“Learning from past tragedies to combat racism today”

Every day, people of all ages endure hatred, injustice and humiliation because of their skin colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, or other supposedly racial characteristics.  Such discrimination has underpinned oppression, poverty, slavery, genocide and war.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a world of justice and equality where xenophobia and bigotry do not exist.  We must learn the lessons of history and acknowledge the profound damage caused by racial discrimination.  That means carefully preserving the memory of historical wrongs so we may use our knowledge to eradicate prejudice and teach tolerance, non-discrimination and respect for diversity everywhere and for all.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the launch of the International Decade for People of African Descent.  In the past fifty years, there has been progress in the fight against racism and racial discrimination.  We have seen the end of colonialism, the dismantling of apartheid and the rise of a global movement for equality.  Yet, as history and current events attest, racial discrimination still presents a clear danger to people and communities in all regions.

Lasting peace can only be built on the premise that all people have equal rights and dignity – regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, social or other status.  To that end, I urge all nations to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to promote historical accuracy and put in place robust policies and laws that will end all forms of discrimination as enshrined in the Convention.

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