Permanent Mission of India
Geneva
Statement by India Ambassador Ajit Kumar, Permanent Representative of India to the UN in Geneva at 32nd Session of the Human Rights CouncilGeneral Debate on Agenda Item 9: Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
(27 June 2016)
Mr. President,
As a nation, which has been in the forefront of the international fight against racism and racial discrimination, India is deeply concerned over the recrudescence of racism, xenophobia, and exclusivism in the world in the last few years. India regards racism and racial discrimination as the anti-thesis of everything humanity stands for-equality,justice, peace and progress.
Mr. President,
Racism goes against the basic grain of ancient Indian Philosophy which considers the whole world as one family. 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.
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 countriesand, 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.
The onslaught of bigotry, chauvinism and violence on diversity, pluralism and tolerance; absence of democracy, constitutional order and rule of law; political concepts in which foreigners are regarded as rivals or competitors and a threat to local prosperity, culture and identity; immigration, citizenship and refugee laws with racist overtones and political platforms based on race related hatred and discrimination have continued. Equally condemnable are instances of oppression, backed by States in some cases, of national, sectarian and linguistic minorities. Modern communication technologies, including the Internet, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to misuse by the purveyors of racial hatred.Starkand persisting economic inequality is providing the grist for the racist mill.
Mr. President,
Countering racist onslaught remains a matter of priority for India. We notice, with concerns the sharp rise in new forms of racism.We concur with the observation that promulgation of appropriate laws and their strict implementation and more importantly, ensuring attitudinal changes and inculcation of tolerance through appropriate educational strategies would provide the surest guarantee against racial prejudice, discrimination and xenophobia.
With the recent adoption of the historic and universal 2030 Agenda to 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 against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and racial intolerance held in Durban in 2001.
Thank You.
