A/76/PV.62 General Assembly

The General Assembly will now resume its consideration of agenda item 72, entitled “Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in accordance with paragraph 46 of resolution 76/226, of 24 December 2021. I am delighted to welcome all participants to the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Let me begin by expressing my deepest concerns over the alarming reports of violence against civilians, in particular women and girls, in Ukraine, while families continue to seek refuge and security in new locations. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine on this day. Since the establishment of this International Day more than half a century ago, the elimination of racial discrimination has continued to elude us. Around the world, we continue to see an increase in hate speech, intolerance and racism, especially against minorities, In accordance with decision 76/503 of 17 September 2021, and without setting a precedent for future plenary meetings, the official records of the General Assembly will be supplemented by annexes containing pre-recorded statements submitted by officials invited to make a statement or present a report, submitted to the President no later than the day on which such statements are delivered in the Assembly Hall. Submissions in this regard should be made to estatements@un.org. despite the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination reaching near universal ratification. As a global community, our moral failure to eliminate racial discrimination is a failure against everything that we stand for in this General Assembly Hall. It is a failure to register the mandates of the Charter of the United Nations as “we the peoples”. It is a failure to uphold the very principles and the very foundation upon which this institution was built. My friends, that must be changed. This year, as we commemorate this important day, we are reminded of the extensive consequences of racial discrimination and its intersectionality. The coronavirus disease pandemic has exacerbated underlying conditions and laid bare the underlying, deep and long-standing inequalities that disproportionately affect our societies. That includes those facing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We have seen the marginalized and the most vulnerable lose their precious gains achieved in the past decades, especially in their social, economic, civil and political lives. Let me be clear: racial discrimination is an overt stereotyping and prejudice that arises from hate speech and hate propaganda. Have we learned nothing from the needless suffering and loss of so many — the suffering of children as parents died at the expense of hate and violence and the pain and injustice of losing loved ones because society only recognized them for their colour? We can, and we must, do better. We have a moral obligation to tackle racism in all its forms. Racism does not acknowledge the beauty of diversity. It gives birth to violence and strengthens inequalities. Our commitment to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as included in the political declaration adopted at the beginning of this General Assembly session (see resolution 76/1), is a key step forward in the elimination of racial discrimination. The declaration is a clear guide to addressing discrimination against various groups of people, such as Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, indigenous peoples, minorities, youth, women and children. The recent election by the General Assembly of members of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (decision 76/414) signifies yet another positive step in contributing to the full political, economic and social inclusion of that population as equal citizens without discrimination of any kind. Going forward, I encourage national Governments, civil society organizations and the private sector to work together to fight racism and promote the implementation of the Durban Declaration. Let us continue to work together to eliminate racial discrimination. I now give the floor to the Secretary-General.

