– As delivered –
Remarks by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly
19 March 2021
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
I thank you for your interventions. I also thank Dr. Iweala for his important contribution to today’s discussion, which I hope you will take time on Sunday, the International Day to Eliminate Racial Discrimination to reflect upon.
Your participation today demonstrated that, although our Membership is diverse, there is more uniting us, than that which divides us.
It is our shared humanity that brought us together, three-quarters of a century ago, and it is how we will combat one of the great injustices of modern society: racial discrimination.
I trust that you will bear this in mind in the upcoming meetings on the 20th commemoration of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and the political declaration; the mid-term review of the International Decade for people of African Descent; and the Permanent Forum on people of African descent.
We have a collective responsibility to uphold the rights of everyone, everywhere. This must begin with the elimination of racial discrimination.
I thank you.
