UN leaders renew push to defeat racism, 25 years after Durban
UN Member States adopted a renewed declaration to combat racism 25 years after the Durban Declaration, emphasizing reparatory justice, inclusive education, and digital accountability amid rising hate speech and systemic inequalities.
A new UN declaration to combat racism was adopted Monday, 25 years after the 2001 Durban Declaration, with youth activist Marley Dias urging States to address legacies of slavery and colonialism through education and representation. Dias, founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, highlighted the need for accurate historical education and accessible digital materials to empower young people in dismantling systemic racism.
Delegates expressed alarm over the resurgence of racism, hate speech, and religious intolerance, both online and offline, with Uruguay warning that social media and AI amplify harmful narratives at unprecedented speed. The Group of 77 and China called for urgent action to prevent technology from exacerbating structural inequalities while leveraging its benefits for sustainable development.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to reparations for colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, while Palestine emphasized the Durban Declaration’s recognition of historical injustices and the right to self-determination for Palestinians under occupation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned racism as a ‘poison’ rooted in slavery and colonialism, calling for stronger laws, inclusive institutions, and reparatory justice. He urged universal ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and concrete action during the Second International Decade for People of African Descent.