I am pleased to be here on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day is both a day of recognition and an urgent call to action. Even today, racism continues to plague institutions, social structures and daily life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality and to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of Governments and stymies an inclusive and sustainable recovery following the coronavirus disease. Racism also fuels crude public discourse that normalizes hatred, denies dignity and incites violence. The linkages between racism and gender inequality are also undeniable. Such phenomena have dire consequences, including the multiple and cross-cutting discrimination suffered by women of colour and minority groups. No country is immune to intolerance or hatred. Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, minority populations, indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees and many others continue to face stigmatization, discrimination and violence and be subjected to scapegoating. (spoke in English) This year’s theme  — “Voices for action against racism” — calls on us to listen closely, speak out loudly and act decisively. We all have a responsibility to engage in solidarity with movements for equality and human rights everywhere, and we must extend solidarity to everyone fleeing conflict or persecution without any discrimination based on race, religion or ethnicity. We must speak out against hate speech offline and online. We must defend the civic space by protecting free expression and assembly — the bedrock of pluralist, peaceful and inclusive societies. We need a renewed social contract, based on rights and opportunities for all, to tackle poverty and exclusion, invest in education and rebuild trust and social cohesion. We must listen to those experiencing injustice and ensure that their concerns and demands are at the centre of efforts to dismantle discriminatory structures. Reparatory justice is also crucial to realizing racial equality and atoning for the enduring legacy of centuries of enslavement and colonialism. Historical injustices manifest themselves in poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization and social instability for entire communities and countries. It is time to recognize and repair long-standing wrongs. Building a future of justice requires mending an unjust past. In line with international human rights obligations and commitments, Member States must show stronger political will to accelerate action for racial justice and equality. We have the blueprints for determined action: the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and its follow-up processes; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and the Four-point Agenda towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality. The Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, created by the General Assembly, is another example of meaningful progress towards a systemic response to systemic racism. I call on every Member State to take concrete actions, including through policy measures, legislation and more granular data collection, in support of such efforts at the national and the global level. We at the United Nations have also launched our own internal strategic action plan on addressing racism, which outlines concrete actions to tackle racism in the workplace through accountability. I will soon appoint a special adviser and establish a steering group to oversee the implementation of that plan. Together, we are committed to making sure that people of every race, ethnicity, colour, gender, religion, creed and sexual orientation enjoy a sense of belonging and safety and have an equal opportunity to contribute to the success of our United Nations. Realizing the vision of a world free of racism and racial discrimination demands action every day, at every level, in every society. Today and every day, let us unite around our common humanity and speak as one for equality, respect, justice and dignity for all.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. Before proceeding further, I would like to consult Members on inviting the following speakers to make statements, in accordance with paragraph 46 of resolution 76/226 and as mentioned in my letter dated 14 March 2022: Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Ms. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; Ms. Verene Shepherd, Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; and Mr. Leyner Palacios, Commissioner for the Colombian Truth Commission. If there is no objection, may I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly, without setting a precedent, to invite those speakers to make statements at this meeting?

In accordance with the decision just taken, I now invite the Assembly to view the pre-recorded statement of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In accordance with the decision just taken, I now invite the Assembly to view the pre-recorded statement of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

In accordance with the decision just taken, I now invite the Assembly to view the pre-recorded statement of the Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In accordance with the decision just taken, I now invite the Assembly to view the pre-recorded statement of the Commissioner for the Colombian Truth Commission.

