Seventieth Session,
37th & 38th Meetings (AM & PM)
GA/SHC/4148

States Must Bolster Efforts to Address Racist Fault-Lines, Foreign Fighter Trend, Speakers Warn as Third Committee Debates Xenophobia, Self-Determination Rights

States needed to develop necessary legislative and policy mechanisms in accordance with international laws to tackle challenges including foreign fighters and Nazism, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it began consideration of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and of the right to self-determination with a series of interactive dialogues with top officials.

A growing global concern was the proliferation of foreign fighters, said Elżbieta Karska, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Impeding the Exercise of the Right of Peoples to Self-determination.  Drawn from over 100 countries, more than 25,000 fighters had become involved in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, she stressed.  Such acts included executions, sexual slavery, torture, mutilation, forcible displacement, enforced disappearances, the wanton destruction of cultural property and the forced recruitment of children.  To address such phenomena, holistic, multifaceted and strategic plans with immediate and medium- and long-term impact were needed, she said.

During the day-long debate and interactive dialogues with high-level experts, more than 50 speakers shared highlights of their efforts to stamp out racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.  The pernicious effects of the trans-Atlantic slave trade still lingered, said delegates and experts alike.

“Africans and people of African descent have continued to be affected by historic injustices,” said Mireille Fanon-Mendes-France, Chair of the Working Group on People of African Descent.  Policies based on structural racial discrimination had led to socioeconomic, cultural, political and environmental inequality, affecting young people and women in particular, she said.  The Decade for People of African Descent, however, had the potential to radically change the lives of millions of people.  To sustain momentum, she underlined, there was a need for financial support.

The representative of Ecuador, speaking on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said the inequalities and repression had grown out of slavery and slave trade had an indelible impact on the people in the region.  To undo those wrongs, all States needed to work together to ensure that the victims could be allowed their just part of global progress.

During the day, other concerns were raised.  Human rights and democratic challenges posed by extremist political parties, movements and groups were universal and no country was immune to them, said Mutuma Ruteere, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.  Presenting his annual report, he said any commemoration of the Nazi regime and its crimes should be denounced and prohibited by States, as they constituted an injustice to the memory of the countless victims of the Holocaust, he said.  States, to that end, must update their anti-racism legislation in light of increasingly open expressions of hate speech and incitement to violence.

Indeed, many speakers agreed, with Singapore’s delegate saying the Charlie Hebdo shooting in France and the Charleston church attack in the United States had underlined the need to address those fault-lines.

Delegates also provided examples of efforts to bridge inter-racial or inter-religious divides.  Israel’s speaker said one initiative saw a restaurant offering half-price hummus platters to Israelis and Arabs that shared a table.

Also addressing the Committee was Charles Radcliffe, Deputy to the Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who presented three reports on the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as on the right of peoples to self-determination.

Delivering statements during the general debate were South Africa (on behalf of “Group of 77”), Antigua and Barbuda (on behalf of the Caribbean Community), Botswana (on behalf of the Southern African Development Community), Kazakhstan, Colombia, Thailand, United States, Brazil, Cuba, Morocco, Algeria, Russian Federation, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Iraq, Turkey, Venezuela, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, and Georgia, as well as the European Union.

Exercising the right of reply were representatives from Latvia, Estonia, Russian Federation, Georgia, Algeria and Morocco.

The Third Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 3 November, to conclude its work.

Background

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to discuss the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as the right of peoples to self-determination.

On the first issue, delegates had before them the report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its eighty-fifth and eighty-sixth sessions (document A/70/18), as well as reports of the Secretary-General on the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent (document A/70/339) and on the global call for concrete action for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (document A/70/367).

Delegates also had before them the following notes by the Secretary-General on: contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (document A/70/321), report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (document A/70/309) and combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (document A/70/335).

For the second topic, Committee members had before them a report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self-determination (document A/70/314) and a note by the Secretary-General on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination (document A/70/330).

Interactive Debate

CHARLES RADCLIFFE, Deputy to the Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), presented three reports related to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as to the right of peoples to self-determination.  On the Secretary-General’s report on the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent (document A/70/339), he said that the first year of the Decade had brought promising and positive results.  States, however, still faced challenges, including racial profiling, effective participation and equal access to economic, social and cultural rights.

