Summary:
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The topic for its 75th anniversary in 2023 emphasises how critical it is to fight racism and racial discrimination.
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More: The Durban Declaration was adopted in South Africa about 25 years ago to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, mistrust, intolerance, and hate globally.
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The principal victimsThe International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination includes the following communities among the biggest victims of horrific racism, discrimination and hatred: African-Descent PeopleThe descendants of the victims of the transatlantic slave trade or, more recently, migrants frequently encounter racial discrimination and prejudice.
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Poverty is a result of and a cause of human rights abuses.
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In fact, being the entire half of the world population, women and girls are often among the most vulnerable elements of society and are in greater danger of economic hardship, marginalisation and violence; prejudice against them is often compounded.
Racism and discrimination are longstanding global issues that affect the lives of millions of people across diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and ethnicities. These insidious forms of hatred and intolerance have deep historical roots, manifesting in multiple ways, from colonialism and slavery to modern-day systemic biases. As we mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2023, the need to combat racism and racial discrimination has never been more critical. The Durban Declaration, adopted 25 years ago in South Africa, remains a beacon in the global fight against racism, xenophobia, mistrust, intolerance, and hate. Yet, the progress made since then has been insufficient to eradicate the scourge of racial discrimination that continues to afflict societies worldwide.
The 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Seventy-five years ago, in the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document emphasized that all people are born with the same dignity and rights, regardless of race, ethnicity, or nationality. However, despite this commitment to equality, racism and discrimination have persisted globally, often in new and insidious forms.
In 2023, the focus of the UDHR’s 75th-anniversary commemoration highlights the ongoing struggle to fight racism and racial discrimination. The declaration’s principles are as relevant today as they were in 1948, as they underscore the importance of human dignity and equal rights for all. This anniversary serves as a stark reminder that the fight against racism is far from over and that we must redouble our efforts to build inclusive, tolerant, and just societies.
The Durban Declaration: A Global Strategy Against Racism
Adopted in 2001 during the International Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) was a monumental step in addressing the global issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. The declaration acknowledged the historical injustices of colonialism and slavery and called for concrete measures to combat discrimination at all levels of society.
Despite the declaration’s bold intentions, racism and xenophobia continue to plague societies worldwide. António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, described these issues as “deeply ingrained in centuries of colonialism and enslavement.” The Durban Declaration remains a key tool in the fight against racial discrimination, but its implementation has faced significant challenges, with many countries struggling to address the root causes of racism.
The Principal Victims of Racism and Discrimination
Racism does not affect all people equally. Certain communities bear the brunt of racial discrimination, often compounded by poverty, marginalization, and systemic injustice. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually on March 21, sheds light on these victims and the various forms of racism they face.
People of African Descent
One of the largest groups affected by racism is people of African descent. Many of these individuals are descendants of victims of the transatlantic slave trade or recent migrants. Despite the abolition of slavery, the legacy of racism continues to haunt people of African descent, who face systemic discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and law enforcement.
Police violence and racial profiling are particularly prevalent issues for this community. In many countries, people of African descent experience alarmingly high rates of violence at the hands of law enforcement, a stark reminder of the systemic racism that persists in modern institutions.
Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous communities, comprising approximately 476 million people worldwide, are another group disproportionately affected by racism and discrimination. Despite their cultural and linguistic diversity—there are over 5,000 distinct indigenous groups—these communities are often marginalized and deprived of their fundamental rights, including access to land, education, and healthcare.
Indigenous peoples are nearly three times as likely to live in extreme poverty as their non-indigenous counterparts. This economic disparity is closely tied to historical injustices, including land dispossession and forced assimilation. The Durban Declaration highlights the importance of addressing the systemic discrimination faced by indigenous peoples, but significant challenges remain in ensuring their full inclusion in society.
Migrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers
Migration has become a defining feature of the 21st century, with millions of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and economic hardship. As of 2020, there were 82.4 million forcibly displaced individuals worldwide, including refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. Many of these individuals face severe racial discrimination and are denied access to basic rights, such as education, healthcare, and employment.
The plight of migrants is often compounded by xenophobia and mistrust. In many countries, migrants are scapegoated for economic problems, leading to the rise of nationalist and anti-immigrant movements. This growing wave of xenophobia has resulted in widespread hate crimes and violence against migrants, particularly those from racial and ethnic minorities.
Poverty and Racism: A Vicious Cycle
Racism and poverty are inextricably linked. Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of racial discrimination, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Discriminatory structures and institutions perpetuate economic inequality, while marginalized communities are denied access to resources and opportunities that could lift them out of poverty.
The 2001 Durban International Conference against Racism emphasized the connections between racism, poverty, underdevelopment, and social exclusion. These factors work together to entrench racial disparities and limit the ability of marginalized communities to achieve upward mobility. In many cases, the most vulnerable individuals—such as women, children, and people with disabilities—bear the heaviest burden of this systemic inequality.
The Compounded Impact on Women and Girls
While all victims of racism experience discrimination, not everyone is affected in the same way. Women and girls, who make up half of the global population, often face a double burden of discrimination based on both their race and gender. This compounded form of prejudice leaves women and girls vulnerable to economic hardship, marginalization, and violence.
The Durban Declaration highlighted the issue of multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination, which disproportionately affect female members of marginalized groups. Women of African descent, indigenous women, and migrant women are particularly at risk, as they face systemic barriers to education, employment, and healthcare. Addressing the intersectionality of race and gender is crucial to creating a more just and equitable society.
The Role of Technology in Perpetuating Racism
In the modern era, technology has become a double-edged sword in the fight against racism. On one hand, it provides a platform for marginalized voices to be heard and fosters global solidarity. On the other hand, new technologies, such as facial recognition software and artificial intelligence (AI), have been shown to perpetuate racial biases.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that these technologies are often “baked with biases” that disproportionately affect racial minorities. For example, facial recognition algorithms have been shown to misidentify people of African and Asian descent at higher rates than their white counterparts. This technological bias reinforces systemic discrimination, further marginalizing communities of color.
Hate Speech and Modern Communication Technologies
The rise of social media and digital communication has also amplified the spread of hate speech. Hate speech targeting racial and ethnic minorities has become a pervasive issue on online platforms, with far-reaching consequences for social cohesion and trust. The United Nations has described racism and xenophobia as “contagious killers,” comparing them to the rapid spread of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing the spread of hate speech is essential to building more inclusive and tolerant societies. Governments, tech companies, and civil society must work together to create policies and practices that curb online hate while promoting respectful dialogue.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is clear that the fight against racism and discrimination is far from over. The Durban Declaration remains a crucial roadmap for addressing these issues, but its implementation has been slow and uneven. Racism continues to affect millions of people worldwide, particularly those from marginalized communities such as people of African descent, indigenous peoples, migrants, and refugees.
To truly eradicate racism and build a more just and equitable world, we must address the systemic inequalities that perpetuate discrimination. This requires a multi-faceted approach that includes education, legal reform, and the promotion of inclusive policies. Only by working together can we create a future free from the scourge of racism and discrimination.
In the words of the United Nations: “We all lose in a society marked by discrimination, division, distrust, intolerance, and hate.”