Allow me, on behalf of the Group of African States, to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this event to mark this day on the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The African Group reaffirms the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, whose purpose is to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction. We affirm the need for us all to resolve to adopt all measures necessary to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestations, and to prevent and combat racist doctrines and practices in order to promote understanding between races and to build an international community free from all forms of racial segregation and racial discrimination. Indeed, we are convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is false, morally condemnable and socially unjust, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere across the globe. We are disappointed and alarmed at the fact that manifestations of racial discrimination still exist in some parts of the world based on beliefs in racial superiority or hatred and on policies of apartheid, segregation or separation. Last year, the United Nations and the international community celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the adoption of the landmark blueprint Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. We hail that achieved milestone and the successful previous reviews of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, including all efforts intended to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We reiterate that the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action embodies the firm commitment of the international community to tackle racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels. We recognize that racism is a global concern and that tackling it should be a universal effort by us all. In Durban in 2001, Member States, by adopting the Declaration and Programme of Action by consensus, agreed to justice, development, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. They committed themselves collectively and individually to implementing the associated road map, which illustrates how the international community will follow up on those commitments to prevent future occurrences of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to accelerate the momentum to make the fight against that scourge a reality. We are pleased with those Governments that have, since the landmark adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted progressive legislative and administrative measures to effectively combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on any basis. More importantly, we thank all that appreciate and respect knowledge of people of African descent, including by recognizing and promoting their culture, heritage and their development contribution in their economies and to humankind as a whole. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action emphasizes the importance of preventive and concerted action, especially in the field of education and awareness-raising. We are convinced that quality education, the elimination of illiteracy and access to free primary education for all are necessary and not an option. Education contributes to more inclusive societies, equity and stable and harmonious relations and friendships among nations and peoples, and it promotes a culture of peace, mutual understanding, solidarity, social justice and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms. We realize that while globalization offers great opportunities in development, its benefits are unevenly shared while its costs are unevenly distributed. We appeal for the prevention and mitigation of the negative effects of globalization. Those effects aggravate, among other things, poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, cultural homogenization and economic disparities within and between States. We express the need to maximize the benefits of globalization through, inter alia, the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation to increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable development, in line with the right to development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. The 2030 Agenda envisages a world of universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination; and of respect for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity, which sets the principles for pursuing those goals. We are of the view that Governments should reinforce protection against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia by ensuring that all persons have access to effective and adequate remedies and enjoy the right to seek from competent national tribunals and other national institutions just and adequate reparation and satisfaction for any damage resulting from such discrimination. We believe that reparations for slavery and colonialism include not only accountability for historic wrongs but also the eradication of the scars of the racial inequality, subordination and discrimination that were built under slavery, apartheid and colonialism. In concluding, the African Group reaffirms its commitment in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We call on all our partners and the international community to find ways to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including pooling our efforts to fully achieve the 2030 Agenda eight years before its expiry. It is important to fight that scourge together, given the economic inequalities and poverty across countries and regions globally. Only through our concerted and sustained efforts will we be able to achieve a shared future, based on our common humanity, if globalization is fully inclusive of and equitable for us all.

