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Fight against racism is national and international task |
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Spindelegger: "Fight against racism is a national and international task"
The Foreign Minister on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Bernhard J. Holzner © HOPI-MEDIA
Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger
Vienna, 20 March 2009 – "Our objective is a tolerant and non-discriminating society. The basis for achieving this is an open and trusting dialogue, and respect in dealing with each other. Exclusion and intolerance must finally become a thing of the past", said Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger on tomorrow’s 43rd International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Austria has assumed a series of international commitments in the fight against racism and discrimination. The fundamental document is the UN Convention against Racial Discrimination. This convention is complemented by the Declaration and the Action Plan of the 2001 UN World Conference against Racism in Durban, and by obligations as a member of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the European Union. "We take these obligations very seriously and work consistently to implement these as comprehensively as possible", said the Foreign Minister.
For example, the current government programme contains a series of measures for strengthening protection against racism and discrimination, such as the commitment to implement the 2008 EU Framework Decision against Racism and Xenophobia and the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Federal Government also fully supported the latest visit to Austria by a delegation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, by coordinating the meetings between experts and representatives of the ministries, the provincial governments, the Equal Treatment Commission, the social partners, and the civil society.
Spindelegger concluded by stressing the importance of cooperation with international and regional organizations, such as the EU Fundamental Rights Agency: "The agency is an important driving force for European human rights policy, especially in the fight against racism. It makes an important contribution towards the development of a tolerant and respectful society. Austria shall therefore consistently continue its cooperation with the Agency".
Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
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