UN: Third Committee hears of dangers of 'modern racism and hatred' found on Internet web sites

M2 Communications, October 25, 1999

OCT 25, 1999, M2 Communications - A code of conduct should be instituted to regulate the relationship between the Internet and free speech to serve as a curb on rampant racism, the representative of Pakistan told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) this morning, as it met to continue its consideration of issues related to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination and the right of peoples to self-determination. He said institutionalized racism was being replaced by a most disconcerting modern racism and hatred placed on Internet Web sites. Advances in science and technology should be used to better society, not to destroy it. Libya's representative said that in spite of all efforts to combat racism and other modern expressions of it, the phenomenon continued to entrench itself more strongly in corners of the world. Racist attitudes and behaviours were encouraged by far right neo-Nazi groups using the Internet. Instead of spreading understanding, the Internet was spreading hatred, which violated international law and the right to life itself.

The representative of Nigeria agreed that the use of technological tools to spread hatred based on nothing but pigmentation was distressing. Governments had a responsibility to pass measures to protect people and punish such actions. The Internet had become a forum for racism, which targeted children and the young, the representative of Algeria said. The international community must speak out against those Internet sites. Also, he said, it was necessary to protect new technology to prevent its misuse.

The representative of Venezuela said the Internet was being utilized by certain racist groups who abused the right to freedom of expression. The representative of Israel observed that a wave of "cybernetic racism" had dramatically increased the number of Web sites inciting to hatred. On issues related to the right of peoples to self-determination, the representative of India said pluralistic, democratic societies were the most vulnerable to the misuse of that right. The representative of Liechtenstein said her country had developed a concept for dialogue between central governments and communities living within respective States that would recognize that the communities had the right of self-determination, which could be exercised in a number of ways.

The representatives of Greece, China, Cuba and Cyprus also spoke. The Committee will meet again on Monday, 25 October at 3:00 p.m. to continue considering issues related to the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and to the right of peoples to self-determination. Committee Work Programme

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) met this morning to continue considering questions related to the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, as well as the right of peoples to self-determination.

(For background information, see Press Release GA/SHC/3533 of 21 October.) Statements

AGAMEMNON TATSIS (Greece) said a number of youth actions taken against racism and other forms of intolerance suggested the appropriateness of forming a South-Eastern European Youth Forum. Protection of human rights was one of the greatest challenges facing society today, he said. Young people of today were expressing the view that present declarations on human rights were inadequate or not coupled with action. The protection and promotion of human rights called for participation of society as a whole. Over the past decade, various policies had been implemented in Greece to prevent discrimination, intolerance and racism. Yet, efforts to settle the recent crisis in the region were stumbling on the racism and intolerance affecting world security. To bring harmony to society, young people had to be brought together for a common goal in an environment allowing for different perspectives.

He said South-Eastern youths were being contacted to create a platform organization bringing together national youth councils from all South-Eastern European countries. Its purpose would be to provide a forum for exchanging ideas about youth matters, to promote common solutions to common problems, and to organize events, campaigns and visits. Youth involvement would advance the aim of eliminating racism and associated intolerance. Favourable consideration should be given to establishing a South-Eastern Youth Forum.

CLAUDIA FRITSCHE (Liechtenstein) said that while there was agreement on the importance of self-determination, there were strong views regarding the relevance of the concept today. At a time when the situations in Kosovo and East Timor were two of the biggest challenges facing the United Nations, it was obvious there were remaining issues to be resolved with regard to the right of self- determination. Exercising the right was not a matter of a single isolated act, but the expression and result of a sustained process. Self-determination also could take on different forms, independent statehood being one, but not the only form.

She said her country had expressed its views on the matter previously. Basically, the concept centred on a dialogue between central governments and communities living within respective States. The dialogue would be based on a recognition that the communities had the right of self-determination, which could be exercised in a number of ways. That would ensure that tensions within States were addressed in a peaceful manner before situations turned violent or ended in armed conflict. The idea promoted the "Culture of Prevention" initiated by the Secretary-General. A Colloquium on Peace and the Future in South-Eastern Europe had been organized in Liechtenstein during the summer, where experts on aspects of the region's problems had held a frank exchange of views.

LI SANGU (China) said the international community should give high priority to the issue of racism and should place the elimination of gross violations of human rights at the top of the United Nations agenda. Also, preparations for the world conference on combating racism and racial discrimination should be one of the main tasks of the Commission on Human Rights and other related organs of the United Nations.