It is my distinct honour to speak on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group as Chair for the month of March. Allow me to convey our appreciation to you, Mr. President, for having convened this special meeting to commemorate and mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We recognize the importance of culture as a driver of sustainable development, as stated in the report of UNESCO and resolution 76/226. The theme is certainly appropriate and timely, as we are still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the rising frequency of natural disasters and spiralling conflict. Racism is not a new phenomenon; however, the COVID pandemic has exacerbated discrimination among and within countries. We have witnessed an alarming surge in hostility and hate crimes against people of Asian descent, people of African descent and in particular against women, children and older persons. That has been further amplified by misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and racist remarks. The Asia-Pacific region consists of 55 countries representing 56 per cent of the total global population. Hosting some of the largest and smallest countries of the world, the region is the most diverse in terms of ethnicity, language, religion and culture. Cultural diversity is a defining characteristic of our societies; combating the instrumentalization of culture for divisive purposes is central to sustaining peaceful and inclusive societies. The safeguarding of cultural heritage, pluralism and diversity is essential for a more stable and peaceful world. Upholding individual and cultural rights is paramount to sustaining equity in societies. We are ready to work with others in addressing existing national and international systemic discrimination by implementing the various resolutions aimed at a democratic and equitable international global order. We welcome the establishment of an international independent expert mechanism aimed at furthering transformative change for racial justice and equality in the context of law enforcement globally, to investigate the responses of Governments to peaceful anti-racism protests and all violations of international human rights law and to contribute to accountability and redress for victims. We condemn all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that result in hate speech, hate crimes, violence and hostility, and we reaffirm our commitment to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which provide a comprehensive framework that is important to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We believe that the values enunciated in the Declaration and Programme of Action on the culture of peace are of momentous importance in that regard. To conclude, the Asia-Pacific Group will remain steadfast in our efforts to implement the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as we work towards a future that celebrates cultural inclusion and diversity.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC). We express our deep appreciation to the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, for having convened this commemorative plenary meeting to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We also thank the high-level speakers for their participation in this morning’s meeting. Today we come together to reflect a simple and universal truth: all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Although that fundamental truth should be a reality for all, millions of people across the world continue to face the harsh phenomena of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. While some progress has been made, the scourge of racism, discrimination, exclusion and hate speech continues to affect our societies. It is present in the discrimination suffered by people of African descent; in the injustices against indigenous peoples; in the xenophobia experienced by migrants and refugees; and in the exclusion faced by persons with disabilities. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated discrimination against minorities and has further exposed the structural discrimination suffered by the most vulnerable groups in our societies, particularly, of course, by those living in poverty. Racism and discrimination are ever-present in acts of hatred based on religion or belief. Racial discrimination is at the heart of the repugnant views of white supremacists and other extremist groups. We are alarmed at the spread in many parts of the world of various racist extremist movements based on ideologies that fuel racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Centuries of colonialism and enslavement have cast a long shadow; however, racial discrimination is not a static issue but continually takes on new forms. Some of those new forms of discrimination are reflected in the bias integrated into algorithms and artificial intelligence. We must prevent new technological designs and developments from replicating discrimination and encoding it into new domains. New technologies must be vehicles for inclusion and tolerance, not exclusion and hate. Women and girls are disproportionally affected by discrimination and experience it on multiple fronts. The combination of racial and gender discrimination and violence is just one component of the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women. In that regard, GRULAC members believe that the United Nations and the wider international community must accelerate efforts to eliminate sexual and gender- based violence and redouble efforts to achieve gender equality and the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls and their empowerment in all spheres. That includes the removal of all legal, social, cultural and economic barriers to the empowerment of women. The fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance is a condition sine qua non to leave no one behind and to advance sustainable development. In that endeavour, the protection of all human rights is vital. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are important instruments to achieve those ends. We would recall the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and reaffirm the need to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which sets out comprehensive measures for combating all the scourges of racism. We recognize the importance of prevention, especially in the field of education. We must invest in young people, who will shape the future of our societies. We reaffirm our support for the recent establishment of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, as well as for the International Decade for People of African Descent and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. We highlight the importance of advancing the elaboration of a draft United Nations declaration on the promotion of the human rights of people of African descent as a key deliverable of the programme of activities of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic knows no borders. It affects us all but hits the most vulnerable the hardest. We reiterate our call to ensure equitable access to vaccines. Latin America and the Caribbean is a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multilingual region. The diversity of the peoples of our region is our greatest strength and source of pride. Human diversity is a source of wealth, not a threat. Respecting human diversity is vital to the realization of the principle that guides the work of the Organization: all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. With today´s commemoration, we renew our commitment and call on all States to act against racism, at all times and in all places. Failing that, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance will permeate our norms and institutions, to the detriment of humanity. Their elimination must be a priority in the work of the Organization. Systemic racism needs a systemic response.

