Racism is alive and still plagues every society, say UN experts by United Nations News 9:45am 21st Mar, 2010   Geneva. 21 March 2010    Statement by UN independent human rights experts to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.    “People continue to lose their lives or have their lives blighted by racism in all regions of the world,” recall a group of UN experts 50 years on from the tragic events of Sharpeville, where the police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the South African apartheid ‘pass laws’. Their clear message: racism is not only yesterday’s problem - but an immense challenge for today.    “Racism is alive and still plagues every society,” say the group of human rights experts on 21 March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.    “Be it the migrant worker who faces daily discrimination due to his or her status as non-citizen, the individual who cannot find suitable employment because of his or her colour, the member of an ethnic minority who is prevented from getting equal access to education due to his or her minority status, or the woman who is enforced into slavery because of her descent, all these people remind us about the continuous suffering caused by racism on the daily lives of millions worldwide,” state the UN experts.    “The 50th Anniversary of the Sharpeville events is a day to remember and to pay tribute to the many who fell, but also the many who continue the struggle against racism - helping to make a difference to their own lives and the lives of others.” The experts praise the courage and determination of those ordinary, and yet extraordinary people, who tear down the walls of segregation, challenge the doctrine of racism, and peacefully build bridges of understanding and acceptance.    “Too many States are failing to fulfil their obligations to act against racism, or, in some instances, are perpetrators of it,” warn the group of experts. While celebrating the significant progress in many States, they note that “everyday, in every region, often in the face of adversity, people stand up against racism and injustice. Those people should expect the States where they live to be their strongest allies, protecting and supporting in their daily fight against racism.”    The experts emphasize that “March 21st is also a day to reflect about past commitments, to look forward and to set new and higher expectations for the future - to recognize that despite our successes, individuals, families and communities continue to have their lives ruined by racism and racial discrimination and that we need to continue our struggle for equality and dignity for all people, everywhere.”    Mar 2010    World Cup can boost fight against racism, says UN human rights chief.    (Statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)    “The forthcoming Football World Cup in South Africa provides an opportunity both to take a fresh look at the issue of racism in sport, and to enhance sport’s tremendous potential to undermine racism, xenophobia and similar forms of intolerance in wider society.    “The symbolism of the 2010 World Cup taking place for the first time ever in an African state, and specifically in the country which was for so many years a byword for institutionalized racism, is important. It is also a factor in the choice of this year’s sports-related theme for the International Day for the Elimination against Discrimination, the date of which – 21 March – marks the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre, when dozens of peaceful demonstrators, protesting against the ‘pass laws’ of the apartheid regime were killed by the South African police.    “Racism within sport remains a problem in many countries and many sports, and I urge sports administrators everywhere to follow the example of two of the world’s top football authorities, FIFA and UEFA, in devising serious campaigns to eradicate it from sport at all local, national and international levels.    “In recent years there have been a number of disgraceful incidents in football stadiums when fans of one team have abused footballers of opposing teams on the basis of their race. FIFA rules allow for the deduction of points where clubs have not taken sufficient action to combat racism and similar forms of bigotry, but national leagues often shy away from applying these rules.    “The same goes for national teams. On occasions, rich clubs and rich national bodies have escaped with derisory fines of a few thousand dollars after serious racist incidents during matches. I urge FIFA, UEFA and national football authorities everywhere to back their strong rhetoric with serious and consistent disincentives, including stadium bans, and point deductions. Until they do so, the admirable goal of eradicating racism in football will not be achieved.    “Despite the continuing problems still confronting football, it must be recognized that the sport has, in a number of countries, been engaged in a serious decades-long struggle against racism which has produced significant achievements, with the help of some excellent NGO initiatives and the active participation of a number of influential star players.    “On the pitch, the sight of players from diverse racial backgrounds is now the norm in many countries. Players belonging to racial minorities now fill all positions in the team, including those perceived as being more “strategic,” from which they were formerly largely excluded. However, although they are also increasingly entrusted with team captaincy, minorities are still disturbingly under-represented at the managerial level.    “The role of sports in changing attitudes towards racism is potentially immense – especially sports like football which attract huge and passionate live and TV audiences. I sincerely hope that the 2010 World Cup will not only be a successful and joyous event in its own right, but that it will also stimulate further sustained effort to eradicate racism from sport, and through this powerful vector help extend more positive attitudes towards minorities and migrants to society at large.”    