Topic: Elimination of Xenophobia and Racism
Country: Russia
Delegate Name: Benjamin Centner
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Russia position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Racism and xenophobia have been engrained into the culture of many nations since the start of time. The Atlantic slave trade from the 15th to 19th century involved over 12.5 million Africans. Over six million Jewish people were systematically murdered by the Nazi’s between 1933 to 1945. The United States discriminated against an entire population of African-Americans throughout the late 19th century and mid to late 20th century with the Jim Crow laws. These are all examples of how a population has been prejudiced against by a government on the sole basis of ethnicity. This bigotry fuels divides between people that often result in violence. The UN has taken initiative against this issue a multitude of times. Perhaps most importantly in 1978 the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) determined that “diversity of lifestyles and the right to be different may not, in any circumstances, serve as a pretext for racial prejudice.” In 2015 the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted in order to achieve “reduced inequalities” by 2030. These attempts to combat racism are simply not enough. The UN must achieve a more specific and comprehensive solution to this global problem.
The Russian Federation is fully aware of the right-winged miscreants whom have violated the laws and rights of our citizens on the basis of nationality. According to the Russian Federation President, Vladimir Putin, the formation of these groups “are extremely dangerous to Russia as the Russian Federation is a multinational state. And if we don’t reject these views accordingly, it will undermine the very foundation of our nation”. However, the Russian Federation’s xenophobic problem pales in comparison to the global racism spread by American Exceptionalism. This strain of thought has been at the crux of many human rights disasters for the past decades. If it were not for the western world’s hubris, ISIS (among many other extremist groups) may never have gained power. The Syrian crisis has resulted in over 13.5 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Xenophobic notions combined with increasing islamophobia in Europe have prevented many of these people from receiving the proper assistance. In mid 2016 researchers from the Heinrich Böll Foundation found that 40 percent of germans believe that muslims should be forbidden from coming to Germany. This is alarming. America’s political policies have gotten us here. Evidently "It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation," (Putin). This involvement in other countries’ political affairs must be put to an end, as it only fuels hatred and racist sentiments. The United States must part with their ideas of American Exceptionalism in order for a proper solution to be reached.
The Russian Federation is extremely proud of its heritage and nationality. However, strength is not an excuse for discrimination. The Russian Federation asks the western world to reconsider their policies. In these trying times our president asks the committee to consider that “We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal,” (Putin).
