Statement by India under General Debate on Agenda Item 9: Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related forms of Intolerance, follow-up to and Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council(14 September – 07 October 2020) delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 01 October 2020) Statement by India under General Debate on Agenda Item 9: Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia ..
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Statement by India under General Debate on Agenda Item 9: Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related forms of Intolerance, follow-up to and Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council(14 September – 07 October 2020) delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar,

First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 01 October 2020)

Madam President,

We thank the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the midterm report on the follow-up activities of implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent and take note of the report of Inter-governmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA).

2. India, as a nation, has been in the forefront of the international fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance in the world. India regards racism and racial discrimination as the anti-thesis of everything humanity stands for- equality, justice, peace and progress.

3. Conscious of the destructive impact that racism and racial discrimination can have on society, the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution built adequate safeguards against racism and racial discrimination and enshrined the basic value of equality in it. These principles are further strengthened by our comprehensive legal framework with independent and impartial judiciary, a secular and pluralistic polity, a vibrant civil society and free media.

Madam President,

4. In the health consequences scenario of COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on racism and racial discrimination, the Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals is worth recalling to achieve ‘a world of universal respect based on equality and non-discrimination’. To foster inclusive development and guarantee the respect for human rights in situations of growing mistrust and hatred climate, the framework of Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) need to be implemented in true letter and spirit.

5. We believe that the 20th anniversary of DDPA commemorated in 2021, will be an opportune time to engender greater cooperation and synergy to combat the contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

 

I thank you, Madam President.

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