72nd Plenary Meeting of General Assembly 73rd Session

Rise of supremacist ideologies sparks alarm as General Assembly marks day for elimination of racial discrimination, remembers slavery’s victims at 72nd plenary.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / General Assembly
• Video Length: 01:18:52
• Production Date: 25 March 2019
• Asset Language: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
• Personal Subject: ANTONIO GUTERRES; MARIA F. ESPINOSA GARCES
• Subject Topical: INTERNATIONAL DAYS; SLAVERY; TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE; XENOPHOBIA
• MAMS Id: 2371030
• Parent Id: 2370621

Description

Hate Speech Not Free Speech, But Racism, Assembly President Says, as Secretary-General Applauds Artists Raising Awareness

Speakers sounded the alarm over the rise of nationalist populism and supremacist ideologies around the world today as the General Assembly commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination highlighted the growing trend of racist discourse on the part of public figures, as well as the rise of organizations overtly advocating the superiority of some groups over others. “Such overt behaviours are hiding behind freedom of expression, thought or assembly, and all too often they go unpunished,” he noted. “Unfortunately, the reaction of States parties remains too timid and can lay the foundations for impunity,” he warned, while underlining the need for broader accountability on the part of the media.

The President of the General Assembly noted that many atrocities occur as part of a continuum of racism that begins with small things, such as stereotyping and suspicious looks. Emphasizing that populist lies must not be legitimized, she called for ensuring that short-sighted nationalism does not derail global solutions. Hate speech is not free speech, but racism, she stressed.

During an afternoon meeting to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the Secretary-General applauded artists, writers and poets who raise awareness of that issue. People all over the world must stand up against old as well as new forms of slavery while ensuring justice and equal opportunities for all people of African descent, he stressed.

Guyana’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), noted that most of that bloc’s member States are peopled by the descendants of African slaves. “Out of nothing, we have created the reggae rhythms,” he added, also citing the distinctive cuisine and talented people the region has fostered. Victims of the transatlantic slave trade have a legal right to reparatory justice, and compensatory justice would be a fitting way to honour their memory, he said.

During the earlier meeting on racial discrimination, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism warned of the harm caused by racist institutions and structures, citing voter suppression, as well as constitutional and legislative amendments intended to exclude certain groups. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination provides a legal framework within which to address its underlying causes, she said, while noting, however, that many States deny the existence of discrimination. “You are not doing enough to address the breadth and depth of racial discrimination and intolerance,” she stressed. Political leaders should foreground the equality of all individuals in their rhetoric, she added, highlighting the response of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to the recent terrorist attacks in New Zealand.

Also speaking today were representatives of Nigeria (for the Group of African States), Tonga (for the Group of Asia-Pacific States), Montenegro (for the Group of Eastern European States), San Marino (for the Group of Western European and Other States), United States, Kenya, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cuba, United Arab Emirates and Guatemala.

Also addressing the Assembly were the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and a keynote speaker from civil society.

The General Assembly will reconvene at a time and date to be announced.

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