UN chief stresses need to right historical wrongs in tackling racism

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday stressed the need to right historical wrongs in tackling today's racism.

Much of today's racism is deeply entrenched in centuries of colonialism and enslavement, he told a General Assembly event to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

There is racism in the pervasive discrimination and exclusion suffered by people of African descent, in the injustices and oppression endured by indigenous peoples and other ethnic minorities, and in the repugnant views of white supremacists and other extremist groups, he said.

"We also see racism and discrimination in anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim hatred, the mistreatment of some minority Christian communities and other forms of intolerance and xenophobia. And we see racism in recent abhorrent violence against people of Asian descent, unjustly blamed for COVID-19. We also see it in the biases built into the codes for facial recognition and artificial intelligence."

It is especially important to recognize that historical injustices have contributed to poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and instability for both people and countries alike. It is time to acknowledge and repair long-standing wrongs and reverse their consequences, he said.

Reparatory justice is essential for reconciliation, prevention of conflict and the creation of societies based on fairness, equality, respect and solidarity. It can help mend the social contract between people and the state, he said.

"As societies become ever more multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural, we need greater political, cultural and economic investment in inclusivity and cohesion. We need to harness the benefits of diversity rather than perceiving it as a threat."

Guterres asked everyone to fight racism.

"Our duty, as responsible global citizens, is to eradicate it. Wherever we see racism, we must condemn it without reservation, without hesitation, without qualification. This includes looking into our own hearts and minds. Each of us needs to ask: Am I and my society racist? And what must I do to correct it?"

Racism manifests in many forms, conscious and unconscious. Combatting it demands action every day, at every level, he said.