Damilola Oyedele
25 August 2008
Abuja — Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance by supporting international bodies that have such mandates.
To this end, the country pledged to foster close cooperation between National Human Rights Institutions and Non-Governmental organizations.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Tijjani Y. Kaura, made this known at the opening ceremony of the Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Durban Review Conference in Abuja yesterday.
Kaura lamented the wrangling that has characterized deliberations at sessions of the Preparatory Committee of the Durban Review Conference in Geneva.
"Nigeria believes that gaps in the existing international instruments to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance should be bridged through a number of measures, including provision of support and technical assistance to states as appropriate,' he said.
He urged the international bodies to reinforce the fights against racism and xenophobia , saying "it is only by doing so that we can justify the sacrifices of our heroes past, some of who laid down their lives in the struggle against colonialism, racism, apartheid, racial injustice and other forms of discrimination."Secretary General of the Durban Review Conference, Mr Bacre Ndiaye , in his address said Africa had been presented as a place where human rights violations occur on an unprecedented scale in spite of the fact that the continent has made giant strides on the path of human rights and in accommodating diversity.He added that there is a strong need for the conference to access the progress being made by its work because of the leadership role the African continent is playing in global issues."Discrimination is usually the root of insecurity and economic situation. There is need to extend the values we ascribe to ourselves to other people which would in turn create a better world,"he said.
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