Germany admits failures in the fight against racism
Published: Thursday, Nov 23rd 2023, 16:10
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Germany has admitted to the UN Committee against Racial Discrimination (CERD) that it has neglected the issue of racism for decades. Although much has been done in recent years, there is still a lot of catching up to do, Sigrid Jacobi, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Issues, told the committee in Geneva on Thursday.
The committee reviews the situation in all 182 signatory countries to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination every few years. Governments submit reports, other countries can ask questions and make recommendations. There are no sanctions of any kind. The German government's report dates back to 2020, but has only now been considered, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Deputy Ambassador in Geneva, Nikola Gillhoff, began by briefly referring to the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip and statements that are often made at demonstrations in support of the Palestinians. Germany condemns the Hamas attacks and is concerned about the devastating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. However, the government formally rejects any comparison of the events with the Holocaust. Israel's right to exist is not negotiable and the country has a right to self-defense.
The German Institute for Human Rights presented a parallel report. In it, it referred to the AfD, which it described as dangerous. The party aims to eliminate the free democratic basic order and rejects the equality of all people. "Those entitled to file an application (the Federal Government, the Bundesrat and the Bundestag) should prepare for a possible application for a ban before the Federal Constitutional Court in order to be able to act at any time," the Institute stated.
©Keystone/SDA
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