STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 55th Session.
Item 9 - General debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
Statement delivered by Ambassador Mr. Tormod C. ENDRESEN, Permanent Representative of Norway.
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27 March 2024
President,
Racial discrimination remains a persistent challenge to human dignity and social and economic progress globally. No country could claim to be free of racism and more needs to be done.
We recently welcomed the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent to Norway. In their preliminary report, they expressed concern that people of African descent experience discrimination and unequal treatment.
Their findings run counter to our objective: That no one should experience racism and discrimination based on their origin or ethnicity.
Efforts to this end remain a high priority for the Norwegian government.
Last year we launched a new national action plan on racism and discrimination with 50 concrete measures, including steps to address racial discrimination in the labor market and in our school system, two important arenas to ensure inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunity for all.
The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action builds on and strengthens the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
And while we are moving in the right direction, the work against racism is a generational challenge, something that requires persistent action by all of us, individually and collectively.
Thank you.