Morocco’s efforts in combating racial discrimination highlighted in Budapest

Morocco’s efforts to combat racial discrimination and strengthen international cooperation in this field were highlighted in Budapest at a ceremony to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In a statement, the High Commission for former members of the Resistance and the Liberation Army (HCARAMAL) said that this celebration, held from March 19 to 23 by the World Veterans Federation (WVF), was also an opportunity to highlight the Kingdom’s pioneering roles in the protection of human rights, the fight against the proliferation of weapons and cross-border crime, criminal justice, as well as in the economic, social, security, cultural and environmental fields.

The ceremony was marked by a tribute to the winners of the Radnóti Miklós prize and by the awarding of the title of Ambassador of Humanity to the High Commissioner for former members of the Resistance and the Liberation Army, president of the WVF, Mustapha El Ktiri, the statement added.

During the ceremony, El Ktiri paid tribute to the role of the Hungarian poet Radnóti Miklós in defending freedom and equality, stressing the importance of celebrating this International Day and making it a renewed opportunity to fight racial discrimination under all its forms.

He also highlighted the role of veterans as guardians of peace, and emphasized their constant commitment to combating racial discrimination, enshrining the principles of peace, security, freedom, justice and human dignity, and strengthening tolerance and openness.

The 2024 International Day was held under the these “A Decade of Recognition, Justice, and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent”.

Racial discrimination and the legacies of slavery and colonialism continue to destroy lives and curtail opportunities, preventing billions of people from enjoying their full human rights and freedoms, the United Nations said.

This year’s theme is linked to the International Decade for People of African Descent, which spans the timeframe from 2015 to 2024. In proclaiming this Decade, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group, whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

Around 200 million people identifying themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent.