TOP > Statements and Appeals > HRC structure and NGO participation in HRC

United Nations Human Rights Council Seventh Session
Geneva, 19 March 2008

Review, Rationalization and Improvement of Mandates: Special Rapporteur on the Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Thank you Mr. President. I speak on behalf of the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism.

We welcome this opportunity to present our views on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance during this Review, Rationalization and Improvement process.

It has been widely recognized that combating discrimination and racism is a vital task in the promotion and protection of Human Rights. The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Doudou Diene, has guided this difficult process with his excellent work for 6 years, addressing the widely ranged manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, including Discrimination Based on Work and Decent, with a profound insight and comprehensive manner. We also appreciate his strong encouragement for both states and NGOs to improve the human rights situations, through his constructive recommendations as well as his commitment in follow up to official visits.

Today the international community stands at an important stage, eyeing the Durban Review Conference next year as well as the 40th anniversary of the enforcement of the International Convention of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We expect that this mandate will continue to provide a valuable contribution to the efforts for the elimination of racial discrimination.

Finally, we would like to express our appreciation for the untiring manner in which Mr Diene has worked his mandate, and also to the contribution he has made to our struggle by providing significant intellectual dimensions linked to combationg racism.

We would like to reiterate the critical importance of the mandate of the Special Rapporter on Contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the significant work of the mandate holder. We urge the Human Rights Council to renew and strengthen the mandate.

Thank you Mr. President.

Speaker: Sumie Ogasawara