Item 6: Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination

Madam Chairperson,

Pax Romana welcomes the reports of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerence, and the recommendations.

Pax Romana draws the attention to paras. 8 to 20 of the report (E/CN.4/2003/24) emphasising the importance of identity. Today, identity politics in many parts of the world results to be a vehicle of power and a principle of governance, leading to consistent patterns of ’new forms of discrimination and racism’. Victims of these policies include inter alia minorities, minorised peoples, indigeneous peoples, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Also the manipulation of the "self" by mis-governance generates grave misery and suffering locally and globally. In the context of globalization, the monopoly of global cultural industries impose a kind of cultural globalization at odds with the identity of the people(s). Cultural pluralism is disappearing as a governing principle and the tolerance of diversity replaced by a discriminatory citizenship based on differences that generates new uncertainties. In this context the concern for human security, based upon the exercise of the individual and collective right to self-determination to determine freely one’s own identity becomes central.

Therefore,while fully endorsing the strategies proposed by the Special Rapporteur, we invite him

1. to study the discrimination concerning enjoyment of and access to the right to self-determination. Special attention should be paid to the victims of the violation of this right, including ways to redress these violations and mechanisms to resolve victims’ claims.
2. to include in his next report the economic and social dimensions, integrating gender perspective
3. to pay attention to the interaction between local and global identities in the context of globalization with regard to discrimination

Discrimination based on Descent and work

The discrimination based on work and descent or castism is a social construct that cruelly discriminates against certain groups considered inferior. Castism exists in certain South Asian and African countries. Untouchables or Dalits are marginalized and face severe forms of violence. Dalit women suffer from multiple forms of discrimination, including rape and forced prostitution. Dalits are not only being denied their rights but are also access to those rights, such as access to drinking water. If a Dalit touches a water source, the water is considered impure. In this International Year of Freshwater, special attention should be paid to the Dalits’ right to access to drinking water.

With the CERD we reiterate  that discrimination based on  descent  including discrimination against members of communities based on forms of social stratification such as caste and analogous systems of inherited status which nullify or impair their equal enjoyment of human rights. [1] . Our appreciation goes also to the work done by the Sub-Commission on the Promotionand Protection of Human Rights on issues relating to discrimination based on Descent and work.

We call upon this Commission to

1. persuade the Governments concerned to invite the Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination , xenophobia and related intolerance to report on discrimination based on work and descent
2. urge Governments, particularly India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh to acknowledge the existing discrimination based on work and descent, and to urge them to adopt and implement measures to advance towards the equality of the Dalits

Post Durban Conference

Madam chair,

While the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination is ending, the follow up of the Durban Conference is a pending issue for the international community. Many countries yet have to sign and ratify the ICERD convention. Many of those who signed fail to submit their periodic reports. Others did not device their national action plans to combat racism.

We witnessed with great concern that in yesterday debate on the Durban Follow up the Asian Group, JUSCANZ and Eastern European Group did not provide any national or regional action plan.

1. We stress the importance of National Programme and hope the Special Rapporteur to liaise closely with the CERD and other related UN bodies in relation to the fulfilment of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate.

Thank you, madam chair.

[1]Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to the General Assembly. Official Records. 57^th session. Supplement No.18 (A/57/18)