The report on the right of peoples to self-determination (document A/70/314) summarized main developments and observations relating to the issue.  It also provided a summary of relevant information as contained in the report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the situation concerning Western Sahara.  The right of peoples to self-determination was of particular importance to the international community for the effective guarantee of individual human rights.

He also presented the report on the global call for concrete action for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (document A/70/367).  The report provided a summary of information received from various stakeholders, including Member States, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In the ensuing dialogue, the representative of Algeria stressed the need to fully implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.  With regards to the situation concerning Western Sahara, she said that as there had been no progress on the issue, the international community must double its efforts.

Cameroon’s representative reiterated the importance attached to the International Decade for People of African Descent.  States must take all necessary measures to ensure inclusive and equitable achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, he said.

Mr. RADCLIFFE said new programmes and policies must be created with the participation of Member States, civil society and  non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  Such programmes should mobilize public opinion and raise awareness to create behaviour change.  For its part, the Office had organized various events and activities, including social media outreach campaigns and film screenings.

MIREILLE FANON-MENDES-FRANCE, Chair of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, said Africans and people of African descent had continued to be affected by historic injustices.  Policies based on structural racial discrimination had led to socioeconomic, cultural, political and environmental inequality, with young people and women being particularly affected.  The working group had undertaken a visit to Italy in 2015 and would travel to British Guyana in December and the United States in January 2016.  During 2015, the Working Group had sent letters of allegation and urgent appeals in response to individual cases and thematic questions, but rarely were such communications followed by decisions that had brought about substantial change.

The working group reiterated its enthusiasm for the International Decade for People of African Descent, which had the potential to radically change the lives of millions of people.   Many activities had taken place, but there was a need for financial support, she said, adding that States were invited to contribute funding.  It was important to note that people of African descent and Africans were the only people to face discrimination based on skin colour, a biological parameter that was completely out of the control of those who were ostracized.  It would be a “strong and promising sign” if the General Assembly, before the end of its current session, took steps towards the establishment of a group with regard to a declaration on the human rights of persons of African descent and the status of the Forum.

Delegates then put questions to Ms. FANON-MENDES-FRANCE on topics that included the working group’s country visits, the meaning of Afrophobia when compared to racial discrimination, reparations, the Forum for People of African Descent and regional processes for the implementation of International Decade for People of African Descent.

Responding, Ms. FANON-MENDES-FRANCE said the working group was establishing a “new direction” by following up on its country visits so as to examine ongoing difficulties and good practices.  Afrophobia was a specific concept, brought forward by civil society, which identified persons who had been victims of racism and racial discrimination because they had come from the African continent or belonged to the African diaspora.

With regard to development, she said the global economy had a particular way of viewing the African continent.  Reparations were not only financial and could also include a reopening of history with regard to colonialism, slavery and the slave trade.  The working group would have liked for the Forum for People of African Descent to be permanent and, at a regional conference in Brasilia in December 2015, the methodology of the Forum would be reviewed.

Delegates from Morocco, Algeria, Mexico, Nigeria and Cameroon, as well as the European Union, participated in the interactive dialogue.

ELŻBIETA KARSKA, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Impeding the Exercise of the Right of Peoples to Self-determination, presented its report on the theme of foreign fighters, which had been the subject of growing global attention as the scale of the issue had grown, both rapidly and unexpectedly.  There were now more than 25,000 such fighters in conflicts in the Middle East, drawn from over 100 countries.  The subject of foreign fighters presented an opportunity for the working group to explore how its mandate could respond to new forms of mercenary-related activities.  The report would provide guidance to Member States in addressing that issue and would contribute to creating another layer of accountability for associated activities through invoking the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries.

The term “foreign fighter” referred to individuals who had left their country of origin and become involved in violence as part of an insurgency or non-State armed group in an armed conflict.  Motivational factors may be grouped together into reasons linked to identity (the search for greater meaning in life, adherence to ideology) and humanitarian reasons (to protect the local population).  Financial gain did not usually play a role.

