Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination
Statement delivered by Malika Aït-Mohamed Parent, Head, Principles and Values Department, International Federation, to the 58th Session of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva
22 March 2002



Chair,

I should first like briefly to greet Mrs Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to salute all her efforts in the past five years in the context of her mission. We regret the announcement of her departure this autumn. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is convinced that Mrs Robinson will continue to work for Human Rights after completing her mandate.

Our International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies works in the framework of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In this regard we wish to support the position presented by the ICRC.

"Wrongdoing motivated by racism and racial discrimination taints our common history. Descendants of victims, perpetrators or spectators - we all share that past. It is our common duty to look back, to learn from history, so that we never forget". The International Federation representative at the Conference in Durban began his address with these words.

Chair,

"Our fight against discrimination is as old as the red cross idea. It is [moreover] one of our Fundamental Principles: the principle of Impartiality. We tolerate no discrimination. Not in our work, nor within our own ranks." (excerpt from the address by the International Federation representative at the Durban Conference).

The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, Universality) and the humanitarian values provide a solid basis for work to alleviate tension, combat discrimination and have an impact not only on vulnerable persons but on the public as a whole.

In this context I recall that, at the 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (held in Geneva from 31 October to 6 November 1999), States parties to the Geneva Conventions and National Societies pledged to "cooperate and take initiatives to promote tolerance, non-violence in the community and respect for cultural diversity".

Several outbreaks of violence in 2001 illustrated, however, how fragile the Principle of Humanity is. These and other examples of intolerance such as racism and exclusion of persons with HIV/AIDS all over the world show how much the values at the heart of Red Cross and Red Crescent action are constantly threatened.

In response to the rise in discrimination and violence in the wake of the events on September 11, in particular against minorities, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies decided to step up its action already planned to combat this critical problem of discrimination by launching this year a "Global Initiative for Local Action and Programmes to reduce discrimination and violence in the community".

• Five Regional Actions are thus being initiated this year in North Africa, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia and the Gulf States.
  
  
• Communities of Practices are furthermore being developed to facilitate the sharing of experience and good practices to combat discrimination, both within the Federation network and with external partners.
  
  Some National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have already indicated to us their concerns, their programmes or their interest in participating in these Communities of Practices. I shall mention, as examples, the ones in the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia Herzogovina, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, France, Guatemala, Malawi, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Sierra Leone, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom.

This "Global Initiative for Local Action and Programmes to reduce discrimination and violence in the community" involves a number of areas (linked to problems such as AIDS, asylum seekers, refugees and migrants) over several years and is coordinated at the local and community levels, i.e. where such action can have a real, lasting impact.
The main actors in these programmes, within the 178 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, serving their respective communities are, in fact, the 97 million volunteers who are active daily all over the world.

Chair,

The fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination requires the involvement of every single one of us.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies contributes and wishes to strengthen its concrete contribution, in its desire to alleviate human suffering, in line with its mission up to the year 2010, namely to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.

Thank you.