STATEMENT : HIGH-LEVEL MEETING TO COMMEMORATE THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE DURBAN DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION, 22 SEP 2021

STATEMENT BY

H.E. SYED MOHAMAD HASRIN AIDID

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UN

AT THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING

TO COMMEMORATE THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE ADOPTION OF THE

DURBAN DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION

Mr. President,

1. We are here today in solidarity to commemorate the anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Twenty years had passed since their adoption. And yet, the evils of racism continue to confront us.

2. The COVID-19 pandemic has regrettably brought about a new onslaught of hate speech, xenophobia, discrimination, and intolerance against vulnerable populations, particularly the minorities.

3. As a country with multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural background, from the inception of its nationhood, Malaysia has recognised that unity within its diversity has been essential for its future success. Malaysia believes that our strength lies within our people, which needs to be embraced and celebrated. Similarly, we believe the international community needs to embrace inclusiveness and inculcate the spirit of empathy, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence for all humanity.

Mr. President,

4. Racial injustice against the people of African descent has continued for centuries, and to a large extent, remains unaddressed. Double standards continue to exist albeit in more subtle ways. Rightly so, this year’s theme calls to address the issue of racial injustice faced by the people of African descent.

5. Reparations for racial injustices need to be undertaken to right the historical wrongdoings that had persisted over hundreds of years, whose long-term effects continue to debilitate future generations. Such reparations could be considered in the form of building knowledge, skills, and wealth as well as creating opportunities to address continuing racial disparities in education, housing, employment, and business ownership. While reparations could not compensate or right all the wrongs that had been done, they could go a long way in addressing systemic racism that still lingers in the society today, in bringing about a level playing field to realise the true potentials of the people of African descent.

Mr. President,

6. Another longstanding issue addressed by this Meeting that requires our attention is the plight of the Palestinian people. The grave injustices, human rights violations, collective punishment, and domination over the entire Palestinian population for decades under the pretext of security, reflects the double standards in the call for promotion and protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights. This august body has documented methodological discriminatory actions and human rights violations that have been undertaken by the Israeli regime against the Palestinian people.

7. Similarly, the Rohingyas in the Rakhine State of Myanmar have been subjected to discrimination and persecution – leading to regional instability as they fled the country. Just as Malaysia had been a strong advocate to end apartheid in South Africa, we similarly call for crimes of apartheid against the Palestinian people and the Rohingyas to end.

8. The international community must stand together on the right side of history in the interest of the collective good, to achieve peace, prosperity, and a sustainable world for all mankind, regardless of the colour of their skin or their ethnicity group.

I thank you, Mr President.