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Human Rights Council 51st Session

General Debate Item 9 : Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Statement of International-Lawyers.org and Geneva International Centre For Justice

4 October 2022

Delivered by Dave-Inder Comar

International-Lawyers.org and the Geneva International Centre for Justice commend the council for addressing the need to support and strengthen implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. In this regard we support strengthening the Group of Independent Eminent Experts’ ability to contribute to the mobilization of political support, enhancing its available resources, and expanding its mandate to ensure it can effectively achieve its goal. The Eminent Experts should be individuals who have a demonstrated commitment to the implementation of the DDPA.

We condemn racism and racial discrimination in all its forms. We wish to call attention to the link between racism and the dehumanization of other peoples and nations which then becomes the justification for crimes against humanity or the crime of aggression. For example, the dehumanization of Arab Muslims in the United States following the 9/11 terrorist attacks provided the psychological cover and framework for the illegal crime of aggression against Iraq. Racial discrimination against black, brown, and indigenous people in the United States remains tolerated in society in disgraceful, shocking, and often deadly ways. Racism also shapes the way that we look at the climate crisis, with vulnerable communities and countries already subject to racial discrimination from the Global North particularly at risk from grave climate impacts.

We urge all countries, including the United States, to work with all diligent speed in ending racism and racial discrimination and to provide reparations to historically discriminated groups who have been damaged by such racism.