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In marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the United Nations Network on Migration calls on States to scale up efforts to condemn racial discrimination¹ and to pursue, by all appropriate means, the elimination of all forms of discrimination.

While States and societies reap the benefits of migration, the migration experience, too often, is characterized by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, including hate speech and hate crimes. In some places, reactions to COVID-19 have amplified anti-foreigner narratives, racial and ethnic stereotyping, and biases that evoke fear, bigotry, exclusion, and violence². Such rhetoric and acts are harmful. They also ignore the significant contribution of migrants to societies they live in and the role they play in pandemic response and recovery efforts³. 

The impact of COVID-19 has prompted widespread expressions of mutual solidarity and support from States, civil society and individuals that transcended migration backgrounds or status. In some instances, youth have been at the forefront of initiatives to stand up against discrimination⁴, notwithstanding increased perceived racial discrimination among migrant youth and children⁵. On this day, in line with the 2021 theme of “Youth standing up against racism,” the Network calls on States to increase efforts towards building inclusive and tolerant societies where migrant youth and children are empowered as agents of positive change, regardless of their migration status.

Across its guiding principles and objectives, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) reminds States of their commitment to condemn and counter expressions, acts and manifestations of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, violence, xenophobia, and related intolerance⁶ against all migrants in conformity with international human rights and labour laws. In line with the obligations outlined in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the commitments made in the GCM, the Network calls on States to:

• Amend any laws and regulations which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination;
• Enact, implement or maintain legislation that penalizes hate crimes and aggravated hate crimes targeting migrants;
• Empower migrants and communities to denounce any acts of incitement to violence directed towards migrants by informing them of available mechanisms for redress;
• Guarantee access to justice, including effective remedies for victims of hate crimes and other acts of violence that target migrants;
• Ensure that all expressions, acts and manifestations of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, violence, xenophobia, and related intolerance are effectively addressed and those who actively participate in the commission of a hate crime targeting migrants are held accountable, in accordance with national legislation;
• Take immediate and concrete measures, especially in the fields of education, culture, and information, to combat racial and xenophobic prejudice and promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship;
• Ensure, in conformity with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the availability of high-quality, timely, reliable and disaggregated data, while upholding the right to privacy under international human rights law and protecting personal data; and,
• Dedicate targeted resources to schools with a high concentration of migrant children for integration activities to promote respect for diversity and inclusion and prevent all forms of discrimination.

Racial discrimination threatens all pillars of society, undermining decades-long efforts towards greater equality within and between communities. It also erodes the Sustainable Development Goals’ central promise to “leave no one behind.”

By denigrating the humanity of some of us, we only diminish the humanity of all of us.