On 18 February, Secretary-General António Guterres addressed a?ECOSOC Special Ministerial meeting with a moving ?on reimagining equality to eliminate racism, xenophobia, and discrimination for all.
“Racism is the repudiation of our common humanity — of the Charter of the United Nations — of all that we are and all that we do. We must reject racism,” the Secretary-General said.?
He noted that much of today’s racism is deeply entrenched in centuries of colonialism and slavery.?“Racial injustice, particularly against people of African descent, caused profound trauma and intergenerational suffering.?We must do more than merely condemn expressions and acts of racism. We must dig deeper,” said the Secretary-General.
He called for action to address racial injustice every day, at every level. “As societies become ever more multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural, we need greater political, cultural and economic investments in inclusivity and cohesion, to harness the benefits of diversity rather than perceiving it as a threat,” he stated.
The Secretary-General also urged Member States to support the campaign of dialogue and action aimed at combating racism and promoting the dignity of all within the Organization. These activities are overseen by the Task Force on the Eradication of Racism and the Promotion of Dignity for All at the United Nations.
The Task Force is currently developing a long-term strategic action plan to promote diversity and inclusion and develop policies and tools that would create a climate of trust in which cases of racism within the Secretariat and agencies could be quickly reported and dealt with without fear of retaliation.
Together, we can promote justice and dignity for all and combat racism in all its forms, transform systems and institutions and build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world.