Current mobilization of foreign fighters included children and a significant number of women.  The majority were between ages 18 and 35.  In that context, efforts to address the phenomenon must correspondingly be holistic, multifaceted and strategic.  Any plan should respond to the diverse profiles and recruitment methods, have immediate and medium- and long-term impact.  Plans should also balance punitive against social measures, and ensure the comprehensive adoption of human rights standards in all its elements.  Countries of origin should pay particular attention to issues of inclusion with regard to affected communities.

Documented violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated by foreign fighters included executions, sexual slavery, torture, mutilation, forcible displacement, enforced disappearances, the wanton destruction of cultural property, the enlistment and forced recruitment of children and rape and other sexual and gender-based violence.  While foreign fighters may be included among armed groups, they were often a negative factor for the achievement of the goals of the insurgency and may thus effectively undermine armed opposition efforts towards claiming the right of peoples to self-determination.

Regarding State responses, she expressed concerns with respect to the broad application of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014), leading to States adopting measures that had disproportionately restricted rights and freedoms.  Indeed, the resolution addressed foreign terrorist fighters only, not foreign fighters per se, she noted.  More precise definitions of those terms would mitigate the misapplication of the resolution and limit human rights infringements.  In conclusion, she emphasized that State responses to foreign fighters must balance punitive measures with preventive ones and ensure rehabilitation for returnees.

During the ensuing debate, delegates asked about growing criminal activities, border security and major challenges to effective prosecution.  They also raised concerns and questions about the linkage between mercenaries and terrorist activities and the motivations to become foreign fighters.

MS. KARSKA said the working group had examined the subject of border control and found it very difficult to address effectively.  Country visits were helpful in understanding the issue, making comparisons and preparing recommendations to deal with foreign fighters.  Among the most effective ways to ensure border control were the exchange of information between States and undertaking necessary legislative measures.

Turning to effective prosecution, she noted that the main challenge was successful collaboration and cooperation between States with regard to the judicial aspects.  The working group, she said, had clearly explained the negative impacts of foreign fighters on human rights.  In conclusion, she thanked Belgium for its approval for her country visit.

Participating in the interactive dialogue were representatives from Morocco, Cuba and Belgium, as well as the European Union.

MUTUMA RUTEERE, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, presented reports on the importance of collecting disaggregated ethnic data as a means to tackling discrimination and inequalities and on combating glorification of Nazism, neo‑Nazism and other practices that contributed to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The first report built on an extensive body of legal provisions and recommendations on the question of disaggregated ethnic data, including the recommendation of the Durban Review Conference that States should develop systems and mechanisms for data collection, including equal opportunity and non-discrimination indicators with a view to regularly assessing the situation of all victims of racism.  He regretted the absence of adequate data collection by States, including hate crime statistics, which had led to a serious information gap limiting the identification of patterns of discrimination and adequate policymaking, particularly in the field of access to justice.

The development of measures based on empirical evidence rather than assumption was needed to optimize the likelihood of effectively addressing the welfare of marginalized groups.  States’ obligations under international law to ensure equality should be interpreted to include the duty to collect and analyse data disaggregated by ethnicity.  Acknowledging fears and anxieties expressed by some States and marginalized groups, he underlined that data in itself could not be blamed for potential perverse effects, but should rather be considered as a diagnostic of States’ failure or unwillingness to address inequalities.

Turning to his report on combating glorification of Nazism, he reiterated that the human rights and democratic challenges posed by extremist political parties, movements and groups were universal and no country was immune to them.  Any commemoration of the Nazi regime and its crimes should be denounced and prohibited by States, as they constituted an injustice to the memory of the countless victims of the Holocaust.  He also reiterated his call upon Member States to update their anti-racism legislation in light of increasingly open expressions of hate speech and incitement to violence.  In conclusion, he noted that he had already presented eight reports on that issue and said that it was time to consider alternative ways to continue paying attention to that phenomenon.

