Speaking at a forum on the subject, the island’s permanent representative regretted that the phenomenon persists 20 years after the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, and more than half a century after the entry into force of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The objectives outlined in those documents for the fight against all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are still far from being achieved, he stressed at the 11th session of the Ad Hoc Committee for the elaboration of complementary norms to the Convention.

Quintanilla also rejected the increase in hate speech and violent actions against minorities, migrants and refugees, and in some cases against entire peoples.

The multidimensional global crisis, worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbates this situation, the diplomat warned.

The Cuban ambassador affirmed that the Revolution of January 1, 1959 brought about a process of transformations in the Island that put an end to the racist and discriminatory system, suffered for centuries by the black and mestizo population.

Thanks to those radical changes, the apology of hatred, xenophobia, intolerance and supremacist ideas on the basis of national, religious or ethnic origin, have been erased from the political and social life in Cuba, he stressed.

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