EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive dialogue with ASG Brands Kehris
Mr Chair,
The EU thanks the Assistant Secretary-General for her presentation of the reports.
The European Union is fully committed to the promotion and protection of human rights for all without discrimination on any ground. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”, but if States do not take the necessary steps to fulfil their commitments, this principle of equality, which is the cornerstone and raison d’être of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, risks remaining a hollow pledge.
Unfortunately, we witness some non-democratic countries misuse the so-called protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities to destabilize other sovereign countries and even justify aggression against them. It is our collective responsibility to be vigilant in order to identify, reject and condemn false narratives and accusations.
In the coming days, we will be engaging extensively in the interactive dialogues with the Chairpersons of the respective UN mechanisms that work on the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We look forward to these discussions and welcome the fact that some of them have been clustered.
The EU firmly rejects all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Universal adherence to the ICERD and the full and effective implementation of the ICERD remain priorities for the EU, as highlighted also in one of the reports. The EU agrees on the need to show political will and accelerate the pace of action if we want to bring about a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality prevail.
The EU is furthermore also fully committed to the primary objectives and commitments undertaken at the 2001 Durban World Conference to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
With regard to the proposal to declare a second International Decade for People of African Descent, I can confirm that the EU already joined consensus on this recommendation during the 21st session of the IGWG on the Effective Implementation of the DDPA in November 2023.
Thank you.