Delegations then engaged in an interactive dialogue with Mr. RUTEERE, asking questions about international cooperation, disaggregated data and the spread of racist ideas on different virtual platforms.  Representatives also asked about the Sustainable Development Goals and the situation of migrants, refugees and the Roma community.  Additional queries were made about the steps taken by the Special Rapporteur to identify “compelling cases of racism” in Armenia and early warning mechanisms in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr. RUTEERE said education provided an opportunity to combat discrimination, racism and inequality and was a priority in his mandate.  States needed to develop legislative and policy mechanisms in accordance with international laws to tackle challenges posed by racism ad racial discrimination.  On good examples, he noted that research institutions had been encouraged to collect data and make analysis for policy making.  More broadly, he said, international cooperation was key to combat racism and collect disaggregated data. 

Participating in the interactive dialogue were representatives from Brazil, Morocco, Mexico, Russian Federation, Armenia, Nigeria, Turkey and the United States, as well as the European Union.

JEREMIAH N. KINGSLEY MAMABOLO (South Africa), speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, reaffirmed its commitment to the international framework for the effective elimination of racism.  He re-emphasized that a resolute and renewed political will, adequate funding and sustained international cooperation were indispensable to address all forms of manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.  The practices of slavery had, over the years, evolved into new forms that had continued to make people of African and Asian descent victims of oppression, as the owners of global wealth in the form of multinational companies and extractive mining industries continued to exploit the human and natural resources of developing countries with impunity.  International standards to ensure accountability for those actors remained important.

He then emphasized the group’s grave concern at the growing incitement to hatred accompanied by intolerance on the basis of religion, language and culture, leading to increased extremism, violence and terrorism.  He called on the international community to oppose religious intolerance and enhance dialogue with the aim of mutual understanding.  Another concern was the situation of migrants, who had become victims of exploitation, xenophobia and discrimination.  Member States that were responsible for historic injustices should honour the memory of historical victims of racism through atonement and providing remedial measures.  The legacy of slavery was at the heart of profound inequalities affecting persons of African descent, he said.  It was important that the fight against racism should recognize the social and economic dimensions of the injustices of the past and seek to redress them appropriately.  That continuing challenge must be met with human solidarity and waged through cooperation, partnership and inclusion.  Education played a critical role in promoting mutual understanding, he concluded.

DIEGO MOREJÓN PAZMIÑOMr. XXXXX (Ecuador), on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said its member States were determined to promote the full inclusion of all persons in their societies, regardless of race or ethnicity.  They were also committed to a solid follow up to the International Decade for People of African Descent, and had undertaken a number of activities in that regard.  Latin American and Caribbean countries had headed the initiative to erect the “Ark of Return” as a permanent memorial to honour the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.  Promoting respect for, and the enjoyment of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms of people of African descent was a means to promote reconciliation and healing.

Slavery continued to have an indelible impact on societies in the CELAC region, he said.  They had been enriched by cultural and ethnic diversity, but social stratification and discrimination could be largely traced back to the colonial era.  People in the region had suffered an incalculable wrong.  Reconciliation had begun in some cases, but to balance the scales of justice, more had to be done.  The inequalities and repression that had grown out of slavery and the slave trade were man-made and undoing those wrongs would involve all States working together to ensure that those who had been exploited and harmed could be allowed their just part of global progress.

GLENTIS THOMAS (Antigua and Barbuda), speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said that the Community remained deeply concerned about the challenges member States faced regarding continued discrimination in the administration of justice, in particular racial profiling and equal access to economic, social and cultural rights.  He underlined the importance of collecting disaggregated data to address those issues.  People of African descent continued to face rampant and disproportionate discrimination, in many cases due to the structural legacies of slavery and colonialism, he said.  Moving on required healing and reconciliation through measures that acknowledged the horrendous past took responsibility and made reparations.  It was also essential that concerned Member States sought a conciliatory and collaborative approach towards righting the wrongs of the past.  In that regard, CARICOM had commissioned the Caribbean Reparatory Justice Programme in March 2014 to address the legacies of slavery and genocide through initiatives in the fields of health, education, technology transfer and debt cancellation.

CARICOM concurred with the need for appropriate technical and financial assistance at the regional and international levels to adequately collect data on a large scale that was disaggregated by ethnicity with economic, social, cultural, civil and political indicators.  States should protect the personal privacy of individuals by establishing legal and institutional frameworks for the periodic collection of such data, with a view to highlighting the existence and extent of discrimination, in compliance with their international legal obligations.  States should also establish strong legal provisions on data protection and confidentiality, he said.

CHARLES T. NTWAAGAE (Botswana), speaking on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), described “major achievements” in protecting the victims of slavery, citing in particular the 2014 launch of the International Decade for the People of African Descent and unveiling of the Ark of Return for the victims of the transatlantic slave trade.  “The time to embrace diversity and tolerance is now,” he said, noting that such progress had been made amid “unrelenting” resistance.

To address new forms of intolerance, he called for the elaboration of additional protocols to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and anticipated the presentation of a “base document” for negotiations in that regard.  He also looked forward to the General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on the establishment of the permanent forum on people of African Descent in the Diaspora, ahead of which consultations in North America and Europe would be held with representatives of civil society and victims.  He also looked forward to the adoption of a draft action programme for the International Decade.

RAFAEL DE BUSTAMANTE, of the European Union Delegation, shared some of the experiences and best practices of the region in fighting racism, xenophobia and related intolerance.  A solid legal framework had been developed based on a framework decision in 2008 that obliged its member States to penalize public incitement to violence or hatred on the basis of race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin.  Victims of bias-motivated crime had a broad set of rights that included access to justice and compensation.  Concrete tools and measures had been developed to counter racism and xenophobia on the ground while promoting a more tolerant, diverse and inclusive European society.

Combating anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hatred had been the subject of the first European Union annual colloquium on fundamental rights, which had taken place on 1 and 2 October 2015, where actions to counter religious intolerance had been presented.  With regard to external action, best practices were promoted with partner countries.  Funding was also provided to civil society organizations and human rights defenders.  Inclusion was key in the fight against discrimination.  In that regard, the European Union welcomed the 2030 Agenda and called for the universal ratification of the International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  Regarding the International Decade for People of African Descent, its success could only be achieved if it was implemented in an effective and collaborative manner at local, national and international levels.

KAIRAT ABDRAKHMANOV (Kazakhstan) said that as a constitutionally secular State, his country had taken measures to eliminate any violations of the law and restore the rights of believers, irrespective of their religious affiliation.  The rights of foreigners and migrants were also ensured.  Tolerance and harmony, cornerstones of society, were achieved though the mass and social media, with 32 national publications in 13 languages.  As investing in development would reduce discontent among various ethnic groups and promote social peace and stability, his President, at the seventieth session of the General Assembly, had proposed the allocation of one per cent of the annual defence budget of each country to the United Nations Sustainable Development Fund.

ALMA BIBIANA PÉREZ GÓMEZXXX (Colombia) said her country’s Constitution recognized the current situation and incorporated principles of non-discrimination, equality and equity.  There were about 89 indigenous peoples identified in the country and several languages spoken.  A law adopted in 2011 had sought to combat racism and discrimination on all grounds.  Colombia was also committed to collaborating with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  The International Decade for People of African Descent was an opportunity for States to adopt new commitments and measures to address the needs of the population.  Colombia had had its own national campaigns, including a 10-year plan for Afro-Colombians.  She recognized the important contribution of the Colombian ombudsman in addressing abuses against Afro-Colombians in the context of the armed conflict.

CHONVIPAT CHANGTRAKULXXX (Thailand) said his/her country was host to 62 ethnic groups that freely enjoyed the practices of their traditions and cultural expressions.  Ensuring that all persons had proper legal status, Thailand’s universal health coverage scheme also covered undocumented migrant workers.  The country was committed to preventing statelessness of children, and those born in Thailand were entitled to birth registration.  It had presented its country report to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and was carefully considering the Committee’s observations.  As it attached significance to harmonious relations among people of different faiths, Thailand would be hosting an international symposium on interfaith dialogue in early 2016.

NADAV YESOD (Israel) said anti-Semitism had reached “overwhelming” numbers.  By one estimate, more than one billion adults around the world harboured anti-Semitic attitudes.  In recent years, anti-Semitic groups had masked themselves as peace advocates.  The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign (BDS) was at the forefront, bulling anyone who expressed support for Israel or anything Jewish.  It was centuries-old anti-Semitism in new packaging.  As a forum for the global free flow of racist content, the Internet was a weapon as dangerous as any other, but it was also the strongest platform for challenging racist narratives.  The General Assembly session in January that had addressed the rise in anti-Semitic violence worldwide was just a first step.  A special rapporteur on antisemitism should be appointed and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) should hold a follow-up conference in the coming months to review progress and identify new challenges with regard to anti-Semitism.  Initiatives in Israel to counter racism included a restaurant that offered a 50 per cent discount on hummus platters for Israelis and Arabs who shared a table.

KYLA BROOKEXXX (United States) noted that the international community had made considerable progress in addressing the issue of racism and related intolerance, but acknowledged that challenges remained both within the country and globally.  Measures had been taken by the Government, including at the local, national and regional levels, to promote tolerance among ethnic groups and combat discrimination against migrants, including through collaboration with neighbouring countries.  The international community needed to take a similar approach and work hand in hand on that issue.

LIM TECK HONG (Singapore), noting that the Pew Research Center had described his country as the most religiously diverse in 2014, said Governments must manage the public space so that all racial and religious groups received equal treatment.  With that in mind, Singapore had created “common touchpoints” for people to interact.  Inter-racial and religious confidence circles had brought together religious, ethnic and community leaders to build relationships.  The Government worked with them to address issues such as articles written online that had aimed at stirring hostilities.  The Charlie Hebdo shooting in France and the Charleston church attack in the United States had underscored the need to manage such fault-lines.

ANTONIO DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Brazil), associating himself with CELAC, said poverty, social exclusion and economic disparity were associated with racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.  To achieve the 2030 Agenda, it was crucial to fight racism.  Brazil was committed to implementing the Durban Declaration, its Programme of Action and the Convention.  All States should take part in activities for the International Decade and, in that regard, Brazil would host in December the first of five regional meetings to promote the human rights of those facing racial discrimination.  A resolution proposed by Brazil and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) had been adopted in Geneva, emphasizing the incompatibility between democracy and racism.

Mrs. DAYLENIS MORENO GUERRA (Cuba), endorsing with the statement of the Group of 77 and CELAC, said racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance has continued in many parts of the world since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.  Any doctrine that was based on racial or cultural superiority, including racial profiling, had to be vigorously opposed.  The impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade on culture in Cuba was noted.  The right to self-determination was a precondition for all other rights.  In the Middle East, the Palestinian people had the right to establish their own State.  Interference in the internal affairs of other countries was to be opposed.

Ms. MAJDA MOUTCHOU (Morocco) noted the right to self-determination for the Kabyle people, who numbered eight million.  Peaceful marches in Kabila had been prohibited and security agencies had savagely pursued university students.  The Kabyle people had been deprived of their rights for thousands of years and they were the only indigenous people in Africa to be persecuted.  The international community had a duty to help them and to let their voices be heard.  The United Nations could not be complacent in their regard, he concluded.

BAKHTA SELMA MANSOURI (Algeria) expressed concerns about the current situation of migrants and urged States to take measures protecting them from racism and discrimination.  She underscored the importance of policies and programmes aimed at promoting and enhancing capacity-building for the integration of migrants in destination societies and fostering peaceful intercommunity relations.  The elimination of racism and discrimination was rooted within the Algerian Constitution, which guaranteed equal rights for all.  Turning to the right to self-determination, she regretted isolated attempts to narrow the interpretation of that right that had sought to impose unilateral projects on peoples under foreign occupation.  She was concerned that the right to self-determination remained inaccessible to the Sahrawi and Palestinian peoples.

Mr. LUKIYANTSEVXXX (Russian Federation) regretted that racism and discrimination continued, and noted the need of a unified conceptual framework.  He underlined the importance of differentiating between freedom of expression and actions that fuelled racial discrimination, calling on countries to lift reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.  He expressed concerns about attempts to falsify history and glorifying Nazism, and reiterated the need for States to combat such practices.  It was important to strengthen the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, he said.  He expressed concerns about discrimination against non-citizens in European countries.  Moving on to the right to self-determination, he said that it was important to promote the rights of all people without selectivity and double standards.

