I Please check againstdelivery Statement By SenatorRazina Alam Delegation Of Pakistan on agendaitem Elimination of Racism,Racial Discrimination, Xenophobiaand RelatedIntolerance session at the Third Committeeof the 62"d of the United NationsGeneralAssemblv 7 November 2007 Statementby Pakistan on behalf of the G77 and China on Elimination of Racism. Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance Chairperson I have the honour to speakon behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We thank the Secretary Generalfor his reportson this agendaitem. We also thank Mr. Doudou Diene, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance for his presentation the Committeetoday. in We are pleased to note that Governmentshave taken various important stepsat the national level to combatracism, racial discrimination,xenophobiaand related intolerance. The increased number of communications from Member States, UN bodies and international and regional organizations on efforts to assessment progress eliminateracismwould allow for a more comprehensive of in this regard. Chairperson Despite the convening of the three United Nations World Conferences and progressachievedon many againstRacism in all its forms and manifestations fronts, much more remains to be done to eliminate the scourgeof racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.The Special Rapporteur on in contemporary forms of racism has made some important observations his report (N621306)which require our urgent attention: One: The growing trend of physicalviolencetargetingmembersof ethnic, cultural and religious communities and the democratic legitimization of racism by some political partiesrepresent threatto democracyand human rights. a Two: The decline in political and ethical determinationto combat racism and discriminationis an alarming feature.Notably, the lack of political will to advance agendaas expressedin the Durban the global anti-racism,anti-discrimination and Programme of Action continues to hamper the effective Declaration combatingof racism. Third: The new battlegroundsin the struggle against discrimination- identity value systems,imagesand perceptions-require that legal strategies to constructs, by combatracism be accompanied an ethical and cultural strategyto identiff and of of combatthe root causes old and new manifestations racism and xenophobia. Fourth: Specific and urgent policies are required to combat racism in sportsand of resurgence racism and xenophobiain protectingthe human rights of immigrants by as and asylum seekers guaranteed the relevantinternationalinstruments. The Group of 77 and China has noted with concern all the contemporary manifestationsof racism as encapsulatedin the recent reports of the Special Rapporteuron contemporaryforms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. We endorse these reports and call upon States to implement the recommendationsof the Special Rapporteur which encourage States to adopt measures (legislative, administrative and judicial) to promote human dignity and equality. peacefuland harmoniousco-existence, Chairperson The upsurge in intolerancefollowing the events of 11 September2001 is It that the fight againstterrorismhas also a worrisome phenomenon. is regrettable with Islam, which has given rise to racial and religious intolerance. been equated This has manifesteditself in new forms of discriminationand xenophobiaagainst Muslims and Arab peoples. Within this political climate and under the guise of fighting terrorism, we as have witnessedreligious intolerancemasquerading freedom of expressionand an assaulton human rights. The Group of 77 and China therefore calls upon the internationalcommunity to make all efforts to combat all forms of defamationof remainsa religions.The Group also believesthat while freedom of expression valuablecomponentof a democraticsociety,its exerciseshould not infringe on the rights of others. Chairperson In view of the current global challengethat racism and racial discrimination pose, it is time for a decisive action. The commitment of each State to combat racism and its attendantills is now a matter of priority. The G77 and China welcomes the recent decision of the Human Rights Council to commence the process of the elaboration of the complementary standardsto the ICERD by February 2008. We encouragethat this processbe finalised at the earliestpossibleopportunity.In this regard,we look forward to the General Assembly adopting the requisite legal instruments strengtheningand updating the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.It is important for the United Nations to ensurethat its protection and of regime for the victims of all the scourges racism is appropriatelyenhanced for victims are maximised. that remedies The G77 and China welcomesthe GeneralAssembly'sdecisionthroughits resolution 6Ill49 of December 2006 to convenethe Durban Review Conference in 2009. We are pleasedwith the on-going preparationsfor this important global event. We wish to see the widest possible participation by all the relevant stakeholders this important Conference. in The G77 and China invites all the Regional Groups to convenetheir own Regional Preparatory Conferenceswhose outcomes should help to enrich the OutcomeDocument of the Review Conference. Chairperson We hope that all the regionswilljoin in our commonvision that the time to declareour war on racism is now. The humanrace cannotafford to standby whilst racism, racial discrimination, Xenophobia and related intolerance continue unabated.The Durban commitments provide an action plan to eliminate these scourges.We must all take resolute action, individually and collectively, to intensif' our concrete efforts against racism, racial; discrimination, xenophobia and relatedintolerance. I thank you.