Address by the South African Foreign
Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to the African Regional Preparatory Meeting for the
World Conference Against Racism and Related Intolerance, Dakar, Senegal, 22 January 2001
Chairperson
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Mary Robinson
Representatives of the Organisation of African Unity
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the President, government and peoples of South
Africa, I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of
Senegal for hosting this historic regional conference. We also wish to register our
sincere appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to our delegation since our
arrival.
As we gather here for the next three days, as a collective
expression of the wishes and dreams of the African people, we must pay homage to those
martyrs who have sacrificed their lives in the cause of our struggle against racism. We
also draw inspiration from the tireless efforts of those who continue to campaign actively
against the scourge of racism.
Chairperson, the road leading to today's important
gathering has been very long and arduous, and indeed many more challenges lie ahead as we
prepare for the Durban conference. At this point, may I take this opportunity, on behalf
of my government, to congratulate His Excellency President of the Republic of Senegal, Mr
Abdoulaye Wade for his inspiring and frank input, and also Ms Robinson for her leadership
and commitment to the fight against racism.
It is indeed appropriate that the 3rd World
Conference Against Racism be held on the African continent. As South Africans, we are very
honoured to have been chosen, among many other deserving nations, to host this world
conference. The South African people appreciate the collective support and efforts by all
Africans and progressive people the world over in our struggle against apartheid and its
eventual defeat.
As we meet here in Dakar, we have to take cognisance of the
cumulative impact imperialism, slavery and colonialism have had on our continent and its
peoples, which continue to perpetuate inequality, underdevelopment, poverty and
exploitation. This historical experience continues to determine our reality today.
Slavery in my view is unpinned by racism. People who take
and treat others as slaves do so because they think that slaves are inferior to them.
Slavery and racism were inter-linked.
In my country racism still exists. It will take strong
mobilisation and a programme of deracialisation of society to eradicate racism.
Unfortunately, in the rest of the world, racism is on the increase.
Collective vigilance against racism is necessary, otherwise
it will always rear its ugly head as it is doing. It is of great concern that some
political parties are even able to mobilise on a racist platform.
Unfortunately, xenophobia and ethnic discrimination has
become a very serious matter into our continent. Ethnic conflicts and xenophobia has led
to some of the most gruesome killings on our continent including genocide.
Women, the world-over suffer different forms of
discrimination. We cannot eradicate racism without dealing with sexism at the same time.
We in South Africa successfully convened our National
Conference Against Racism in September last year, as part of the many preparatory
processes for the World Conference. Over one thousand people, representing all sectors of
our society, emerged united around an unprecedented Millennium Statement which, among
others, declared the period 2001 - 2010 a Decade for National Mobilisation Against Racism.
We hope to mobilise the youth, women, religious organisations and other sectors of society
against racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance.
I am confident that we will emerge from this conference
with a common understanding of our history that will enable to identify, analyse and
combat contemporary forms of racism and related intolerance as well as planning for the
future.
The General Assembly, in its resolution 52/111 of December
1997 which called for the convening of the World Conference Against Racism, set seven
objectives for us to address. To this end, this African Conference should adopt a
Programme of Action which is forward looking, with concrete measurable objectives which
are implementable at the national level. The international community should therefore
strive for effective, corrective measures which will give hope to the millions of victims
of racism in the world.
We are mindful of the fact that despite the combined
efforts of governments, civil society and the international community in responding to the
challenges contained in many General Assembly Resolutions, as well as to the outcome of
the two previous conference against racism held in 1978 and 1983, millions of our people
continue to suffer from racism, xenophobia and other related forms of intolerance.
It therefore becomes imperative that the outcome of this
gathering should seek to map out the road from Dakar to Durban and beyond, that will bring
hope and relief to the millions of victims of racism world-wide. Our responsibility should
be to put in place necessary mechanisms and enforceable measures, as well as the requisite
resources to ensure success.
Chairperson, globalisation has created new opportunities
and challenges for humanity today. However, we are concerned that the benefits of
globalisation have not accrued to the peoples of Africa. On the contrary, it continues to
marginalise our continent further, the effects of which are most profound amongst the
victims of racism and ethnicity.
We need to act collectively and in strong partnerships to
eradicate the threat which racism and related intolerance post to humanity as a whole. We
are hopeful in this African Century, that our dignity as Africans will be restored, and
never again in the future will we be subjected to the suffering and humiliation of the
past.
As Africans we have a responsibility to eradicate
xenophobia and ethnic conflict in order to strengthen democracy, transparency and
development.
Finally, let me use this opportunity to state that the
South African people are looking forward to warmly receiving you in our city of Durban. I
must assure you that our Government will play its part to facilitate conditions that are
conducive to the success of the World Conference, but we also rely on our African brothers
and sisters to make sure that this World Conference on our continent will be a success.
I thank you.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRIVATE BAG X152
PRETORIA
23RD JANUARY 2001 |
