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Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,
13th session 
(Geneva, 5-16 October 2015)



“Thematic discussion on poverty and racism: definitions, approaches and trends”





Statement by Mr. Mutuma Ruteere
United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance





(Geneva, 12 October 2015)

Check against delivery

Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to warmly congratulate this Inter-Governmental Working Group for all the work undertaken since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Plan of Action and present my regrets for not being able to be here in person today.

I would also like to contribute to the discussions of agenda item 8 of this 13th session of the Inter-Governmental Working Group, which is addressing racism and poverty in presenting some of the contributions my mandate has brought forward in this important yet under-documented issue. 

In the report I presented to the General Assembly in November 2013, pursuant to resolution 67/155, I addressed the issue of racism and poverty. I have found that the continued socio-economic vulnerability of minorities is frequently the result of historical legacies, such as the impact of slavery and colonization, systems of inherited status and also formalized and state-sponsored discrimination that for a long time were in place in many parts of the world. These historically created imbalances continue to profoundly affect discriminated groups. In the report, I analyzed the legal and policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, the manifestations of poverty and racism in the areas of economic and social rights such as education, adequate housing, and health care, as well as other rights including the right to work in just conditions, social security, food and water. I then provided an overview of the different discriminated groups affected by poverty and racism, such as afro-descendants, indigenous peoples, Roma and Dalits and migrants before underling some examples of positive measures taken to prevent poverty and discrimination. 

Racial or ethnic minorities continued to be disproportionately affected by poverty, and the lack of education, adequate housing and health care transmits poverty from generation to generation and perpetuates racial prejudices and stereotypes. The complex relationship between racism and discrimination infers that only the guarantee of equality and non-discrimination can redress that imbalance and protect such groups from falling into or being trapped in poverty. In many parts of the world, race and ethnicity continue to be persistent factors and predictors of poverty. 

The multigenerational manifestations of poverty, with successive generations inheriting the disadvantages of their predecessors, means that over the years poverty and deprivation have come to characterize particular racial and ethnic groups. Discrimination based on racial, religious, ethnic, linguistic and also socioeconomic factors exacerbates the vulnerability of those persons and groups. This situation and the lack of participation of groups that are discriminated in the decision-making processes is often the result of historical legacies rooted in long traditions. Discriminatory treatment and practices end up perpetuating the situation of poverty these groups already suffer and encourages exclusion. It is the obligation of Governments to prevent marginalization and to ensure protection as well as to guarantee the enjoyment of human rights for all, including the right to education, the right to adequate housing, the right to health and the right to food and safe water. 

Education remains an important vehicle for freeing racial and ethnic minorities from poverty as it provides them with the skills and opportunities for better livelihoods.  Realizing the right to education for all children and in particular for racial and ethnic minorities should be the one of the cornerstones of the strategies directed at reducing poverty and ending discrimination. 

Vulnerable and marginalized groups disproportionately also face obstacles in accessing health care. Many inequalities in accessing adequate health care are related to social disparities and exclusion, themselves often the result of racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. From a geographical point of view, access to health care is often limited for those living in rural or economically remote areas (where many of the racial and ethnic minorities live) and disparities sometimes result from laws, policies or programs which intentionally or not concentrate services in urban areas.

Similarly, legal insecurity of tenure for poor and marginalized ethnic and racial minorities forces some of the members of those communities to move to urban areas, where the only affordable housing is in informal and slum settlements with substandard housing conditions and the daily risks of eviction. The lack of safe and healthy housing has consequences for the development of children and has a direct link to the vicious cycle of poverty and discrimination. The lack of adequate housing also affects the enjoyment of other human rights, such as the right to work, education, health and social security.

I have found that more than 200 million persons identify themselves as being of African descent. Many of them continue to face pernicious discrimination as part of the legacy of slavery and colonialism that still hinders them from fully participating in the decision-making process. Persons of African descent continue to suffer from discriminatory practices such as inadequate access to housing at various stages of the rental or sale process. Persons of African descent also continue to face difficulties in finding housing, which contributes to their settlement in certain areas, isolated from the cities’ strategic points. This situation enhances the emergence of “ghettos” where essential services are largely inadequate. 

Similarly, indigenous peoples who are part of a worldwide disadvantaged minority, continue to face discriminatory practices deeply rooted in cultural structures and reinforced by industrial development. While they constitute approximately 5 per cent of the world’s population, indigenous peoples represent around one third of the world’s 900 million extremely poor rural people. As a result of geographical isolation and marginalization, indigenous children are less likely to access education in comparison to non-indigenous populations. Some weaknesses of the education system significantly contribute to decreasing enrolment rates, drop-out, illiteracy and social exclusion. The increasing expropriation of indigenous peoples’ lands for economic purposes also reinforces their vulnerability in terms of their right to adequate housing by affecting their ancestral culture, which is based on communal land and resources. 

With an estimated population of 10 to 12 million, the Roma represent one of the most important minority groups in Europe. An unacceptably large percentage of Roma continue to live in poverty and suffer discrimination in virtually all aspects of life, including employment, health care, education, and adequate housing. Discrimination in education can be the result of indirect factors such as the need for official documents proving residency or a birth certificate or the refusal of access due to the lack of vaccinations. 

Similarly, the caste system continues to be the source of discrimination against the Dalits in South Asia who have a low hierarchical status according to tradition and beliefs. Abuses at school by teachers and fellow students such as corporal punishment, verbal abuse, forced “manual scavenging” or injuries reinforce social alienation and drop-out rates. Most of the Dalits live in rural areas, and are often excluded from services only available in urban areas.

Finally, the situation of many migrants remains precarious and calls for closer attention, particularly as many host countries continue to experience economic difficulties. Access to official documents continues to determine the extent to which migrants can enjoy other rights and employment. In various countries, several documents (identity document, residence, birth or medical documents) are a condition for admission of children into school. Migrants in an irregular status often lack these official documents. 

I have also found some good practices and initiatives taken to taken to prevent poverty and discrimination. These include collection of disaggregated data, programmes aimed at increasing education and educational opportunities, laws which protect disadvantaged groups in the labour market, poverty alleviation initiatives, and special measures aimed at enhancing equality between all groups. This year, my report to the GA will be on the need for better data and research to address the problem of racial discrimination and the structural inequalities associated with race and ethnicity. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the GA this year is hinged on the collection and utilization of disaggregated data.  I have also recommended that Member States review and redesign policies and programmes which may have a disproportionate effect on racial or ethnic minorities in view of their socio-economic vulnerability and implement effective measures to improve the access of such groups to civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.

I hope my report will be useful to your discussions and I look forward to be able to interact with you directly in the future.

I thank you for your attention.












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