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STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. R.M. MARTY M. NATALEGAWA MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA ON BEHALF OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC GROUP

AT THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO COMMEMORATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE DURBAN DECLARATION AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION

NEW YORK, 22 SEPTEMBER 2011
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBliC OF INDONESIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS 325 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016· Tel. (212) 972-8333 · Fax. (212) 972-9780 www.indonesiamission-ny.org email: ptri@indonesiamission-ny.org

Mr. President, Distinguished Heads of States! Governments, Honorable delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group, allow me to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your election to chair this High Level Meeting. We are confident that under your able guidance, and with your vast experience, we will achieve substantive results in our work here today. I wish also to commend the co-facilitators and the experts who have deliberated over, and negotiated the scope, modalities, format and organization of this High Level Meeting, as well as the political declaration that will be the outcome product of this event. I am confident that the text that we will adopt has been drafted in a balanced manner to reflect our many common concerns in the areas of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Mr. President, Today we convene in the august halls of the United Nations to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. It was ten years ago this year that we gathered in South Africa at the historic World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, not merely as Governments but as the peoples of the world. The call we made from that World Conference to the peoples of the world was that we must fight against these prejudices with the greatest determination and perseverance, because they are a sad blight to our common humanity. The message from the World Conference against Racism was crystal clear. The struggle against racism is a struggle for human rights, dignity and the eradication of poverty. The fact that we adopted a Declaration and a Programme of Action underscored the truth that if we have the political will to succeed, we can find consensus on all issues. As a follow up, in 2009, we met again at the Durban Review Conference in Geneva to take stock of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and see how far we had gone in the battle against racism in all its manifestations. Collectively, we resolved to reinvigorate the political commitment of Member States to pursue the anti-racism agenda in the face of

emerging challenges, encapsulated in the Outcome Document of the Review Conference. Mr. President, A decade has passed, we must now ask ourselves whether we have truly unified our efforts to address the situation of the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance identified in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
It is therefore a matter of great concern, that despite the efforts of many

groups and many nations; despite ample evidence of racism's terrible toll; racism still persists. That is why the eyes of the world - especially the eyes of victims - are again upon us today. We speak of finding a new unity, as the times demand. Therefore there must be a concerted effort by all of us particularly since new forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to emerge. This is due to our joint realization that discrimination does not go away by itself. It must be seriously addressed. Otherwise it can become a cause of social unrest and violence. We must therefore resolve to pursue our common goal of ensuring in all societies the effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the victims of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia and related intolerance. Mr. President, History is replete with terrible wrongs inflicted through lack of respect for the equality of human beings. This is manifested in colonialism and other wars of conquest, slavery, genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and other atrocities. Despite a victory over apartheid, there nevertheless remains a plethora of discriminatory laws and practices which affect the lives of whole communities in many parts of the world. We share the view that slavery, slave trading, colonialism and apartheid are major historical sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance. These past practices and policies are manifest today in the form of poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization and socio-economic exclusion that have deeply affected developing countries over the years.

Mr. President,
It is our profound belief that with the mobilization of political will at the national, regional and international levels to effectively implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as the Outcome Documents of the Durban Review Conference, by our governments in concert with all stakeholders inter alia the civil society, and the private sector, will we be able to truly combat and curb the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in all spheres of life and in all parts of the world, including all those under foreign occupation.

In conclusion, Mr. President, we proclaim our commitment and strong determination to make the fight against all forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the protection of the victims thereof, a high priority for our respective countries. Thank you.