COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF CAMEROON

STATEMENT BY DR. SOLOMON NFOR GWEI

CHAIRMAN AND HEAD OF DELEGATION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
AND FREEDOMS OF CAMEROON

WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION,
XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE,

Durban, 4 September 2001

Madam President, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, All Protocol respected,

My delegation and I would like to add our own voice in congratulating you on the marvelous job you are doing as Chairman of this historic conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related intolerance. We also thank the South African Government for hosting the conference and express our deep, heart-felt sympathy for the loss of their great son who epitomized what this conference is all about.

Madam President,

We fully support the statement presented by Dr. Barney Pityana, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission on behalf of National Institutions. My delegation would like to bring the following points to the attention of this august assembly:

1. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance have weighed so heavily on many members of our human family that we consider them as crime against humanity.

2. Many victims of these evils who have suffered more than words can ever express look up to the outcome of this conference with great expectations.

It is therefore our greatest hope and wish that on our return these victims and would-be victims will see a bright future for them and for all mankind based on the positive concrete plan of action that will be adopted at the end of the Conference.

3. Our Commission and other National Institutions are ready to go to work immediately on our return home to face the enourmous challenges of uprooting the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance from out Society, if our Governments will support us with the necessary financial, material and human resources.

4. We salute the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the excellent work she has been doing in the area of human rights and particularly the way she has encouraged National Institutions to play a very significant role in the promotion and protection of human rights at the natoinal and international levels. We therefore emplore the World Conference to provide her office with adequate financial, material and human resources. This will also enable her to implement the Plan of Action that will result from this historic Confernece.
Madam President, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlmen,

We wish you God's guidance as you continue to deliberate on these delicate and very important issues that will determine the welfare of mankind in the years to come.

Thank you for your kind attention.