Racial Justice and Equity: Pathways To Peace

Описание: A Conference hosted by Global Peace and Prosperity Forum on May 21, 2021

The speakers considered the important question of racial justice and equity in promoting inclusive and peaceful societies. Discriminatory or abusive behaviour, such as racism and intolerance towards people because of their imagined "inferiority" has been devastating to humanity. Such discriminatory behaviour has in the past justified slavery, colonialism, apartheid, forced sterilisations and annihilations of peoples. These historic injustices have stained the pages of human history. Despite global and regional efforts to combat racism and intolerance through the various decisions, policies, declarations, conventions and mechanisms of the United Nations and the Council of Europe, dismantling systemic racism and working to repair centuries of harm inflicted on communities of colour continues to impact the lives of many across the globe. The discourse recently took centre stage, sparked by the graphic images on social media of the death of George Floyd in 2020. The global protests “Black Lives Matter” following the killing of George Floyd demonstrated that we have yet to eliminate racial prejudice not only within the United States but that countering racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, and tackling racial inequality, are challenges faced by every State.

The speakers highlighted the efforts of the African Union, the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the Council of Europe in combating racism and xenophobia, and the role of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in monitoring State obligation in Europe to remove discriminatory laws and institutional obstacles that people face due to race, ethnicity, culture, language, religion or nationality. The speakers further explored ways to curb practices that incubate and propagate racism, xenophobia and related intolerance from stoking a climate of intolerance and prejudice, including by disseminating false or misleading information. The speakers highlighted ways to engage in meaningful and inclusive dialogue to bring people closer to the vision of our common humanity without alienating anyone from the conversation, drawing on the capacities of the human spirit to overcome the terrible legacy of racism, to overcome the trauma of racial injustice and to heal from it. The speakers also shared the best ways to engage in collective action to bring about social change, through education, through working together with governments, NGOs, the media and equality bodies. The speakers also addressed ways to inspire individuals towards higher levels of consciousness and bridge groups, communities and society towards cooperation and unity to build a cohesive and peaceful world.

Our speakers:
H.E. The Rt Hon. The Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations
H.E. Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed,, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations
Professor Maria Daniella Marouda, Chair of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Council of Europe
Professor Michael Penn- Clinical Psychologist, Department Chair, and Professor of Psychology at Franklin & Marshall College USA.
Moderated By
Professor Payam Akhavan, Senior Fellow at Massey College, Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague
Welcome by
Neda Salmanpour, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Global Peace and Prosperity Forum

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