DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION COMMEMORATED AT UNOG

21 March 2003



The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was commemorated today at the United Nations Office at Geneva with a round-table discussion entitled "Taking steps against Racism."
Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that although the prime responsibility for combating racism lay with States, the active involvement of international and non-governmental organizations, the media and civil society at large was of paramount importance. Mr. Vieira de Mello read out the message of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the International Day.
Following presentations by five panelists, a short panel discussion raised a number of issues including, among others, the participation of youth in the fight against racism; selectivity in the international community's engagement with Africa and the compounded effect of racial discrimination upon women.
In addition to Mr. Vieira de Mello, the panelists included Juan Enrique Vega, Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; Peter Lesa Kasanda, Chairperson of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; Ion Diaconu, Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Jean-Daniel Vigny, Minister of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and other international organizations at Geneva; and Genevieve Gencianos, International Coordinator of Migrants Rights International.

Statements
SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that international human rights instruments such as the Charter, the Universal Declaration, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination had been created to combat the scourge of racism. Although the prime responsibility for combating racism lay with States, the active involvement of international and non-governmental organizations, the media and civil society at large was of paramount importance. Among others, the issue of migrants had been addressed at length in the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa; the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and members of their families represented a leap forward in the protection of the rights of migrants.
Mr. Vieira de Mello read out a message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan which said, among other things, that the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorated the victims of the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960, in which 69 peaceful demonstrators against apartheid were killed by South African police forces. That tragedy marked an important watershed in the fight against racism, but the fight had not yet been won. More than 40 years later, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance were still extremely serious problems. The United Nations remained at the heart of efforts to address the plight of minorities, indigenous peoples, people of African descent and other victims. For this process to be successful, however, both Governments and civil society needed to take ownership of it.
JUAN ENRIQUE VEGA, Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, said that the Intergovernmental Working Group had worked toward building the greatest number of confidence building measures among role players in the fight against racism. Fear, which lay at the root of all discrimination, could destroy any society; the duty of the international community today was to confront these fears and to establish standards leading to concrete results for the victims. The Governments that participated in the Working Group had reached consensus on a package of recommendations, which would make it possible to go into some detail and depth to fight the lack of confidence in international organizations.
PETER LESA KASANDA, Chairperson of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, said that people of African descent needed to be recognized as a group having experienced considerable suffering over centuries. The first step forward was to recognize that discrimination did exist on the ground. Durban had provided the first political commitment by Governments to confront the scourge of racism – arising from Durban, the Human Rights Commission had created the Working Group. It was unfortunate that the Expert from the Western Group had yet to be appointed; the work of the Group would have benefited from his participation. Among the recommendations of the Working Group was that the United Nations declare a world decade for people of African descent and that the General Assembly declare 21 March of each year as a day of remembrance of slavery.
ION DIACONU, Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, said that his Committee had deepened the scope of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Committee urged the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and called for information from states on relevant economic and social indicators. In follow-up to the World Conference, the Committee had undertaken to cooperate fully with all the United Nations bodies. It was also focused upon reacting to all events and developments which could lead to a resurgence of racism. The Committee also urged the cessation of war as another situation that could lead to a resurgence of racism.
JEAN-DANIEL VIGNY, Minister of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and other international organizations at Geneva, said that much remained to be done to protect victims of racism, as well as potential victims. The Federal Commission against Racism had received a mandate to analyze the strong and weak points of the fight against racism within Switzerland. The job of combating racism was the responsibility of the Interior Ministry, which had identified five main areas of concentration: strengthening the protection of victims and potential victims; to establish, network and professionalize counseling centers for victims of racial discrimination; to systematically monitor racist attitudes and racism in Switzerland; to protect migrants from racial discrimination; and to combat new forms of racism.
GENEVIEVE GENCIANOS, International Coordinator of Migrants Rights International, said that, post-Durban, Migrants Rights International had, together with its network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), agreed on a five-pronged programme of activities addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance of migrants. The five prongs consisted of global networking and coordination, information sharing, advocacy and campaigns, monitoring and documentation and education, training and capacity-building. The World Conference against Racism had brought forth a global agenda to combat racism, which could not be separated from the work of NGOs and individuals working on migrants' rights.

Panel Discussion
In the panel discussion that followed, issues such as anti-Semitism, the reputed success or failure of the World Conference against Racism, mechanisms to ensure the participation of young adults and youth in the fight against racism; the selectivity of the international community's engagement with African issues and humanitarian emergencies and the compounded effect of racial discrimination on women were raised.
In response, Mr. Vieira de Mello expressed his unequivocal condemnation of anti-Semitism. Furthermore, particular importance was attached to the participation of youth in the fight against racism; the youth were the future of the fight – perhaps human rights would be the cause of the youth of today and tomorrow. On the issue of African concerns, particularly with regard to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, he said that he had personally raised the issue with the President of the United States. If Africa were to be treated selectively in the future, it would be to Africa's benefit. Finally, the uniquely important role of women in the fight against racism was stressed.



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