Country: Morocco
Committee: SOCHUM
Topic: Combating Xenophobia and Racism
Delegate: Noah Palmatier
School: Williamston High School
Xenophobia and racism are two problems that are being faced by a large number of nations in this committee. These issues have some relation but have rather different meanings. Xenophobia is defined as a prejudice against all that is foreign, while racism is prejudice based on a perception of racial inferiority, drawing from a hierarchical system. Historically, xenophobia and racism have played a role in creating systematic forms of discrimination throughout the world, often resulting in violence, and even from time to time culminating in genocide.
The Kingdom of Morocco has recently ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). In doing so, The Kingdom of Morocco has committed itself to respect and ensure racial equality, and the right of all persons to be free from racial discrimination. Commendably, Morocco has also ratified several other international human rights treaties that prohibit racial and other forms of discrimination. These instruments create legally binding obligations for Morocco with regard to the principles of equality and non-discrimination. They also advance a substantive vision of equality—one that requires Morocco to eliminate intentional or purposeful racial discrimination, as well as to combat de facto or unintentional racial discrimination. Prohibited racial discrimination can occur even where there is no racial animus or prejudice in operation. A large amount of this xenophobia and racism is cast upon those who have migrated as refugees from sub-Saharan Africa. It is of utmost importance that the The Kingdom of Morocco along with other nations in this committee find an effective solution for this problem.
The delegation for The Kingdom of Morocco would like to make a suggestion as to how this could potentially be solved. A first step we could take would be the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Which is a global initiative to end racism across the board. This is currently ratified by 179 countries, and signed but not ratified by another four. This along with potential sanctions to countries who do not follow set guidelines and increased funding to educate the ignorant in order to reduce racism is places where people are suffering because they “look different.”
- Noah Palmatier
