Speaking at the 79th session of the General Assembly on the Elimination of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance at UN Headquarters in New York, Archbishop Gabriele Cacchia said dignity and respect Humans are constantly being challenged.
vatican city
New York, Friday, November 8, 2024 (REI, Vatican Radio): Participants from the Nations attended on Thursday the 79th session of the General Assembly on the Elimination of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance in the United Nations Headquarters in New York Addressing the representative of the Holy See, Archbishop Gabriele Cacchia, he affirmed that human dignity and respect They are constantly in question.
Archbishop Cacchia, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, recalled that the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” There is a recognized fundamental truth and history has shown that it is constantly questioned. He said the latest data shows that almost one in six people worldwide experience discrimination, and discrimination based on factors such as race, ethnicity, color or language is one of the most common reasons.
unacceptable racism
Quoting Pope Francis, he said: “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form because racism is an affront to the inherent God-given dignity of every human being and therefore any principle or form of discrimination is unacceptable. .
He drew attention to three points that remain of particular concern, namely the immigration crisis, religious intolerance and the rise of racism and xenophobia on digital and online platforms.
immigration crisis
Speaking about the migration crisis, he said, in a world where more people migrate than ever, migrants, refugees and their families are often victims of a violent form of racism. Migration can create a sense of fear and anxiety that is often exaggerated and exploited for political purposes. As Pope Francis has said: “This can lead to a xenophobic mentality, as people close themselves off, and this must be addressed decisively.” Immigrants should always be seen as human beings who “possess the same intrinsic dignity as any other person.”
religious intolerance
The second concern, he said, is the continued increase in cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution. Individuals and communities face restrictions and persecution for their religious practices and beliefs in both the public and private spheres. These restrictions undermine the basic principle of freedom of religion or belief. Given the serious restrictions on religious freedom, the Holy See emphasizes that governments must assume the primary responsibility of protecting this right of their citizens, as one of the minimum requirements necessary to live a dignified life.
Racism on digital platforms
The Archbishop said the rise of racism and xenophobia on digital and online platforms is our third major concern. He said the content prevalent on social media platforms is unregulated and is a matter of deep concern. Education is of utmost importance as a response strategy and as a long-term preventive measure to address this crisis. This includes not only a new commitment to quality education that allows each individual to reach their full potential and promote the common good, but also the recognition that education depends first and foremost on families. It begins with parents being the main teachers of human education. values.
