Justicia Shipena
United Nations secretary general António Guterres has warned that racism remains widespread and continues to drive inequality, violence and division across the world.
Guterres said racism is a direct violation of human rights.
“Racial discrimination is a violation of human rights and human dignity,” he said at a General Assembly event in New York on Monday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
He said racism remains deeply rooted and continues to shape economic, social and political inequalities.
“It feeds many of the problems we face today, including economic, social and political inequalities,” he said.
Guterres raised concern about the role of digital platforms in spreading hate.
“At the same time, digital tools and technologies are inundating us with hate speech, perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into real-world violence and abuse,” he said.
He warned that racism is becoming more visible in public debate and online spaces.
“I am deeply troubled by how racism and xenophobia are being mainstreamed on digital platforms and in political discourse,” he said.
He said racism continues to affect Africans, Asians, Indigenous peoples and other minority groups and can drive extremist views.
Guterres called for action from governments, businesses and communities.
“The remedy is solidarity,” he said, urging steps to end racism and discrimination.
He also called on countries to implement international agreements, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and urged businesses to respect human rights.
United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, said discrimination remains widespread despite progress in recent years.
Türk said efforts to achieve equality are facing setbacks.
“We have made some progress on the long road towards a more just world. But we are approaching a checkpoint – where this progress is questioned, delayed, and even pushed backwards,” he said.
He said discrimination affects people of African and Asian descent, as well as migrants, Indigenous communities and other minority groups.
“Race remains the most common ground for discrimination globally,” he said.
Türk said hate speech is rising, especially online. “Where we have data, it shows that around seventy per cent of those targeted by online hate speech belong to minority groups,” he said.
He said inequality is also shaped by global systems and historical factors. He added that climate change is increasing risks for vulnerable communities.
Türk warned that racism and discrimination continue to fuel conflict and instability.
“White supremacy and oppression also strike at the roots of global peace and security,” he said.
He called on governments to strengthen laws and accountability.
“The will to fight discrimination through laws that are robustly enforced… the will to strengthen accountability for all forms of racial discrimination and hatred,” he said.
He also called for action to regulate business practices and make online spaces safer.
“Together, let’s confront, call out and act against racism every time,” Türk said.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed each year on 21 March. It marks the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, when police opened fire on a protest against apartheid laws, killing 69 people.
