Carry on the fight against racism

Despite difficulties in many areas, efforts to observe the Durban Declaration must be continued to end discrimination

The UN General Assembly held a high-level meeting in New York on Thursday to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action. This document, which serves as the international community's blueprint for action to fight racism, was adopted by consensus at the 2001 UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa.

However, it is regrettable that several Western countries are boycotting it and even urge other countries to follow suit. But on second thought, it is no surprise, especially if we recall the situation in 2009 at the second World Conference against Racism, also known as Durban Review Conference, when nearly 10 countries refused to participate, and a walkout by about 40 delegates occurred, most of them from Western countries.