THE 2016 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was celebrated yesterday. This year’s theme was “Challenges and Achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action — 15 years after”.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) was adopted, and opened for signature and ratification by the United Nations General Assembly in 1965.
ICERD commits members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among races.
It requires its parties to outlaw hate speech and its preamble states that there is “no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice”.
Malaysia has yet to accede to the convention, which has 88 signatories and 177 parties. Recently, a survey by the Centre for a Better Tomorrow revealed that one in three Malaysians has racist tendencies, without realising or admitting it.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) reaffirms its call for the government to accede to ICERD to fulfil Malaysia’s obligations to eliminate racial discrimination in all forms and manifestations, and to secure understanding and respect for the dignity of humans.
Suhakam calls on the government to fulfil its pledge to enact a Racial, Religious and Hate Crimes Act and a National Harmony and Reconciliation Act.
TAN SRI HASMY AGAM,
Chairman, Suhakam