UN expert criticises boycott of Durban Process against racism, calls for action 

Two decades after Durban, Tendayi Achiume Special Rapporteur connected modern forms of racism, radical discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, presented a report to the General Assembly highlighting the contributions of the Durban Declaration, including recommendations for warring intolerance and structural inequality. 

“The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), agreed 2 decades ago, offers a principled and applicable blueprint for undoing discriminatory structures and achieving equality and justness for marginalized and exploited groups and individuals”, she said. 

Still at a crossroads 

The UN adept told the Assembly that the unequal interaction of the COVID-19 pandemic is the astir caller reminder of how “deeply entrenched racial, taste and nationalist disparities stay successful enjoyment of cardinal quality rights”. 

Yet, despite two decades of dedicated advocacy and grass-roots mobilization, just as the world “stood astatine a crossroads successful Durban” 20 years ago, today it “stands astatine a akin crossroads” now, she noted.  

The Special Rapporteur urged all countries to reaffirm their committedness to the transnational combat against racism.  

“I impulse UN Member States – and the full planetary assemblage – to reaffirm the commitments enshrined successful the Durban Declaration and instrumentality factual steps to recognize the committedness of transnational radical equality and radical justice”. 

Protest, don’t boycott 

Ms. Achiume criticized the countries that announced their non-participation in a caller General Assembly commemoration of the Durban Conference and the Declaration, oregon successful the Durban Process.  

“Rather than utilizing the DDPA to combat against racism, respective States person alternatively signalled they mean to wantonness the Durban process”, she said.  

The radical of non-supporters includes immoderate of the top beneficiaries of colonialism, slavery and the trans-Atlantic enslaved trade, the UN expert noted. 

“I telephone connected States participating successful immoderate signifier of DDPA boycott to alternatively show their genuine committedness to radical justness and equality by implementing the DDPA and engaging successful its follow-up mechanisms”, she concluded. 

Special Rapporteurs and autarkic experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and study back on a circumstantial quality rights taxable oregon a state situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not paid for their work.