Mar 2010    Statement by Mr. Githu Muigai, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the occasion of the International Day on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.    Almost one year after the holding of the Durban Review Conference, this event reminds us about the dire need to pursue our collective efforts in the fight against racism. It also provides us with an opportunity to pay tribute to all the individuals who have suffered from racism or who continue to suffer from it on a daily basis in all regions of the world. Fighting racism requires enacting anti-discrimination laws. But that is far from being enough.    Overcoming racism also requires addressing public and private attitudes which comfort, justify and perpetuate racism at all levels and in all areas of life. To that effect, approaches which have the ability to get the message across in a simple and powerful manner are more than ever necessary to encourage as many people as possible to engage in this fight. In this year marked by mass sports events, such as the Olympic Games, the Football World Cup or the Commonwealth Games, which are followed by a very large and diverse public audience, I believe that promoting the message of tolerance and non-discrimination through sport may well constitute one of the approaches needed.    As recognized by the General Assembly, sport has the potential to contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding. While relying on the concepts of competition and rivalry, sport also stands for human values such as respect, justice, universality, cooperation and solidarity. By bringing together individuals from a great variety of horizons, sport is an inspirational means to promote peace, social cohesion, integration, inclusivity, as well as diversity. And by its very nature, sport is about participation: every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind.    Thus, as recalled in the draft resolution on “a world of sports free from racism and discrimination” sponsored by Brazil and South Africa, one needs to recognize the potential of sport as a means to combat racism and discrimination. Indeed, similarly to schools, which are one of the most efficient tools to create a cohesive and tolerant society, sport – and in particular team sport – also is an effective means where both youth and adults may learn and experience for themselves, how individuals from diverse ethnic, national or religious backgrounds can interact in a harmonious manner.    On a wider scale, mass sport events also offer valuable outreach platforms to mobilize people and to convey crucial messages about equality and non-discrimination. In this regard, I would like to welcome the fact that in their respective charters or statutes, the International Olympic Committee, the Fédération Internationale de Fooball Association (FIFA) and the Commonwealth Games Federation, have all inscribed quite prominently that there shall be no discrimination of any kind on the grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise.    Moreover, public campaigns such as the one entitled “Say no to racism” by the FIFA should be encouraged and supported by all means. Due to football’s popularity and influence in society, I believe that such campaigns are extremely effective in order to raise awareness and sensitize individuals from diverse geographical and cultural horizons to the long-lasting problems of racism and discrimination.    I have also been impressed by the potential federative impact of the Olympic Games on the population of the organizing country. As such, the opening ceremony of the recent Olympic Games was quite symbolic; looking back at its history and origins, Canada put forward the role played by its indigenous peoples by organizing an unprecedented dance performance of more than 300 young First Nations, Inuit and Métis.    This being said, one should have in mind that sport does not and cannot constitute a cure-all for racism and discrimination. As a reflection of the society from which it originates, sport also has its shortcomings and contradictions. Indeed, we all have seen the negative side-effects of sport, such as violence, discrimination and aggressive nationalism. For instance, we would recall that a year ago, football supporters uttered racist insults against Mario Balotelli, an Italian football player of Ghanaian origin. We would also recall the racial slurs that surrounded the 2008 campaign for the Football Association of Zambia presidency, when Hanif Adams, a Zambian man of Indian origin, ran for presidency.    Examples of racism and discrimination within the world of sport are unfortunately quite numerous, therefore indicating that additional efforts are needed to eradicate racism and discrimination wherever they manifest themselves. Valuable initiatives have been taken in this regard and I would like here to refer to the general policy recommendation on combating racism and racial discrimination in the field of sport by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance which provides very concrete tools for all stakeholders.    The fight against racism is as relevant today as it has ever been in the past. As a global problem affecting all areas of life, let us ensure that we make use of every single tool at our disposal to fight this scourge. To that effect, let us take advantage of mass sport events such as the upcoming Football World Cup and the Commonwealth Games to demonstrate and convince everyone that integration, tolerance, mutual respect and diversity are real assets that may lead a team to victory. Visit the related web page
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