For International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination
Saturday 21 March 2015
Learning from historical tragedies is key to strengthen the
global fight against racism
GENEVA (20 March 2015) – Speaking ahead of the International
Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, three United Nations experts
on racism have called on Governments around the world to preserve the
historical memory of past atrocity crimes to make more effective the global
fight against racism.
The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism,
Mutuma Ruteere; the Chair-Rapporteur of
the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, Mireille Fanon
Mendes-France; and the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination, José Francisco Cali Tzay, said that breaking the silence on past human rights
tragedies can only be achieved through political will and education.
“This year the International Day for the elimination of
racial discrimination has a particular resonance as we celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and commence the International Decade for People
of African descent (2015-2024).
Striving for a world free of racism and racial
discrimination while remembering historical tragedies and inhumane actions,
related to racial or ethnic hierarchizing and discrimination, which have
affected global history and caused untold suffering are inseparable parts of
the fight against racism that all actors must undertake. We continue to be
confronted with evidence that we are still some way from realizing the goal of
universal non-discrimination, inter-ethnic harmony and unbiased justice that so
many have worked to achieve.
The complex linkages between past and contemporary forms of
racism must indeed be considered to prevent racial discrimination, xenophobia,
afrophobia and related intolerance and banish racism in our societies. In this
respect, political will and education is key in breaking the silence on past
human rights tragedies.
Often history books are silent about past atrocities
committed in the name of race and ethnicity, falsify or distort historic facts,
spread racial prejudice, and elude the history, cultures, traditions and
positive contributions of those exposed to racism and discrimination, including
people of African descent, minorities, migrants, indigenous peoples and other
groups.
As we commemorate this important milestone for the ICERD, we
can look back and see some great successes in the fight against racism; the
most significant has been the end of Apartheid in South Africa. But racism and discrimination is present
today in our modern societies across the globe and in many forms. Only by recognising and learning from history
can we make past successes a contemporary reality.
We call upon States, and all relevant actors to adopt and
implement measures to preserve historical memory of past atrocity crimes, to
promote an accurate reflection of historical facts relating to past atrocities
in text books and other educational material; to implement awareness-raising
initiatives and ensure trainings for teachers on racial discrimination;
prescribe unbiased schoolbooks that include the positive contribution of the
victims of racial discrimination, while promoting more tolerance and respect
for diversity.
We urge States to fully implement the ICERD as well as the
Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and the Programme of Activities for
the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent:
Recognition, Justice and Development which constitute key instruments in the
global fight against racism including past atrocities.”
ENDS
Mr. Mutuma Ruteere (Kenya) was appointed by the Human Rights
Council as Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in November 2011. Learn
more, visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Racism/SRRacism/Pages/IndexSRRacism.aspx
For further information and media requests, please contact:
Kellie-Shandra Ognimba (+41 22 917 92 68 /
kognimba@ohchr.org)or Thierry del Prado (+41 22 917 92 32 /
The Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
was established by the then Commission on Human Rights in 2002 following the
World Conference against Racism held in Durban in 2001. Learn more, visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Racism/WGAfricanDescent/Pages/WGEPADIndex.aspx
For further information and media requests, please contact
Christina Saunders (+41 22 928 9197 / csaunders@ohchr.org) or write to
africandescent@ohchr.org
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
(CERD) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination by its State parties. Learn more, visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CERD/Pages/CERDIndex.aspx
For further information and media requests, please contact
Gabriella Habtom (+41 22 917 9193 / ghabtom@ohchr.org) or write to
cerd@ohchr.org
UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Twitter:http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar