‘Pernicious evil’ of racism pervasive in ‘all regions and all societies’ – UN chief
New York, US (PANA) - Much of today’s racism is “deeply entrenched in centuries of colonialism and enslavement," the UN chief said on Friday ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
“Today, apartheid lies dead. But, sadly, racism lives on – in all regions and all societies,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a meeting of the General Assembly commemorating Sunday’s international day.
A UN statement said he painted a picture of pervasive discrimination and exclusion suffered by people of African descent, injustices and oppression endured by indigenous peoples, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred – and the latest abhorrence of violence against people of Asian descent who are being targeted unjustly for COVID-19.
“We also see it in the biases built into the codes for facial recognition and artificial intelligence” as well as the “repugnant views of white supremacists and other extremist groups," added the top UN Official.
The statement said Mr. Guterres recalled that last year, people around the globe protested racial injustice, recognizing racism as a “vicious global pandemic”.
He said racism was a “deeply rooted evil” – “Dangerous. Abhorrent. Ugly. And everywhere” - that transcends generations and perpetuates inequality, oppression and marginalization.
Calling it “a complex cultural phenomenon”, he upheld that everyone “must be proactively anti-racist” to eradicate racism.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conferenced against Racism, the UN chief said that 2021 offers an opportunity to “make an honest assessment of where we stand and where we need to go”.
“Racism manifests in many forms – conscious and unconscious”, he stated. “Combating it demands action every day, at every level.”
Reflecting upon its historical injustices, which have contributed to poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and instability for people and countries alike, the Secretary-General said it was time to “acknowledge and repair longstanding wrongs and reverse their consequences”.
He maintained that “reparatory justice” is essential for reconciliation, conflict prevention and the creation fair, equal societies, adding that it can also “help mend the social contract between people and the State”.
The UN chief highlighted the important role of youth in fighting racism, saying that their attitudes and behaviour “will dictate the future shape and look of our societies”.
As such, he appealed to young people, leaders and educators to “teach the world that all people are born equal”.
“Supremacy is an evil lie. Racism kills…let us work together to rid the world of the pernicious evil of racism so all may live in a world of peace, dignity and opportunity,’ said Mr. Guterres.
-0- PANA MA/VAO 20March2021