We have just heard that our colleague and friend, Jim Kelly, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland, suddenly passed away last night. Allow me therefore to express our sincere condolences to our colleagues at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. (spoke in French) I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Today’s commemoration serves as an important reminder that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are ingrained in all societies across the globe. We fully agree with the Secretary- General that racism is a deeply rooted global evil, causing pervasive and durable harm. It is undeniable that racism and racial discrimination are a major challenge for all countries in the world. The ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and exposed the devastating extent and impact of racism and its structural forms on persons belonging to ethnic, racial, and religious minorities within societies across the globe. That is particularly true for persons in vulnerable situations, who are frequently exposed to compounded risks. We are committed to speaking out against and unequivocally condemning racism, whenever it occurs. We must stand in solidarity with the victims of racism, pursue full accountability and continue to dismantle the structures that enable racism to flourish. We must categorically reject all forms of incitement to violence, harassment and hate speech, both online and offline. We must be guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and uphold the core principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. (spoke in English) To achieve that aim, it is critical that we renew our commitment to the full and effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). This landmark Convention was adopted over 55 years ago and remains as relevant as ever. ICERD is the central international instrument to combat racial discrimination worldwide. As States parties, we have the obligation to move forward in making the Convention’s goal a reality. We are committed to help creating a world free of all forms of racial discrimination. We call for the universal ratification of this crucial Convention and recognize the important work of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in monitoring the effective implementation of the Convention by engaging in constructive dialogue with State parties, issuing country-specific recommendations and producing general comments. We also support the important work of the United Nations Special Procedures to that end, including the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues. We take note that the General Assembly established the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, and we look forward to seeing how it could contribute to the ICERD implementation. Today’s commemoration is also an opportunity to highlight the important role of young persons worldwide who are at the forefront of the fight against racism. Over the past year, people around the globe, overwhelmingly young persons, have taken to the streets and social media to protest racism and to push for progressive action. We owe it to them and future generations to build more inclusive and just societies that embrace respect and diversity. It is critical that we remain vigilant and address the root causes of racial inequality, protect persons belonging to marginalized and vulnerable groups, redouble our efforts to counter extremists groups and take concrete actions to prevent, combat and eradicate racism.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening us here to mark this important International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. I also thank the Secretary-General for joining us today in this important meeting. I just now left the Security Council, where I learned of the passing of our Irish colleague, Jim Kelly. We held him in very high esteem, and we will miss him in our midst. I send my sincere condolences to the Irish Mission. Last year, I told the General Assembly about my own personal experiences with racism. And I spoke about the Atlanta spa shootings that had just happened, where six Asian women were killed. We are now marking the one-year anniversary of that tragic event — and still, anti-Asian racism and racism of all kinds continue to rise. Just this week, 30 minutes north of here, Yonkers police officials say a man hit a woman in the head 125 times because she was Asian. He is being charged with attempted murder. This anti-Asian bias has been growing all over the world since the pandemic, and it must stop. We have seen a similarly horrific rise in hate crimes against Black and brown people in the United States. Antisemitism is also on the rise. More than one third of American Jews say that they have been verbally or physically assaulted over the past five years simply because they are Jewish. In Europe, 90 per cent of Jews feel that antisemitism has increased in their country. More than one in three have considered emigrating to escape that concern. The sad truth is that racism begets more racism. We must stop this trend in its tracks. Youth activists and movements on the ground are on the front lines of this effort and are confronting the mounting menace of racism in countries around the globe. In the summer of 2020, Black Lives Matter ignited protests and catalysed change in countries around the world, from the United Kingdom to Colombia, from France to New Zealand. In Nigeria, a similarly decentralized social movement, End SARS, has been calling for accountability of abuses and respect for Black lives. End SARS and Black Lives Matter activists have been working together, supporting each other, and driving us toward change. There is the quilombo movement in Brazil, where Black Brazilians are creating spaces to celebrate their identity. There are the aboriginals pushing for justice in Australia, the Dalit farmers seeking to shed the yolk of the caste system in India. And we cannot forget the plight of Rohingya in Burma or Uyghurs in China, and members of other racial and ethnic groups, who are brutally oppressed simply because of who they are or what they believe. What the members of all these global movements and so many others for racial justice understand is that our differences are our source of strength. As President Biden said, “Our country’s greatest strength is and always has been our diversity.” That is why President Biden has made advancing racial equality and combating systemic racism a core priority of his Administration, signing four executive actions as soon as he took office. And it is why, this past year, he directed historic investments toward Black and brown communities, including the funds and resources Vice President Harris announced this week for historically black colleges and universities that recently experienced bomb threats. The powerful notion that diversity is a strength holds true for communities and countries everywhere. Growing up, I faced adversity. But that ultimately made me stronger. And as I made my way through life, I found I could flex my “adversity muscles”. I remembered how I dealt with adversity in the past, and it helped me move forward stronger and more determined. It is time for the world to flex its “adversity muscles” too. Racism is a global problem and a local problem, but that also means that we can be united, together, in our fight against it. We have allies in this fight everywhere in the world. And that is the power of our international system. That is where the United Nations comes into play. As Ralph Bunche said in his Nobel Prize for Peace speech, “[t]he United Nations exists not merely to preserve the peace but also to make change — even radical change — possible without violent upheaval.” That is why the United States strongly supported the establishment of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. It is why we strongly supported the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement. And it is why we must support real and radical change within the United Nations to eliminate racism and discrimination in all of its forms. The United Nations is uniquely poised to galvanize change. This should be the place where we expose the racial discrimination endemic to our societies and to the world. This should be the venue where we recognize our shared humanity and work to remove the rot of racism from our foundations. And today, right now, right here, is the time to harness the energy, optimism and activism of the next generation and to do everything in our power to leave them with a less hateful, more hopeful world.

