TLTP
\nISLAMABAD
\nWith the Covid-19 pandemic exposing social and economic inequalities rooted in racism, discrimination and xenophobia, recovery must lead to more inclusive societies, the UN Secretary-General has told member states.
\nAnt\u00f3nio Guterres was among leaders addressing a special meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to investigate the links among structural racism, inequality and sustainable development, with a focus on pandemic response on Thursday, said a statement issued on Friday.
\nThe UN chief said the global crisis \u201crepresents a damning indictment of systematic prejudice and discrimination\u201d, with COVID-19 mortality rates up to three times higher for some marginalized groups.
\n\u201cAs we strive to recover from the pandemic and build a better world, we need to forge a new social contract based on inclusivity and sustainability. \u202fThat means investing in social cohesion,\u201d the secretary-general said.
\n\u201cAll groups need to see that their individual identities are respected, while feeling that they belong as valued members of society as a whole.\u201d
\nThe ECOSOC meeting, held online, comes ahead of the annual High Level Political Forum in June which will review global progress towards reducing inequalities and promoting peace, justice and strong institutions, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
\nCouncil President Munir Akram underscored the need for action, recalling commitments made by world leaders during the UN\u2019s 75th anniversary last year. \u201cSolidarity and cooperation among countries, societies, communities, and individual citizens is the only possible way to eliminating racism, xenophobia and discrimination for all,\u201d he said.
\nThis year also marks the 20th anniversary of a landmark UN Conference on racism, held in Durban, South Africa, and the country\u2019s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, spoke of how COVID-19 has exposed \u201cfault lines\u201d both within and between countries.
\n\u201cThe pandemic has deepened poverty, inequality and other forms of social injustice around the world,\u201d he said in a pre-recorded message. \u201cAfricans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent, Roma and the Sinti are among those particularly affected.\u201d
\nPakistan\u2019s Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, outlined several proposals for the international community to recommit to uphold fundamental principles of human rights. They include addressing historic inequalities and injustices as part of pandemic recovery, increasing representation of people of African descent in global institutions, and building a global alliance against rising Islamophobia, antisemitism, and racial violence.
\n\u201cExtremism and systemic racial discrimination and exclusion are threatening the very political, legal and moral foundations of several States,\u201d he warned. \u201cWe must collectively address the threat posed by racial and other forms of inequalities.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TLTP ISLAMABAD With the Covid-19 pandemic exposing social and economic inequalities rooted in racism, discrimination and xenophobia, recovery must lead to more inclusive societies, the UN Secretary-General has told member states. Ant\u00f3nio Guterres was among leaders addressing a special meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to investigate the links among structural racism, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":175538,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-175520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n