UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

55th Session

Debate in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Theme: A decade of recognition, justice and development: implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent

27 March 2024

EU statement

Mr/Madam Chair,

The European Union wishes to thank the panellists for their contributions.

The EU continues to be strongly committed to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, whether perceived or actual. We remain fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights for all without discrimination on any ground. Racial discrimination not only inflicts profound harm on individual victims, but also undermines the very fabric of peaceful and democratic societies.

In this regard there is a need to ensure the universal ratification and the full and effective implementation of the ICERD, as well as to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme for Action. The EU is fully committed to the primary objectives and commitments undertaken at the 2001 Durban World Conference to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We also support the programme of activities of the UN Decade on People of African descent.

Meanwhile, we continue to take action, globally, as well as within the EU. In November 2023, the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union organised a high-level Conference on anti-racism in the European Union. It was the third of its kind. The conference focused on the themes of recognition, justice and development. Participants were invited to share their views on three concrete issues: “structural racism and the collection of data by ethnic origin in statistics, studies and surveys”; “the representation of people of African descent in public office and in the media”; and “anti-racist legislation and national action plans”. Several members of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent as well as a representative of the CERD contributed to the debate.

Esteemed members of the panel,

Eradicating racism requires sustained efforts. How can this Council further contribute to this?