UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for unity and tangible action from member states to tackle racism.
The United Nations is guided by a simple yet profound purpose of helping build a more peaceful, just and equal world where the dignity and rights of every person are upheld, he told the opening of a high-level meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
"This is a moral imperative and a shared responsibility. Member states have made a solemn pledge to combat racism, to eradicate discrimination in all its forms, and to advance the dignity, human rights and equality of all those affected by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," said Guterres.
The antidote to these poisons is unity and tangible action, he said.
Governments must strengthen and effectively implement anti-discrimination and equality laws and the institutions that enforce them. They must also spare no effort to dismantle systemic discrimination, and invest in inclusive and equal societies, said Guterres.
While governments must take the lead, everyone has a role to play. Businesses must respect the right to equality and nondiscrimination by preventing direct and indirect discrimination, and creating workplaces where all people can contribute their talents and ideas. Technology companies must identify, mitigate and address bias in artificial intelligence systems, and ensure that digital technologies advance equality, inclusion and digital justice, rather than undermine them, he said.
Guterres said racism is even more rampant than 25 years ago when the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was adopted.
The world must confront the enduring consequences of slavery, colonialism and racial discrimination through concrete measures to deliver reparatory justice grounded in international human rights law. There is a need to see the universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, he said.
"Today, and every day, let's take a stand. Together, let's fight for the dignity, rights and belonging of all people. Together, let's reject injustice. Together, let's build societies where racism and discrimination have no place -- today and for all time," said Guterres. ■