The work on the Third Decade to Combat Racism should continue, in cooperation with the convening of the world conference on combating racism, she said. In addition, the Internet should be used as a means to disseminate anti- racist information. Also, Member States should study ways and means to ban the spread of racism through the Internet and to formulate measures to that end. The right to self-determination should not be construed as authorizing or encouraging any action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States, she said. The restoration of all rights to the Palestinian people was the key to the realization of a lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

ABDALLAH BAALI (Algeria) said racism was reappearing in subtle ways; its very basis had changed. A different type of racism based on ethnic origin or on religious differences had emerged. Migrant workers, refugees or indigenous people were being mistreated for being different. Such differences had become a raison d'etre for political parties or interest groups. There was a resurgence of racist activities, especially in Europe, which, in full impunity, could make speeches against foreigners.

The Internet had become a forum for racism which targeted children and the young, he said. As a result, racist activities had increased, mainly in the past two years. The international community must speak out against Internet sites which called for hatred against people, he emphasized. Technology needed protection to prevent its misuse. The Third Decade to Combat Racism seemed to lack political will, he said, and he urged the international community to contribute to the Special Trust Fund so that the programmes for the Decade could be implemented. The decolonization process had not been completed, he continued. For example, the Palestinian people were still demanding the right to have their own State. He hoped that the issues of Western Sahara would be solved soon.

MERCEDES DE ARMAS GARCIA (Cuba) said the struggle for national sovereignty continued today. Colonialism had nearly disappeared as a system, but no less harmful threats loomed over peoples of the developing countries in the form of a new policy of force and domination being used to impose legally dubious theories backing an alleged right to humanitarian interventions. The intent of the powerful to tie the destinies of people to foreign models was also a threat. The unstoppable process of globalization should be one of cooperation, peace, and the freedom of peoples to decide their destinies, not that of poverty, social inequity, intervention and disrespect for the most fundamental principles of international relations.

She said that under the circumstances of a unipolar and neo-liberal global order, under the economic and military dictatorship of a super-Power, the concept of self-determination took on new significance when a small group of countries with nuclear powers tried to impose on others, by supremacy, a single model. The primacy of the Charter had to be restored. Diplomacy based on the use of force had to be rejected. In that context, Israel should withdraw from all Arab territories it occupied and the United States should withdraw from Guantanamo Naval Base.

It was a fact that mercenaries were being used to damage peoples' self- determination, to destroy facilities and to make attempts at the lives of a population through actions that, in many cases, were also terrorist actions. The Special Rapporteur on mercenaries had visited Cuba in September. He had been given full support, and Cuba would continue to support his mandate.

MUNAWAR SAEED BHATTI (Pakistan) said institutionalized racism had been rampant in the past in colonial situations. International cooperation had dismantled most of those situations. The modern racism and hatred perpetrated on the Internet was most disconcerting. Advances in science and technology should be used to better society, not to destroy it. Continuing, he said laws should be passed to prohibit racist and other intolerant activities. The international community should institute a code of conduct regarding the relationship between the Internet and free speech.

Of particular concern in some areas of the world was the equating of Muslims with fundamentalism, he said. That "Islamophobia" was completely unfounded. Islam was a religion of tolerance. It eschewed all extremism. The media were to be blamed for a big part of the misconception about that religion, and steps should be taken to counter it. At the international level, the Plan of Action for the Third Decade against racism should be implemented intensively. South Africa's offer to host the world conference on racism was most welcome, and the United Nations should offer resources to South Africa to defray the costs. Holding the conference in South Africa would be a symbolic start to the new century as one that would not tolerate racism.

BENJAMIN ORON (Israel) said the wave of "cybernetic racism" had dramatically increased the number of Web sites inciting to hatred. Among them, sites denying the Holocaust had also proliferated on the Internet. His Government viewed, with great concern, the results of the elections in Austria and trusted that the new Government would be based on democratic parties and not on radical elements that raised bitter memories.

While progress remained to be made in different areas in regard to existing inequalities between the Jewish and the Israeli-Arab population, important advances had been made, he said. The Ministry of Education had been actively promoting a broad and systematic campaign to suppress animosity and existing stereotypes which existed between those two groups. Under a programme called "Eshkolot", coexistence between Jews and Arabs would be taught, developing the human and civil partnership between them, while respecting their uniqueness and diversity. Also, all heinous attempts to harm innocent civilians would be denounced.

