International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

 

 

 

           

           AKEL C.C. Press Office, 20th March 2015, Nicosia

21st March has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day For the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in an effort to raise humanity’s awareness in favor of the struggle to combat racism, xenophobia and intolerance. This day was established in memory of the struggle against the Apartheid laws in 1966, when the police of the then racist government of South Africa murdered in cold blood more than 70 students.

 

Today racism is assuming new dimensions. Unfortunately, instead of declining, we observe more and more racist and fascist elements surfacing in various parts of the world, including Cyprus. In Europe extreme right and neo-fascist parties are brandishing the scapegoat of foreigners for political gain, hiding the real causes of increased immigration and their economic and political nature, the poverty, war and exploitation. In developed countries they relying on anti-immigrant rhetoric, racist and fascist forces are concealing their ideology of hate.

 

In times of crisis and mass unemployment, as the one we are experiencing today in our country too, these forces spread racist and ultra-right behaviour throughout society, in reality exploiting racism to hide the real culprit of poverty and unemployment which is none other than the exploitative system itself and not immigrants who are even greater victims of exploitation. Racism is cultivated by the forces claiming that if we provide food and shelter for migrants we will become a centre of attraction for them. Deliberately choosing not to say that immigrants themselves are victims of wars, imperialist interventions, as well as people who emigrate out of the need to survive as did many Cypriots in the times of great poverty, but also today when Cypriots are looking for a job abroad.

 

The repressive measures being promoted by the EU and Member State governments in the name of stamping out illegal migration or reducing the flow of migration violate fundamental human rights. Rather than terminating the imperialist interventions and elaborating an economic solidarity plan for countries outside Europe, EU policy restricts itself mainly to measures to guard and repress. The Cypriot people, who for 41 years are suffering from the violation and suppression of its human rights as a result of the invasion and occupation of our country, must resist the phenomena of racism and nationalism by defending universal principles and values.

 

On the occasion of 21st March, AKEL declares that it is fully committed to the struggle against all policies and practices that promote or give cover to racism and nationalism, because we know very well from our own experience their inhuman and cruel content. AKEL supports:

 

• The fight to isolate racist and fascist organizations,

 

• The conversion of immigration detention centres into human and dignified, open and public reception and accommodation halls of a temporary character for immigrants,

 

• State care for unaccompanied children, refugees, asylum seekers, pregnant women, mothers and children,

 

• Equal access to public free education, health care for all immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers,

 

• Ensuring equal labour insurance and social rights for all working people without them being exploited in order to serve economic and other interests and being used as a threat to domestic workers gains,

 

• The unity of working people regardless of race, colour, language and religion,

 

• The facilitation based on equal rights of the reuniting of families.

 

As AKEL, we assure that we will continue fighting against racist mentalities and perceptions and strive to eliminate them based on the respect for the human rights of all people including refugees and asylum seekers, ensuring human dignity and social justice.

 

Unfortunately, the government appears indecisive and unable to address the immigration issue and provide real solutions to the problems of various groups of migrants. This has resulted in our country being exposed to daily phenomena of racism that are also due to the handling of government agencies and other institutions.

 

AKEL demands that the state implements in practice a migration policy, with full commitment to the respect of human rights which are guaranteed through International Law.

AKEL calls on Cypriot society to resist and combat inhumane ideologies such as fascism, racism and nationalism.