AMR ABOULATTA (Egypt), associating with the Group of 77, said xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination contravened fundamental rights and freedoms.  Democracy and the rule of law were incompatible with discrimination and he voiced deep concern at violence and negative stereotyping against people based on religion or belief, as seen in the defamation of religion under the guise of freedom of expression.  Equally alarming were attempts to conflate combating terrorism with unjustified discrimination against people based on ethnic or religious grounds.  Addressing such issues required international action to prohibit the dissemination of racist and xenophobic ideas that targeted religion.  Efforts should be made to prevent the misuse of social media and the Internet to spread hatred, he concluded.

USMAN SARKI (Nigeria), aligning himself with the statement on behalf of the Group of 77, noted “with dismay” that millions of people continued to be victims of racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.  Underlining the role of education and sensitization in changing racist behaviour, he said that the lack of disaggregated data by race or ethnicity remained a major obstacle in responding effectively to victims of racism.  Acknowledging the importance of civil society, he said that political will, international cooperation and adequate funding were needed to address all manifestations of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance.  His country was committed to implementing the International Convention and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and attached great importance to the International Decade for Peoples of African Descent.

YAHYA AL-OBAIDI (Iraq), addressing the agenda item on racism, noted how the Constitution made everyone equal under the law.  In Iraq, there were no second-class citizens.  A specialist office dealt with matters of concern for the Christian minority.  The terrorist organization Da’esh [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS)] had been killing civilians on an ongoing basis.  It had committed ethnic cleansing and crimes against women and children in the context of a criminal ideology that had nothing to do with religion.  Iraq strove to strengthen the rule of law so that everyone could benefit from the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution.  It was key for Iraq to preserve diversity, he said.

YIĞIT CANAY (Turkey) said members of religious or ethnic groups had been increasingly subjected to hostile acts.  People were being stigmatized on the basis of race, colour, descent and national or ethnic origin, and racist propaganda had been used in politics.  In Europe, members of the Turkish community had been direct targets of such adverse trends.  Moreover, the potential of racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia loomed over refugees and irregular migrants, a particularly vulnerable group.  Efforts needed to be redoubled by the international community, including receiving countries, to ensure that migrants did not become victims of Islamophobia and other forms of intolerance, discrimination and exclusion.

Mr. JABBAR (Iraq) condemned violations of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, including the Israeli authorities’ settlement policy, and reiterated the importance of establishing a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.  He expressed concerns about human rights abuses perpetrated by foreign terrorist combatants in Iraq and underlined the responsibility of the international community in limiting funding of those groups and freezing their assets.

ROBERT ALEXANDER POVEDA BRITOXXX (Venezuela), aligning with CELAC and the Group of 77, presented his country’s policies and initiatives to combat racism and discrimination against people of African descent and indigenous peoples.  He denounced the double-standards of certain powers that claimed to defend human rights but that remained indifferent to racial segregation, political abuse, systematic violence and stigmatization against racial minorities.  He underlined the importance of the international community to work jointly on eradicating racism, combatting poverty and achieving sustainable and inclusive development.

MALEEHA LODHI (Pakistan) said the right to self-determination must be exercised freely.  It did not lapse with the passage of time and the legitimate struggle for it could not be cast aside in conflating it with terrorism.  The dispute of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved in line with those principles.  Yet, Security Council resolutions outlining that its future status would be decided through a free and impartial plebiscite awaited implementation.  Fulfilling that promise to the Kashmiri people was indispensable to the establishment of lasting peace.  On racism, which Pakistan opposed in all its forms, he supported the adoption of the action plan for the people of African descent, urging States to prevent faith-based discrimination and incitement to religious hatred.

ALANOUD QASSIM M. A. AL-TEMIMI (Qatar) expressed concern with growing racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, particularly through the use of technology.  Such a trend could only be stopped through international cooperation.  A number of measures had been undertaken by Qatar with regard to combatting racism and discrimination and to enshrine the principles of equality.  They included a meeting that had been convened in 2015 by the Ministry of the Interior with 50 international organizations and the establishment of a centre in Doha to promote dialogue between religions.  Prosperity could not be built upon racism and discrimination.  All forms of terrorism had to be dealt with as well.  With regard to the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, Israel was called upon to withdraw from the Occupied Territories including East Jerusalem.

