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Date: 21/04/2009   

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NAWABZADA MALIK AMAD KHAN AT DURBAN ON 21 APRIL 2009

Mr. President,
Madam Secretary General of the Conference,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a privilege to address this august gathering.

The Durban Review process is another milestone in our collective struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

It has been an intensive, protracted and at times needlessly controversial process. We appreciate the efforts of all those Member States who have constructively and actively participated in the deliberations of this review. We regret the decision of some countries to withdraw from this process. In our view, engagement rather than estrangement is the better course of action.

Pakistan alongwith the OIC countries made significant sacrifices to ensure the success of the Durban review process. This demonstrated our commitment to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to show solidarity with the African countries. Together we have made credible progress in fighting the scourge of racism and racial discrimination at the national, regional and international levels. We are confident that provisions of this Review Conference will also be fully and effectively implemented by all stake holders.

Pakistan commends High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Pillay’s tireless efforts in steering the review process. We also thank members of the Bureau and the Anti-Discrimination Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner for their hard work in preparing for this Conference. In particular, we appreciate the tremendous efforts of the facilitator of the ISWG, Mr. Yury Boychenko of the Russian Federation.

Mr. President,

While significant progress has been made towards evolving normative standards and instruments for providing protection against different forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, these need to be transformed into concrete action.

Ideological and political resistance to multiculturalism is one of the root causes of the resurgence of racist and xenophobia tendencies. In our view, rejection of diversity has led to the negation of the rights of immigrants, foreigners and minorities. The most serious manifestation of racism is the legitimization of racism and xenophobia in the guise of defending ‘identity or preference’. 
Mr. President,

Pakistan, during these negotiations, has endeavoured to ensure that outcome of the Review Conference must provide a comprehensive protection mechanism to the victims including for those that have suffered due to the so-called war on terror, particularly through ethnic, racial and religious profiling and its consequential incitement to hatred, violence and discrimination.

One of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism is the defamation of religions in particular Islamophobia. Islam and Muslims are negatively stereotyped as Islamo-fascists and terrorists. For over 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, this poses a serious xenophobic challenge.

We reject the canard of the so called “Islamic terrorism”. Terrorism has no faith. There is also a need to curb the tendency on the part of some countries to use the international concerns against terrorism for advancing their own political agendas.

Muslims all over the world are justifiably alarmed at being deliberately targeted in certain countries on the basis of their faith behind the pretense of “freedom of expression”. While this freedom is sacrosanct, it must not be exploited to defame any religion and to incite thereby violence against its followers.

On the contrary, in our common struggle against terrorism and discrimination, there is an urgent need for dialogue and understanding among followers of different religions and beliefs.   

We are pleased to note that the Outcome Document has underlined the need for enhanced focus on international and regional cooperation and dialogue to put the fight against racism and discrimination on the global agenda. Pakistan also notes with satisfaction the increased stress on the need for the availability of effective legal and judicial mechanisms for provision of justice to the victims.

We believe that an additional complementary instrument to the International Covenant on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination could fill the existing gaps and reinforce the protection regime in this regard.

Mr. President,

The Outcome document rightly expresses our resolve to prohibit any advocacy of racial and religious hatred, condemnation of racial and religious stereotyping, as well as calls upon states to declare illegal and prohibit organizations based on ideas or theories of superiority or promoting socio-religious hatred and discrimination.
We also welcome the call for increased investment in educational and awareness raising measures as well as the effective and optimal use of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

A consensual and successful outcome of this Conference should have corresponding effect on the lives of all the victims of racism including those who continue to be marginalized on the basis of descent in the form of social stratification, on the basis of caste or creed, which nullifies their equal enjoyment of human rights.

Mr. President,

Pakistan attaches the highest importance to the promotion and protection of human rights. We support the universal vision of human rights that should be a unifying rather than a divisive force, within and among all cultures.

In its national capacity, Pakistan has participated constructively in the finalization of DDPA in 2001 and the present review document. Despite our security and economic challenges we have continued with national efforts particularly in the shape of affirmative actions and administrative structures to implement recommendations of the DDPA with a view to ensuring equality of opportunity and empowerment of citizens, especially women and minorities.  

The Government of Pakistan respects diversity and endeavours to promote it both within and abroad. The Government and the civil society have worked together to promote awareness about issues mentioned in the Programme of Action. The State is committed to improving existing legal and administrative structures and building new ones to prevent discrimination and discriminatory practices.

Mr. President,

Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance around the globe have high hopes from this gathering. Let us resolve to respond to them through adoption of an approach that is guided by the sole aim of protection of these victims.

Before I conclude, allow me to reiterate that central to the universal fight against racism is political will. We are confident that together we can reach a consensus backed by a firm political will to address and root out racism in all its forms and manifestations. Pakistan is determined to make this historic review conference a resounding success.

I thank you Mr. President.