AKEL on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

 

 

21 March 2024, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

 

Decades after the adoption of Resolution 2142(1966) by the United Nations General Assembly, which established 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, race discriminations and racism in their various forms, continue to threaten the lives and limit the opportunities of billions of people. Despite the fact that since then a strong legislative framework has been established internationally and many anti-racist laws and practices have indeed been adopted by the states of the international community, regrettably the inhumane ideological concept of so-called “racial superiority” has not been eradicated. On the contrary, the dangerous rise of far-right and neo-fascist formations, as well as the increasing adherence of powerful states to neo-colonial policies, signal the need to intensify the defence of equal human rights for all people.

 

Wars, civil conflicts, the multifaceted exploitation of the developing world and the climate crisis as an offshoot of an international order in decline, exacerbating contradictions and increasing the unequal treatment of millions of people pushing them to migrate and become displaced persons and refugees. As a result, people are confronted with further impoverishment, modern forms of slavery and exploitation, marginalization and exclusion, with social and institutional racism that feeds right-wing and far-right governments with their policies and intolerant rhetoric.

 

The inhumane ideological concepts that are being cultivated by the far-right Netanyahu government as it engages in the genocide of the Palestinians and the deprivation of all their human rights, as well as the hypocritical attitude of numerous governments, are the most horrific proof of the tragic consequences of racism for

 

humanity.

 

In Cyprus, the current government, despite the change in style and rhetoric, is unable to implement policies other than those applied by the previous one. Despite its pledges, it hasnt removed the barbed wire along the buffer zone and continues to handle immigration/refugee issues only through repression, deportations and the mechanized examination of asylum applications.

 

It has refused to provide in the legislation for the newly-established Deputy Ministry for Migration and Asylum structures and functions that would promote the smooth inclusion and integration of immigrants and refugees into Cypriot society.

 

It has agreed with the continued implementation of the Dublin system and the adoption of the New EU Pact, which does not adopt the principle of solidarity between member states and continues to support the illegal pushbacks at sea that have demonstrably led to the tragic end of the lives of thousands people.

 

The racist pogroms carried out in Chloraka and Limassol just a few months ago and the non-existent reflexes demonstrated by the government, the responsible Ministers and the leadership of the Police Force have unfortunately showed not only deficiencies, but also the extent of institutional racism that is being perpetuated in Cyprus. It was also expressed in the indifference shown by the authorities for the bomb attack on the offices of KISA, but also by the racist attacks waged against our Turkish Cypriot compatriots.

 

AKEL in confronting these legally deplorable, morally groundless and socially dangerous policies, which stigmatize our society and turn us back to the times of obscurantism and intolerance, will continue to place people at the centre of its policies and actions.

 

AKEL will tirelessly and unwaveringly continue, together with every progressive force at a local, all-European and international level, to struggle against every dogma espousing “racial superiority”, for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and the strengthening of equality and the absolute respect for the human rights of all people in public and private life.