MOHAMMAD HASSANI NEJAD PIRKOUHI (Iran) said the availability of disaggregated data was essential.  However, when such data concerned ethnicity, it should be preserved for national development purposes, with legal safeguards to prevent the violation of the rights of individuals.  The worldwide escalation of Islamophobia and other forms of intolerance was a matter of concern.  It was regrettable that some leaders had used Islamophobia to attract votes.  More consideration should be given in future reports of the Secretary-General to Islamophobia and the negative impact of such trends on the fundamental rights of Muslims, including freedom of religion.  With regard to refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants, some hardliners had portrayed them as a threat, he said, pointing out that the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants had been asked to scrutinize the adverse situation of newly arrived migrants who might be facing situations more difficult than the ones they had come from.

TALAIBEK KYDYROV (Kyrgyzstan) said the Constitution guaranteed that no one could be subjected to discrimination based on race or ethnicity.  He strongly believed that the participation of ethnic minorities in public and political life was one of the important conditions to ensure the protection of their rights.  To that end, the Government had undertaken special legislative measures, including the establishment of a 15 per cent quota for the representation of ethnic minorities in Parliament.  His country was particularly concerned about the contemporary forms of racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance spreading in many parts of the world.  The consolidation of international efforts was needed to combat such acts, he stressed.

MOHAMMAD HASSANI NEJAD PIRKOUHIXXX (Iran) emphasized the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.  In that regard, clear signs of support had been shown to Palestinian people by the international community.  Gaza, the biggest prison in the world, was an affront to humanity, he said.  Illegal settlements had to stop and settlers should provide remedy to the victims.

TAMTA KUPRADZE (Georgia), aligning with the European Union, said that her country remained firmly committed to all human rights instruments guaranteeing equal rights for all, as reflected in the recently adopted national human rights strategy and action plan, with the participation of civil society and international actors.  The Government was extremely concerned about persistent discriminatory measures exercised against the Georgian citizens in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia.  The local population, especially of Georgian ethnicity, continued to face challenges in visiting relatives on the other side of the occupation line, receiving education in their native language, having free access to social and health care services, while over 400,000 internally displaced persons and refugees continued to be deprived of a safe and dignified return.

Right of Reply

The representative of Latvia, exercising the right of reply, said her country strongly condemned neo-Nazism and other forms of racism and related intolerance.  Summarizing the situation in Latvia with regard to citizenship, she said the Government promoted the acquisition of Latvian citizenship.

Estonia’s delegate, exercising the right of reply, referred to citizenship in her country and the attention that had been paid to the situation of those with undetermined citizenship.  Estonia was one of the few countries where all long-term citizens had the right to vote in local elections.  Social services were also open to all.

Exercising the right of reply, the speaker from the Russian Federation said South Ossetia and Abkhazia were independent States, and called on his colleagues from Georgia to recognize that political reality.  With regard to Latvia and Estonia, he asked those two countries to implement the recommendations of international human rights monitoring bodies.

The representative of Georgia, exercising the right of reply, regretted that her counterpart from the Russian Federation continued to deny the status of occupying Power and its primary responsibility to combat racism and racial discrimination against ethnic Georgians under Russian illegal military occupation.  It was time for the international community to double efforts in condemning the situation there, which had become more troublesome due to the lack of international monitoring.

Algeria’s speaker, exercising the right of reply, said Morocco’s Government did not respect the rights of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.

Morocco’s delegate, also exercising the right of reply, said the right to self-determination of the Kabyle population had been denied by the Algerian Government.  Algeria had become aof champion at persecuting people that tried to exercise their right to self-determination, and had no legitimacy criticizing the human rights record of other countries.  He then referred to findings from United Nations human rights mechanisms and NGOs of human rights violations by Algeria.

Responding, the representative of Algeria, exercising her second right of reply, said that the Western Sahara was still under occupation by Morocco, and was a non-autonomous territory in a critical situation, leading to violations of the rights of the Sahrawi people and their persecution by Moroccan authorities. 

Morocco’s speaker, taking the floor again, said that allegations made by the representative of Algeria were lies, and recalled that Morocco was often cited as a good example with relation to human rights.

For information media. Not an official record.