990401

Geneva session of commission on HR

Pakistan denounces racial discrimination, in all forms

GENEVA: Pakistan strongly denounces racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestation and has consistently extended its all moral, political and material support to the people struggling against racial discrimination and apartheid.

This was stated by Senator Akram Zaki, Chairman, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate of Pakistan, while speaking at the 55th session of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject "Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination", here on Tuesday.

Akram Zaki said that Pakistan strongly denounces racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestations and added the concept of discrimination and intolerance on the basis of race, colour, belief and ethnicity is abhorrent to the precepts of Islam, which preaches respect for human dignity, equality and brotherhood.

"These principles of equality and brotherhood are enshrined in Pakistan's Constitution and Pakistan was among the first countries to sign and ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. We fully adhere to Conventions provisions", Zaki said.

"We were in the vanguard of South Africa's struggle against apartheid. Together with Nigeria, Pakistan had drafted the convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, and Pakistan would continue to work for the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination throughout the world," he added.

Senator Akram Zaki, said with the historical dismantling of the system of apartheid in South Africa, through sustained international co-operatino spanning over may decades, "we had hoped that the world would close this tragic chapter once and for all and that the international community would no longer tolerate policies based on the theory of racial superiority, exclusiveness and batred."

"Unfortunately, new forms of racism and racial discrimination such as xenophobia, perhsecution of minorities, ethnic groups, migrant workers and refugess have raised their ugly head in many countries. Today, millions of human beigns continue to be victims of discrimination on the basis of colour, race, ethnicity, caste or creed. Endemic racism prescribed in certain culture also continues to persist."

He said vicious manifestations of racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing continue to jeopardize friendly relations among peoples, impede co-operation among nations and threaten international peace and security.

Senator Zaki said in many regions of the world, the rights of immigrants, migrant workers, refugees and minorities are being flagrantly violated and added citizenship laws, in some countries, are discriminatory.

He said the focus on exclusion of migrants from the political and social processes of these countries, encourage extremist elements that propound discrimination and doctrines of racial superiority.

He said a stateless, "classless" group of people serving these countries for grenerations, exists which has become the target of racist attacks. Yet these violations are receiving scant attention from the international community.

"The High Commissioner, Mrs. Mary Robinson, in her opening statement to the Commission, recalled how, "systematic discrimination against Albanians, after 1990 was accompanied by torture and other brutal human rights violations, which created fertile conditions in which the seeds of the present conflict could take root," Zaki added.

He said the perpetrators of the crime of discrimination and genocide in Kosovo and elsewhere continue to try the patience of the international community.

Senator Akram Zaki said "We are disturbed by the growing instances of discrimination against Muslim minorities in several countries of the world on racial grounds.

Muslims are also subjected to various forms of discrimination with regard to their religious beliefs, practices and cultural traditions.

In many countries, Muslims have become favourite target of racist and fascist groups. Many innocent lives had been lost in attacks prompted by racial or religious hatred against Muslims," he said.

He said the explanations of the new manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance are often couched in economic terms.

"One would be justified in asking what happened to the years of education and claims of enlightenment? Isn't it the responsibility of the international community to take action to ensure that the largely unregulated new economic forces do not play havoc, especially to the fragile economies of the developing countries," he remarked.

Senator Akram Zaki said that the Declaration of the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination reaffirmed that "all human beings are born equal in dignity and rights. Any doctrine of racial superiority is, therefore, scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and has no justification."

"The World Conference on Racism provides us another opportunity to decide on measures to work for the elimination of these phenomena. The preparatory process of the Conference and the World Conference on Racism itself should focus on all manifestations and causes of racial discrimination and intolerance," he added.

Senator Akram Zaki said that it should not only be an occasion to draft a strongly worded declaration, but should also reflect serious pledge by the international community to translate into reality, the objective of the elimination of racial discrimination in all its forms, new or old.

"While we are convinced that the promotion of education and awareness can play a major role in eliminating racial prejudices and promoting understanding among peoples, we need to address the underlying causes of the problem" he added.

He said it is essential to manifest the resolve of the international community, through policies and actions, both at the national and international levels, that make it clear that the politics of racial superiority and intolerance would not be forgiven.

"The Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism has pointed out, time and again, that while steps have been taken in some countries to combat racism and racial discrimination, yet more vigorous action was requried to eradicate the evil of racism," Zaki added.

"Let us preserve our humanity and resolve that all our future endeavours will be directed" to humanize the next century.

"Let us work together to make the 21st century an era of peace and goodwill, an era of human equality and brotherhood, free from the curse of racism, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing in all its forms and manifestations," Zaki concluded. APP