A/49/677
English
Page 26
to share in the development or comfort enjoyed by others - the people of the
North - whether within a single State or at the international level. These
expressions of rejection or refusal of foreigners, or the Other, which take the
form of intolerance or violence, are also found in the newly industrialized or
in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
126. Looking at the anti-immigration legislation systematically being adopted in
several countries, one cannot help but wonder whether we are witnessing a covert
institutionalization of xenophobia, which would be nothing less than a new form
of institutionalized racial discrimination.
127. The Special Rapporteur is pleased and encouraged to note that countries
experiencing racism, racial discrimination, including racial discrimination
against migrant workers and against women, whether as women or as members of an
ethnic minority, xenophobia, negrophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Arab movements and
actions are taking legislative and administrative steps to control, arrest and
eliminate these manifestations and the incidents that accompany them.
128. The Special Rapporteur is concerned at the Draconian measures being
systematically taken by certain Governments to limit immigration and the
reunification of families, at the hunting down of "clandestine" or "illegal"
immigrants and at the refoulement of migrants and asylum-seekers held in
detention camps pending forced repatriation by chartered aircraft. He fears
that the humanist and democratic ideals of the countries concerned, may, for
reasons of comfort or survival, be completely trampled and that hatred, violence
and barbarism, even in the name of the law and respect for State sovereignty,
may sweep the world into a large-scale conflagration based on ethnic or racial
identity.
129. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the reactions and the mobilization of civil
society against the manifestations and incidents of racism, discrimination and
xenophobia, and applauds the efforts of non-governmental organizations to
promote human rights and understanding among individuals, communities and
States.
B.
Recommendations
1.
Resources
130. In its resolution 1994/64, the Commission on Human Rights regretted that
the Special Rapporteur had encountered difficulties in preparing his first
report, owing to the lack of necessary resources, and requested the SecretaryGeneral without further delay to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the
necessary assistance in carrying out his mandate.
131. As he stated in his first report (E/CN.4/1994/66, para. 46), in order to
carry his important and broad mandate through to a successful conclusion the
Special Rapporteur needs assistance in the form of staff and resources, as
stressed in the resolution. The Special Rapporteur considers that he would
require the following resources at the United Nations Office at Geneva: a
person at the Professional level who is a specialist or at least familiar with
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