ANTI-RACISM RESOLUTION STALLS AT UNHCR

By: Branden Seufert

Independent Correspondent of Columbia, reporting for the MUNFW World Press

On Monday, 20 April at the 75th annual Model United Nations of the Far West (MUNFW) conference, delegates in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) looked to create a working resolution that encouraged Member States to adopt policies that protect minorities and work to end discrimination.

Speaking with Amina Bakiyeva, the distinguished delegate of Germany, she stated that the resolution supported by Germany would embrace international governance aimed at the “elimination of racism and discrimination and xenophobia.”

Germany hopes to achieve this by tailoring discussion on “amending the Durban Declaration that was signed in 2001,” which would reestablish unity among the 35 states boycotting the declaration. Germany urges a rewriting of the amendment so that ‘we’ is not used in clauses — potentially signaling false international alignment.

Despite the efforts made to pass a resolution, the committee finds no consensus due to the fact that not all Member States recognize the legitimacy of Palestine. This divides the committee and is the central point of contention, as the sovereign states do not want to have their domestic law dictated by international organizations.

With UNHCR looking for states to adopt policies that would penalize racism outside of free speech, it unfortunately shows no avenue for global acceptance. Many of these states feel this would undermine their sovereignty and transfer decision making from the Member State to international organizations.

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