Permanent Mission of India
Geneva

Statement by H.E. Mr. Ajit Kumar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India at theInteractive  Debate on the state of racial discrimination world wide
31st Session of the Human Rights Council
[18 March 2016]

Mr. President,

          India welcomes the conveying of the annual debate on the state of racial discrimination worldwide and we thank the panellists for enriching the debate with their contributions.

As we commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,still persist. In this regard, we can count on our successes but the journey is from over over.

Mr. President,

The founding fathers of Indian Constitution build adequate safeguards against racism and racial discrimination and enshrined the basic value of equality in it.

It is unfortunate that even in the twenty-first century attitudes, habit and thought process of the bygone era continue to foment racial hatred and segregation. This is creating a vast divide in many countries. The recrudescence of racism and xenophobia in different parts of the world is a disturbing phenomenon, and there is an increase in the number of racist incidents in several countries in the recent past.Such acts continue to have a negative impact on the full enjoyment of human rights.

Starkand persisting economic inequality is providing the grist for the racist mill.

Mr. President,

Durban Declaration in 2001 gave us a comprehensive action oriented document with concrete proposals and measures to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It emphasized that there should not be any State sponsored and institutionalised discrimination against any individual or group of citizens and, that State should not condone or encourage regressive social attitudes which fuels such discriminatory attitudes and practices.

 We believe that there is a need for greater and effective measures nationally. Promulgation of appropriate laws and their strict implementation and more importantly, ensuring attitudinal change and inculcation of tolerance through appropriate educational strategies would perhaps provide the surest guarantee against racial prejudice.

Mr. President,

The issue of racism is a matter of high priority for India. The rise of contemporary forms and manifestations of racism, particularly in some parts of the world reinforce our belief that the outcome of the Durban Conference and its Declaration and Programme of Action must be followed up with the full resources and moral authority at the command of this Council.

With the recent adoption of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and its SDGs, with eradication of poverty at the heart of its objective, it is an opportune time to renew our commitments made at the World Conference.

India reiterates its commitment to fight discrimination and racism.We look forward to effective implementation of the programme of activities of the international decade of African descent 2015-2024, which recognised that the people of African descent across the world represent a distinct group whose rights must be promoted and protected.

I thank you.
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