Topic: Elimination of Xenophobia and Racism
Country: Syria
Delegate Name: Alexia Zolenski
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Syria position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
The United Nations was founded upon several purposes. One of these purposes, as laid out in Article 1 of The United Nations Charter, is to “achieve international co-operation” and “encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion”. Racism can be defined as “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior”, while xenophobia, by definition, is “intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries”. Racism and xenophobia are rampant around the globe, and several actions have been taken by the UN to combat these ideologies. Some of these actions include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969), the Millennium Development Goals (2000), the Sustainable Development Goals (2015), and The Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978). Though these key documents have helped work towards tolerance and respect towards people of all races, religions, and countries of origin, a lack of understanding still exists. Current issues that need to be addressed include the acceptance and tolerance of refugees in times of need, and tolerance of other religions inside country borders. These are issues that the United Nations can resolve using carefully calculated methods.
Syria has taken assiduous action against racism and xenophobia, whether it be inside or outside the country. Currently, Syria is a member of the UNWRA, or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East. Our country, through strong effort, has accepted these refugees into our country and provided them with health baskets, food baskets, and educational opportunities. It has always been our country’s goal to support Palestine as it combats racism and territorial threats from Israel. In addition, Syria is a signatory on several of the documents written within the UN to combat racism and xenophobia, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969). Syria firmly believes that acceptance and tolerance are the keys to combating racism and xenophobia. We have always been a strong believer that the allowance of religious minorities and religious tolerance of all Muslims around the world are crucial to mutual respect between member nations of the UN.
There are several actions that the United Nations can take in order to combat racism and xenophobia. First, the Syrian Arab Republic encourages support of humanitarian actions toward Syrian refugees and condemns countries that refuse to aid Syrian refugees due to xenophobia. We thank countries such as Germany for their taking in of refugees, but urge countries to fight xenophobia taking place inside countries that have already accepted refugees, including the torching of 222 homes where Syrian refugees have resided. The best way to eliminate this issue would be to combat terrorism in Syria. With the elimination of terrorism, refugees would be free to enter their homeland again. Second, Syria urges countries to support Palestine in its efforts to maintain control of areas that it has historical rights to. Israel’s execrable racism against Palestinians has caused much controversy and should not be tolerated. Their extreme Zionist ideology has oppressed Arabs and Muslims, and as our leader, Bashar al-Assad, has stated “[Israel] is a racist society, a society more racist than the Nazis." Building upon this, Syria encourages the UN to adopt a document specifically addressing the acceptance of religious minorities. This acceptance could be further encouraged through educational platforms. Overall, the Syrian Arab Republic urges member nations of the UN to combat racism propitiated by radical Zionists in Israel, support humanitarian efforts towards Syrian refugees until they can return to our country, and accept religious minorities within country borders.
