GENEVA (20 March 2017) – “The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an annual reminder to us all to do more to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, hate speech and hate crimes,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, noted in a statement released today.
“But 21 March needs to be more than a reminder… The dangers of demonising particular groups are evident across the world… And across the world, the politics of division and the rhetoric of intolerance are targeting racial, ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities, and migrants and refugees. Words of fear and loathing can, and do, have real consequences,” he warned. Read his full statement in English here.