Dlamini Zuma on behalf of the African Group, Durban Review Conference, Palais
Des Nations, Geneva
20 April 2009
Mr President
Secretary-General of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen
I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the African Group. We
congratulate you, Mr President, on your election to preside over this important
conference. Our appreciation also goes to the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights for her leadership in this process.
We Africans have first hand experience of the pernicious and the egregious
impact of slavery, slave trade, colonialism, Apartheid and genocide.
Significantly, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) were
adopted in a country which for decades struggled against the direct effects of
discrimination and oppression on the basis of race and colour.
We viewed the DDPA as an inspiration that would define the 21st century as
the century that restored to all, their human dignity. It provided a solid and
concrete basis for every country to develop its own measures to combat all
forms of racism, and to strengthen the protection regime for victims of racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. As in 2001, we meet
again still concerned with the scourge of racism. We recognise that racism
demeans human dignity, is an affront to the self-worth of individuals and has
far-reaching impact on its victims.
Mr President,
We are pleased with the steps taken by the various governments,
international organisations and civil society in the implementation of the
DDPA. We applaud those who have apologised, expressed remorse, restituted
cultural artefacts and paid reparations for these violations. We commend those
initiatives undertaken to restore the dignity of the victim and set in motion a
process towards healing and reconciliation. We take pride in the decision by
the Caribbean Community to construct at the United Nations Headquarters, a
permanent memorial in acknowledgement of the tragedy and in consideration of
the legacy of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Whilst we recognise the progress made since 2001, it is clear that there are
still major challenges facing us all in pursuit of the noble ideas that were
agreed in the DDPA. Racism continues to rear its ugly head in many parts of the
world. This calls for continuous vigilance from all of us. We have observed in
my own country, with the xenophobic incidents recently that even with the best
intentions racism and related intolerances continue to be a challenge. What is
crucial, is the political will and the steps taken to address these
challenges.
Mr President,
Many commitments remain unfulfilled. Poverty, underdevelopment,
marginalization, social exclusion and economic disparities continue to affect
millions of people in many parts of the world. In our Continent, people still
lack access to basic services such as water, energy, housing, health care
facilities, sanitation and means of assuring food security. These challenges,
now aggravated by the current global financial crisis, are real and immediate.
The commitments made in Durban, in particular those that called upon developed
states, the United Nations as well as the international financial institutions,
to support amongst others, New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad)
programmes, debt relief and the internationally agreed development goals,
should be fulfilled with greater urgency.
Immediately after the WCAR and even before we could commence with the
implementation of the DDPA, terrorists struck in various parts of world
including New York and Bali, which we all condemned. Unfortunately, we note
that the fight against terrorism has led to the diminishing of civil liberties
and an intensification of racial profiling. This has resulted in the erosion,
in some parts of the world, of the established international legal frameworks,
as well as other international commitments.
We believe strongly that it should be possible to wage the fight against
terrorism and the fight against racism concurrently. It is not acceptable that
the fight against terrorism should undermine the struggle against racism.
Terrorists need to be seen for what they are, individuals or groups of
individuals, rather than representing broad religious and cultural
communities.
We remain concerned at the surge of incidents relating to the incitement to
racial and religious hatred. In this regard, we should learn from the lessons
of the past. Incitement by the Nazis contributed and led to the tragedy of the
Holocaust. Similarly, in Rwanda in 1994, propaganda and incitement to hatred by
Radio Mille Collines, other media and politicians led to the genocide where
close to a million Rwandese, mostly Tutsis lost their lives in 3 months.
Mr President,
It is clear that we still need to work hard to ensure that there is no
impunity for mass violations of human rights, in particular those declared
crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, consistent with the DDPA. It
is regrettable that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance are still among the root causes of armed conflict in the world.
These various manifestations of racism and racial discrimination also find
expression in the continued oppression of women and girls. History shows us
that no society can fulfil its full potential without the emancipation and
empowerment of women. Women are still the poor and the downtrodden of the
world.
As we meet in Geneva, in this Durban Review Conference, we must reaffirm the
need for political will and recommit ourselves to the goals and objectives of
the DDPA. We must acknowledge that people all over the world continue to suffer
from the effects of racism and racial discrimination. It beholds all of us to
fulfil our responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect the rights of
individuals against racism and racial discrimination.
The African Group continues to express grave concern about the deteriorating
situation in the Middle East. It has inflicted untold suffering on the victims
of the violence. We therefore call on all parties to exercise restraint and
continue negotiations towards a peaceful settlement.
Mr President,
It is regrettable that some UN Member States chose not to participate in
this Conference. This is despite the fact that they also face the same
challenges in addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance. Events in the past few years indicate that no country is immune
from incidents of racism. Attempts were made throughout the preparatory process
to reach a balanced and consensual outcome that accommodates all the concerns
expressed by delegations. For the sake of victims of racism and racial
discrimination all over the world, in developed and developing countries, we
hope that they will implement the DDPA.
We express our appreciation to the Member States, the Chair of the
Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) as well as the Chair of the Intersessional
Working Group for their determined efforts throughout the process to work
towards a successful conference.
We are pleased that we shall leave this historic global Review Conference
with a strong reaffirmation that all peoples and individuals constitute one
human family, united in our diversity. We strongly reject any doctrine of
racial superiority.
Mr President,
In conclusion, I had the privilege to preside over the World Conference
against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Intolerance whose outcome is
an embodiment of the aspirations of people all over the world. Many of us would
not have been in this hall today, had we not struggled against and overcame
slavery, colonialism, racism and Apartheid. With the support of all the
progressive people in the world, we can eradicate racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia, oppression and gender discrimination wherever they
still exist.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
20 April 2009
