Statement contributed by Katrien Beeckman, Head, Principles and Values Department, to the World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related intolerance, in Geneva
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is taking the floor to respond to the agenda’s invitation to outline best practices which can make a strong contribution to the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
We have had the honour to speak during preparatory sessions leading to this conference, noting that work against these forms of discrimination has been a hallmark of Red Cross and Red Crescent work from the earliest days of our Movement. The Fundamental Principle of Impartiality is a categorical statement of this positioning, and it underpins our work in all programs, in all parts of the world.
Dissemination of the Fundamental Principles is a key element in our work to fight racism and the other evils within our agenda at this important Conference. But what separates the Red Cross and Red Crescent from a lot of the other speakers in this debate is our concentration on work at the community level.
Our appreciation of needs is that there must be a close and consistent collaboration between governments and communities if practical and sustainable action is to be taken to promote tolerance, fight against racism and xenophobia and to achieve the objectives of the Durban Conference.
We have sought to approach this from two angles. The first is through the development of community-based programs everywhere in the world. The second springs from that, and involves the partnerships with governments which Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are uniquely placed to initiate from their roles as auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field.
Time does not allow a deep exploration of these issues today, but our website, http://www.ifrc.org/what/values/discrimination/index.asp includes a wealth of information on the IFRC Reducing Discrimination Initiative and the activities undertaken by National Societies around the world.
I will, however, mention some now because of the agenda’s request for the sharing of best practice experience in this debate.
The Burundi Red Cross Society has engaged in a three year process to establish itself in all units in all villages in Burundi. The objective is to ensure that vital services are provided to all groups in the village communities by a volunteer force built from all ethnic and other groups in those communities, without any form of discrimination and in an atmosphere of friendship and welcomed cooperation.
The Pakistan Red Crescent Society has special projects for youth from different parts of the country and different social, religious and ethnic backgrounds. The aim is to build a strong foundation among the country’s youth of people dedicated to friendship and tolerance and the fight against all forms of discrimination. The youth learn through this that the provision of vital health, hygiene, disaster management and other services can only be effective for any section of the community if the outreach and involvement brings everyone together as equals.
The Pakistan Red Crescent entitles this program “Together for Humanity”, using the rubric chosen for the whole Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement at this time.
The Participatory Community Development Program of the Bulgarian Red Cross is explained by its own title, but I mention it today because it is an example of the mainstreaming of work for tolerance and against discrimination. All our programs, like this one, are designed to remove real or potential isolation or marginalisation experienced by minorities, migrants, children from social institutions and others who could be the subject of racism, discrimination or intolerance.
Our experience, in short, is that mainstreaming work against discrimination into all other activities is essential. Without this, there is unlikely to be sufficient or sustainable community buy-in into the anti-discrimination work itself. With that mainstreaming, on the other hand, people learn that their own prosperity and future development will be enhanced significantly by the strengthening of communities free from any form of discrimination.
This is why it is also important that Governments should recognise that healthy communities, in this sense as well, are critical to national economic priorities. If there is one message we should add to those delivered in Durban, it is that one of the weapons which should be used to combat the present economic and financial crisis should be positive action to sustain community strength.
This, if anything, is another important reason for enhancing and strengthening programs against discrimination at this time.
Our next steps will be to analyse the outcome of this important conference with a view to advising our National Society members of the interactions which will now be available to them as auxiliaries and to their volunteers as community program-shapers actors.
We trust that there will be fresh opportunities for this interaction, and new ways found to combat a challenge which still, sadly, exists as a threat to development and dignity in every country.