Geneva: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has issued a warning regarding the increasing phenomenon of indiscrimination against millions of people based on racial and national grounds. The GCC has highlighted the plight of the Palestinian people, who continue to face systematic racial indiscrimination and are deprived of basic rights amidst a lack of justice and equality. This warning comes despite noticeable progress over the decades in combating racial indiscrimination at a global level.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the statement was made by Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, the Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva. Al-Hayen, in his role as President of the GCC Ambassadors Council, addressed these concerns during a debate marking the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination. This debate was part of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Ambassador Al-Hayen emphasized the GCC's steadfast position in combating racism, fanaticism, and xenophobia. He highlighted the council's commitment to the values of tolerance and equality, which are fundamental to Islam and international conventions. He also expressed concern over the ongoing struggles faced by immigrants and asylum seekers fleeing discrimination and exploitation, along with the rising phenomenon of Islamophobia.
Al-Hayen underscored the need to intensify efforts to support human rights and resist phenomena that threaten the security and peace of communities. He mentioned that GCC states have taken significant measures and enacted legislations to promote equality and combat racism, as part of their national plans to combat hatred. The GCC has worked diligently to foster tolerance and dialogue among peoples, as outlined in the GCC human rights declaration of 2015.
Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk spoke during the session, warning of the spread of racism in Europe and the US, especially on social media platforms. Turk called for urgent action to address this issue, including enacting deterrent laws and tackling the repercussions of colonialism and slavery.