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Statement by the President of the Conference, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, 7 September 2001 Check against delivery
Embargoed until delivery
Your Excellencies
The Secretary General of the World Conference Against Racism
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
At the end of this landmark and historic Conference, I
think we will all agree that It was right that this conference was held and consensus
reached on practical steps to be taken to push back the frontiers of Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance which are frighteningly on the rise in
many parts of the world. I would imagine that we would also agree, that it was proper that
this conference should be held in South Africa, a country that has witnessed the most
egregious form of institutionalised racism, yet rose to become a living testimony that
racism can be defeated with the collective efforts of the international community.
Gathered at this conference, as Member States, we have at
some time or another stood at the precipice. At each moment we stepped back and
courageously dug deep into our strength and made a supreme effort to make the conference a
success, that really it is. It was through the daring act of faith that sustained us
through to the finish, because, we must have said to ourselves that for the sake of
posterity we must lay a firm foundation for the future of tolerance and harmonious
co-existence that will be free from the cancer of racism.
Indeed, we have found our way through the turbulent sea of
events, at each point along the way, we had to respond creatively to both anticipated and
unanticipated events.
Like the blooming and blossoming flower in the spring, we
have agreed on a fresh start and the new roadmap. We have agreed that the depredation of
the systems of slavery and colonialism had the degrading and debilitating impact on those
who are black, broadly defined.
Consequently, we agreed that a clear and unequivocal
apology constitutes a starting point in a long and arduous journey of finding one another.
An apology restores the dignity, self worth and humanity of the black body, broadly
defined. We also agreed that other remedial actions would have to be adopted to correct
the legacy of slavery and colonialism and all other forms of racism. We agreed to work
consciously to up-lift women who have been victims of these ills, because, of their race
and gender.
We agreed that the discrimination against, and the lack of
opportunities by the minorities and the indigenous people everywhere as a result of their
origin, culture, tradition, language, standing in society and their refugee status, could
only be ignored to our perpetual peril. Accordingly, we have reached consensus that access
to education and changing curricula to reflect the interests of every group in every
society must be encouraged. We requested the media and other forms of communication medium
to help promote positive values of tolerance, understanding, ubuntu-humaness and the
richness of our world diversity.
We have agreed as Conference, that entering our jargon and
global discourse is the notion and the process of globalisation. We have equally agreed
that globalisation has impacted on countries differently. It has rendered precarious the
economies of countries with the terrible legacy of slavery and colonialism while
benefiting mostly the developed countries.
Wherever it went, especially in the developing South it has
left in its wake, the dehumanising absolute poverty, economic marginalization, social
exclusion and underdevelopment. Globalisation has created the economic refugees who have
taken to fleeing the misery of poverty in their countries in search of succour and better
living conditions in the rich and prosperous developed countries. Unfortunately, these
refugees have been at the receiving end of the worst form of racism and xenophobia.
The Conference, therefore agreed, that this process should
be harnessed and directed at the most pressing challenge of our time "poverty
eradication". Globalisation has generated enough wealth and resources to do that. We
also agreed to deal with the structural conditions that sustain inequality and inequity of
the global economy that in turn, encourages underdevelopment and marginalization, which is
at the root of racism today.
Distinguished Delegates
Through the Programme of Action and the Declaration we
unanimously agreed to launch the Global Army Against Racism in all countries to work
assiduously to rollback and uproot the scourge of racism. From the Intergovernmental, to
Non-governmental and civil society we agreed in our various fora to work jointly in
partnerships to take our work forward. The political Declaration we have just adopted is
indeed action orientated and practical. It is now up to Governments and civil society to
ensure its implementation.
We have agreed that coming from the centuries that
entrenched chauvinism and the pernicious system of segregation, this current century must
at its end serve as a fulcrum against racism and free us, once and for all, from all those
outdated anti-human and anti-social ideologies whose burden we all carry up to today.
At this juncture, it is in order to express our heartfelt
and sincere thanks to the Secretary General of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance for the excellent service she and her
hard-working team provided towards the success of the Conference.
We also wish to thank Madam Diallo and the Preparatory
Committee for the ground-work, which became the basis of our deliberations. Our gratitude
also go to the Group of 21 that produced proposals that helped us move forward. It is in
order to thank countries that hosted regional conferences and allowed Member States to
formulate their regional positions that fed into this process, from Chile, Iran, to France
and Senegal.
Ours has been truly an inclusive and broadly consultative
process. Our big thank you also goes to the members of the Bureau whose perseverance has
seen us conclude our work. The Interpreters who made our work easy and more manageable
deserves the special mention for their unstinting work. Last but not least, I wish to
thank all regional Co-ordinators, especially, Brazil, Kenya and Mexico who led the
parallel processes with utmost distinction. I also extend my sincere thanks to the United
Nations family for working so tirelessly to make ours a truly successful Conference.
We thank you Member States most dearly for honouring us
with your presence in the country you helped liberate through your unfeigned commitment to
liquidate the most stubborn system of the Apartheid crime against humanity. We apologise
for any inconvenience suffered by any delegation during the conference. I wish to also
thank President Mbeki and Deputy President Zuma as well as my compatriots for their hard
work and support.
Distinguished Delegates
Shakespeare’s Tempest eloquently and elegantly reminds
us of our beautiful world when Miranda the daughter of the deposed Prospero proclaimed on
top of her voice "Oh brave, new world, to have such people". Indeed you are the
brave and wondrous people, and have so remarkably risen to the challenge of our time.
In closing, I want to refer to one of our finest poet Wally
Mongale Serote, who had these beautiful words to say in his work Ofay-Watcher Looks Back.
"I want to look at what happened;
That done,
As silent as the roots of plants pierce the soil
I look at what happened
Whether above the houses there is always either smoke or dust……
I want to look at what happened
That done
As silent plants show the colour; green
I want to look at what happened,
When houses make me ask: do people live there?
As there is something wrong when I ask-is that man alive?
I want to look at what happened,
That done
As silent as the life of a plant that makes you see it…… as silent as plants
bloom and the eyes tells you: something has happened.
Distinguished Delegates
SOMETHING HISTORIC HAS INDEED HAPPENED HERE TODAY.
I thank you
Hambani Kahle.
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