map for advancing equality, inclusion and dignity.

The twenty-fifth anniversary is “a timely reminder that the commitment and consensus reached in Durban must be preserved”, the group noted.

It called for renewed political will and sustained international cooperation to make equality, justice and human dignity a reality for all.

The African Group called for “reparatory justice, historical accountability, cultural restitution and remedial measures” to address the continuing effects of centuries of enslavement, colonial domination, apartheid and genocides.

These historical injustices created structural inequalities that continue to affect economic development, governance and access to opportunities for Africans and people of African descent.

Reparatory measures should include historical acknowledgement and apologies, guarantees of non-repetition, equal economic partnerships and educational and scientific cooperation.