MARTHA DI FELICE (Venezuela) said in spite of the continued efforts to combat great violations of human rights, the scourge of racism had arisen in new forms. Some racist views even gave a scientific foundation to their supposed supremacy over others. The media and the Internet were being utilized by certain racist groups who abused the right to freedom of expression. There were three years left before the end of the Third Decade to Combat Racism, and much was left to do in order to eliminate racial discrimination. States were supposed to protect those persons who were the most vulnerable and to penalize any abuses committed against them, she said. Her country had traditionally welcomed persons from other races and from other lands. The strengthening of tolerance in order to achieve harmonious coexistence was the best way to combat all problems that arose from racial discrimination.

DEMETRIS HADJIARGYROU (Cyprus) said the struggle against racism was more relevant than ever. Measures against racist behaviour needed to be centred in an approach that could only be elaborated and implemented through the global forum of the United Nations. He said the world conference against racism would give impetus to the worldwide efforts to combat all forms of intolerance. Special attention should be given to new challenges and ways of developing a preventive approach to fighting racism. Universal ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination should be a top priority. Also, attention should be drawn to the model legislation prepared by the United Nations to fight racism and intolerance. The role of non- governmental organizations in producing practical solutions and in assisting governments to implement programmes was also important to consider. He said Cyprus had taken numerous legislative and educational measures to implement the Convention on eliminating racism. However, the country was still coping with the Turkish invasion that, in 1974, had separated the people with a deliberate policy of ethnically cleansing the area of its Greek-Cypriot inhabitants. The policy of the occupying Power prevented full implementation of the Convention.

INDER JIT (India) said relations between States were still unequal. "Power is masked behind apparent legality of humanitarian concern to subvert sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic choice", he said. Because democratic, pluralistic societies were open and tolerant, they were the most vulnerable to attempts to undermine them. Also, terrorism was a powerful instrument of malevolence directed at open societies. When terrorism was supported by States, its power increased and democratic choice, the basis of self-determination, became the first victim.

No man or woman had racist feelings at birth, he said. Racism was acquired through social attitudes, and education had a crucial role to play in removing racism from the minds of individuals. "More than conventions, protocols, policies and enforcement, changes have to come from within and in the setting of the family and immediate environment in the initial years of growth of a child", he emphasized. That was a difficult process which took time. However, the recognition that racism was pernicious and had to be eliminated was by itself a step forward. In preparation for the world conference on racism, greater attention needed to be devoted to the social and psychological dimensions of racism.

ABDUSSALAM SERIWA (Libya) said that in spite of all efforts to combat racism and other modern expressions of it, the phenomenon continued to entrench itself more strongly in corners of the world. Victims of xenophobia were being exploited by racists and violent forms of racism coexisted with xenophobia. Those attitudes and behaviours were being encouraged by far right neo-Nazi groups using the Internet. There were Internet sites run by Jews devoted to attacking Arabs. Instead of spreading understanding, the Internet was spreading hatred. That violated international law and the right to life itself. Measures should be taken at the international level to counter the racist tendencies. He supported the world conference on racism and said he was happy South Africa had offered to host it because South Africa had everything such a conference needed for success. Resources should be given to assisting the country that was a testament to overcoming racism.

Finally, he said the right to self-determination had been enshrined into law after large-scale colonialism had ended. Many people still lived under foreign occupation or had to live in refugee camps spread across the world, such as the Palestinian people. The people of Libya were a homogeneous people who did not tolerate racism and racial discrimination. Its views were underpinned by Islam, which stressed equality.

SAMUEL AJEWOLE (Nigeria) said that, as one of the States that had stood against apartheid, he was distressed at the level of racism that was being manifested. Even more disturbing was the use of technological tools to spread hatred that was based on nothing, but pigmentation. Despite all national and international efforts, hatred continued to build. "That is completely unacceptable", he said. Racism and violent hatred were not just violations of human rights, but were a downright threat to international peace and security. In addressing the question, governments had the responsibility to pass measures protecting people and punishing such actions.

Racism and racial discrimination, he said, were among the worst forms of human rights violations. At the turn of this century, governments should join together against such violent hatred. Global partnership was not complete if migrants and their families were subjected to injustice. Law enforcement personnel needed to be trained in stopping racist behaviour. Those who were responsible for the Internet should regulate its content, and a code of conduct should be developed to control the use of the Internet without compromising freedom of expression. He supported South Africa's bid to host the world conference against racism.