The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. May I remind members that statements made in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and 5 minutes for the second intervention and should be made by representatives from their seats. I call on the representative of China.

China wishes to exercise its right of reply in response to the statement made by the United States. Today, the General Assembly is holding a commemorative meeting. Member States agreed to invite representatives of the host country to speak alongside the representatives of regional groups as a gesture of respect for the host country. However, the United States, as host country, has no regard for its own credibility, as it has gone as far as using this commemorative meeting to launch political attacks accusing and smearing China and many other countries with respect to our internal affairs. I would like to say that acting in that manner makes a sad mockery of the status of the United States as host country. We have every reason to question the sense in arranging for the United States to make such a statement. The United States has been alleging that there is genocide and human rights violations in Xinjiang, China. That is an outright lie — the lie of the century — and a vicious political scam, orchestrated and staged by none other than the United States. China firmly opposes and sternly rejects that allegation. Truth will surely give the United States and its malicious and blind followers a resounding slap in the face. Over the past 60 years, Xinjiang’s total economic volume increased by a factor of 160 and its per capita gross domestic product increased by a factor of 30. The Uyghurs population expanded from 2.2 million to about 12 million and their average life expectancy increased from 30 years to 74.7 years. Has the United States ever seen such a “genocide” and human rights violations? What is genocide? The United States knows it best. Since its founding, the United States Government has developed policies to slaughter and plunder the American Indians in an intentional and systematic way. As a result, the American Indian population was decimated, going from 5 million in 1492 to 250,000 at the beginning of the twentieth century. That constitutes an original sin of history that the United States cannot shake off. Such a genocide did not take place in Xinjiang, China, but rather right here, on the land beneath the seat of the United Nations. What is racial discrimination? A Lancet report indicates that between 1980 and 2018 some 30,800 people in the United States died from police brutality, with African Americans 3.5 times more likely to die than their white peers. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease pandemic, anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States have been surging, instigated by United States politicians. This Monday, a 67-year-old Asian woman was attacked in New York, beaten 125 times on the face and headed, stomped on seven times and verbally abused. In February, a Chinese woman was stabbed to death in her home. In January, an Asian woman was pushed off the rails and died. Hate crimes against people of Asian ethnicity in New York city jumped 361 per cent in 2021, compared to 2020. Even the United States representative admitted that this is racial discrimination soaked in blood. May I ask the United States representative when the American Indians will be given an explanation. When will the United States be able to give the ethnic minorities a real sense of fairness and justice? When will the United States ratify the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women? When will the United States offer genuine safety and protection to Asian women who are victims of hatred and violence? I would like to advise the United States to put away its arrogance and prejudice, abandon double standards and stop dictating to other countries before it is too late. We all know very well what the human rights situation is like in the United States. I hope that the United States will come around to facing up to its mistakes and correct them, rather than knowingly leaving them be.

The Assembly has concluded its commemorative meeting to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 72.

Members will recall that the Assembly, by its resolution 67/203 of 21 December 2012, decided to establish the 10-member Board, consisting of two members from each United Nations regional group. Members will also recall that the Assembly, by its resolution 69/214, of 19 December 2014, decided that the duration of subsequent terms for members of the Board shall continue to be two years, starting on 16 September of every second year, and that the United Nations regional groups may renominate one of their existing two members of the Board for one consecutive term, while ensuring that no Member State may be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms and taking into account the importance of ensuring continuity and rotation in the work of the Board. In that regard, members will further recall that the Assembly, at its sixty-first plenary meeting on 15 March, appointed six members, namely Costa Rica, Croatia, Kuwait, Mauritius, Senegal, Sweden and the United States of America, to the Board of the 10-year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, for a term beginning on 15 March 2022 and ending on 14 March 2024, in accordance with the Assembly’s decision during the meeting and taking into account resolution 69/214. At the meeting, members were also reminded that one vacancy remained to be filled from among the Asia-Pacific States for a term beginning on the date of appointment and expiring on 14 March 2024. Subsequently, I was informed by the Secretariat that the candidature of Pakistan for Board membership from the Group of Asia-Pacific States should also have been considered at that same meeting. May I take it that the General Assembly also wishes to appoint Pakistan as a member of the Board of the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns for a term beginning on 18 March 2022 and ending on 14 March 2024?

Having appointed the one remaining member from the Group of Asia-Pacific States, I would like to remind members that one member from the Group of Eastern European States and one member from the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States remain to be appointed. The appointment of those members will be made at a later stage to be announced. Their term will begin on the date of their appointment and expire on 14 March 2024. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub item (h) of agenda item 117. Expression of condolences

We have also just heard of the sad and untimely demise of Ambassador Jim Kelly, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations. Jim was a great colleague and a talented diplomat. We will miss him dearly. Our deepest condolences to his wife and daughters, the rest of his family, and to all members of the General Assembly and our dear colleagues at the Irish Mission. May he rest in peace.