The Director of Peace, Security, and Conflict Prevention to the United Nations Association of Africa (UNAA) Ambassador Victor Asije has called on world leaders to redouble the fight against all forms of racism and racial discrimination.
Asije, who made the call in a message to observe this year’s International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, described racism and racial discrimination as people’s inhumanity to people.
The global peace advocate noted that racism and racial discrimination had had negative consequences on migration, people-to-people relationship, educational, political, social,and economic exchanges.
“As the world, this week, observe this year’s International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination,I rise to commend those world leaders, and the United Nations on their continued efforts at ending racism, and racial discrimination globally .
“But I will like to,respectfully, remind world leaders that there is still a whole lot to be done ,to be able to match strides with this quietly,but palpably thriving acts of racism and racial discrimination in different communities, cities,public and private organisations,schools, businesses,airports, conferences, and countries.
“As world leaders,it would be vitally important for us all to invest better time and resources on making every young and old nationalities to ,selflessly, realize that acts of racism and racial discrimination are not only uncivilized, snobbish, domineering, overbearing,degrading,ignoble, inhumane, divisive, but are bitterly, and regrettably dehumanizing.” he said.
The ambassador noted that millions, and millions of people across the world were still “struggling” with racism and racial discrimination at different encounters, engagements, organisations, and communities globally.
According to him, racism has not only negated peoples freedom of movement, association,and social justice,it has continued to pose threats to global peace.
The UNAA Director added that without racism and racial discrimination, the peoples of world would reap more healthier opportunities,more mutual engagements and exchanges, and live peaceably.
Asije said that the time had come for more world leaders to recommit to discouraging their nationalities from their deep-seated beliefs,biases, prejudices, and notions of superiority.
“Let not colour,race, location, religion, education, socioeconomic, and political status make anyone, anywhere, to begin to parade himself or herself as being superior to others. There’s really no justification for that!.
“Whatever our colours, be us black,white,red,or yellow, let’s know that we are all beautifully, handsomely, and wonderfully created, and gifted by the same God Almighty!.
“Let’s daily know that though we were birthed in different geographical locations, and in different colours,we all live in an interconnected and interdependent world, with the same human qualities, and possibilities.” he said.
The ambassador added that because the people who were being discriminated against were also human beings, they urgently needed the solidarity of world leaders, other individuals and organisations.
The global peace advocate also called on peoples of world to join world leaders in ending all forms of racism and racial discrimination, adding that the fight was a winnable fundamental human right.
Asije, who called for more understanding of cultural diversity,said that the world’s growing international relations, and peace diplomacy would be strengthened when racism was discouraged.
He further said that peoples freedom of movement, and social justice would also be enhanced when the fight against racism was sustained globally.
Asije also cautioned people against the perpetuation of tribal and ethnic sentiments in government institutions, communities, organisations, and in different nations.
“And to make this work,we all need to begin to, selflessly,cultivate the attitude of understanding other nationalities.More than ever, the peoples of the world need better understanding of themselves, now!.
“We should start doing this, by eternally developing and honing our people skills. We must as governments, private organisations, businesses, and individuals begin to take Intercultural communication seriously!” Asije said.