Topic: Combating the Rise of Xenophobic Violence
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: Jack H. Somers
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Portugal position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Xenophobic violence is a problem that humankind has had to deal with throughout history. Many of the greatest wars have been fought over racism. Violence that springs from xenophobia – the fear of foreigners – can have many triggers. Some can be traced to economic competition from immigrants.
We from the Portuguese Republic have had cases of xenophobic violence in our history. However, we do not condone violence in any form, especially violence borne from hatred or fear of other races. With a recent influx of immigrants beginning in the early 1990’s we have seen an increase in crime directed towards these new citizens, both legal and illegal. Most discrimination is focused at those of black and Romani decent. The Romani population is frequently referred to as Ciganos, a racial slur. Common discrimination includes limiting jobs and residence only to those of Portugal ancestry. To combat this prejudice, we have enacted public housing policies to encourage social integration between native Portuguese and other ethnic groups.
We believe that the United Nations can do a number of things to influence countries to promote a climate of hospitably to foreigners and other races. For one, requesting countries in the UN to propose laws that help immigrants find employment and housing. Another would be to investigate matters of possible discrimination in hiring, especially in government jobs. We consider the input of all ethnic groups to be very vital to a healthy government. We should also increase awareness about the appalling effects of brutal racism and promote ways to address and combat violent situations.
There are multiple challenges to overcoming the very crucial issue of xenophobic violence. Many people have been raised in nationalistic environments, and they may think that it is acceptable to harm others based on this belief. Another difficulty in trying to wane outbreaks of xenophobia is religious differences. Many religions oppose each other, making it hard for people of different religious views to cooperate in close quarter conditions.
