A/HRC/42/58 give effect to, among others, the prevention or prohibition of unfair discrimination and guarantee the rights of access to information and just administrative action. South Africa had recently adopted a national action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which was an action of commitment to the Convention and the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. 35. The representative of India noted that racism and racial discrimination were the most pervasive acts that often led to serious violation of human rights. The international community was witnessing intensified forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. Racism and racial discrimination were effectively prohibited under various international human rights instruments. New patterns of racial discrimination and hatred had reportedly been affecting a growing number of individuals, whether they were migrants, refugees, returnees or internally displaced persons. 36. The representative of India commended the efforts of the Ad Hoc Committee in identifying racist, discriminatory and xenophobic practices during the course of its work over the past several years, which was a matter of priority to fill the existing gaps in the Convention and establish new standards to combat all forms of discrimination. The speaker stated that racism and racial discrimination undermined human dignity and needed to be addressed in order to ensure equality and protect individuals from all discriminatory practices. He welcomed the constructive discussion that would take place in the coming days. 37. The representative of Indonesia aligned his delegation with the statement delivered by Pakistan on behalf of OIC. He stated that despite the fact that there were numerous human rights conventions and national, regional and multilateral mechanisms, the challenges faced were more prevalent and relevant than ever. New contemporary forms of racial discrimination on the basis of race, sex, language or religion that were not covered by existing instruments had begun to surface in parallel with the rise of national populism, extreme ideologies and advances in information and communication technologies. 38. Any form of discrimination, including against migrants, on the basis of race, sex, language or religion giving way to violence and hate speech under the freedom of expression were not acceptable, to the Indonesian delegation. He stated that the Committee must aim to strengthen international efforts to prevent xenophobia, Islamophobia and racial supremacy and their reoccurrence. It was necessary to complement the existing standard in order for effective legislation at both the national and international levels to be able to fill in the gaps and provide remedial measures for victims of injustice and discrimination. 39. The representative of Egypt reiterated his country’s support for the Committee’s mandate, set out in Human Rights Council resolution 6/21, to elaborate complementary standards to the Convention on contemporary racial discrimination, including incitement to racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia. He stressed the importance of the Committee continuing its sessions until it had implemented its mandate by drafting an international legal instrument criminalizing contemporary forms of racism. The representative noted that the world had witnessed many developments on the political, economic and social sectors in recent years, resulting in increasing waves of migrants, refugees and displaced persons, and the spread of modern forms of racial discrimination and violence, which were linked to the rise of ideologies and ideas spread by populist groups and right-wing extremist groups. He added that there had also been numerous human rights violations, acts of racial violence and terrorist attacks that had claimed the lives of many innocent people, particularly Muslims, the latest of which was the terrorist attack on the mosques of Christchurch. The Egyptian delegation considered that the time had come for all parties to seize the opportunity to work constructively on drafting an international legal instrument to criminalize new forms of racism, thereby supporting international efforts to promote respect for and protection of human rights throughout the world. 40. The Permanent Representative of Angola made a statement in her national capacity, aligning her country with the statement of the African Group. She stated that Angola remained concerned at the opposition to the drafting of a new protocol that some countries had expressed, particularly at the claims that the Convention was enough to cover all issues 7

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