UN envoy urges implementation of anti-racism accord

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Wednesday urged "relevant countries" to fully implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action during a high-level meeting to commemorate a landmark anti-racism conference that took place 20 years ago.

"It is a shame that the United States and a few other Western countries chose to openly boycott and be absent from this important meeting. This only raises more doubts over their sincerity in fighting racism and their willingness to participate in international anti-racism cooperation," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN.

He called on the countries to "face up to the reality, heed the voice of the international community and do some serious soul-searching".

"They should take concrete measures to fully and effectively implement the DDPA, prohibit the spread and provocation of racist rhetoric, fundamentally change the livelihoods of ethnic minorities for the better, and earnestly protect everybody's human rights, including those of ethnic minorities, all in an effort to build a world of equality for all," the ambassador said.

Zhang's remarks came as the UN General Assembly held a high-level meeting to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA).

The Wednesday event was part of a series of international conferences during the UN's annual gathering of world leaders. It was attended by Secretary-General António Guterres; Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the General Assembly; and leaders from more than 60 countries. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also attended and addressed the meeting.

Diplomats adopted the DDPA at the 2001 World Conference against Racism, which was hosted by South Africa's city of Durban. While the UN calls the document a "blue print for action to fight racism", the 2001 conference was criticized by Western governments for allegedly promoting antisemitism.

The DDPA sent "a powerful message of eliminating racism". However, 20 years later, despite the shattering of apartheid, racism and racial discrimination are still haunting the world and are even getting worse, Zhang noted.

"It is most timely and crucial for the General Assembly to hold this high-level meeting," he added.

He noted that Wang, who addressed the assembly via video, called the DDPA "a banner for the global movement against racism and a shared commitment of all countries".

Slave trade and colonialism are the primary root causes of racism. Relevant countries should find the courage to "face up to this disgraceful past" to "end the sufferings caused by their practices" and take the lead in rejecting all forms of racism, the ambassador said, citing Wang.

"All countries should adopt a zero-tolerance attitude toward racism, and fully and earnestly implement the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council," Zhang added.

He stressed that strengthening exchanges between different races and cultures is "much needed" to foster a social environment free from discrimination. It's also necessary to ensure the rights to development for all to "break the vicious cycle between social inequality and racism", he added.

All participants at the meeting agreed that racism is a deep-rooted global problem left over from history, which has caused an array of issues including inequality, oppression and marginalization, the ambassador said.

They called on the international community to take this meeting as an opportunity to "fully and effectively implement" the DDPA to wipe out racism and racial discrimination completely, Zhang added.