Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021
408. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland supports the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action against racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; his views on the Durban+20 agenda of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46298/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland delivered a national statement on the 22nd September 2021 at the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
Our participation in the event was an expression of our unequivocal condemnation of racism in all its forms. It also provided the opportunity to categorically reject the anti-semitic statements and other hateful speech associated with past meetings.
Ireland’s national statement acknowledged the aim of the Durban Declaration: to reinforce the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination and to provide a comprehensive framework for combating racism, racial intolerance, xenophobia and related intolerance.
It further outlined Ireland’s efforts to promote a tolerant and inclusive society free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The statement expressed concern about the alarming proliferation of religious intolerance, and its contribution to the denial of human rights and to fuelling conflict. Ireland welcomed the Political Declaration’s explicit condemnation of prejudices based on religion or belief, including hatred or discrimination of an anti-Christian; anti-Muslim; or anti-Semitic nature.
We expressed our belief that all States have the responsibility to condemn racism and to ensure that their legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief to all people without distinction.
Recognising multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and the layered experiences of racism experienced by women and minorities, we also stressed the importance of addressing the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
Finally, Ireland’s National Statement outlined work underway in Ireland including the development of a national Anti-Racism Plan, the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2021, and ongoing work in the field of education.
