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Colombia Signs at the OAS Inter-American Convention against Racial Discrimination and All Forms of Intolerance

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, chaired at the hemispheric institution’s headquarters a ceremony during which the Permanent Representative of Colombia to the OAS, Andrés González, signed on behalf of his country the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance and the Inter-American Convention against all Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance.

In the presence also of the President of the Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia, Sonia Merlyn Johnny, the head of the multinational organization recalled that the agreements signed by Colombia are human rights instrument, which recognize the inherent dignity of persons and the equality between human beings and seek to "prevent, eliminate, prohibit, and punish" all acts and manifestations of racism, discrimination and intolerance, both in public and private life.

Overall, the two instruments include more than thirty prohibited grounds that could lead to discrimination, such as race, color, nationality, sex or sexual orientation, religion, immigration status or political opinion, and establish legal regimes that could be applied separately for each one.

Secretary General Insulza recalled that the principles pursued by both conventions are enshrined in both regional and universal instruments for their promotion and protection, such as the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the American Convention on Human Rights,and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but the conventions signed today differ from them because they establish a legally binding definition of racism.

"Unfortunately, in the Hemisphere we are still witnessing hate crimes perpetrated for prohibited discrimination grounds, such as race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin and sexual orientation, among others. In these instances, the conventions include legal forms that allow the gathering of several reasons in cases of multiple or aggravated discrimination,” he said, adding that the above "strengthens for the Americas principles for effective legal equality and non-discrimination."

The leader of the OAS underscored Colombian efforts to strengthen the principles of equality and non-discrimination and recalled that the 1991 Colombian Constitution recognizes the multiethnic and multicultural nature of its society and, moreover, the country has a number of specific legal provisions aimed at combating discrimination, the most important of which being the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2011, along with various integration and minority communities development promotion programs.

By signing of the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance, Colombia joins the list of eight signatory states: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, and Uruguay. In the case of the Inter-American Convention against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance, its signing makes Colombia the seventh signatory state after Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, and Uruguay.

"I take this opportunity to invite OAS member states to ratify the conventions, in accordance with their constitutional procedures, in order to implement the provisions intended to prevent, eliminate, prohibit, and punish racism, discrimination and intolerance, as well to promote fair conditions for equal opportunity for all citizens of the America, " concluded Secretary General Insulza.

For his part, Ambassador Andrés González thanked both the Secretary General and the institution he leads for the "protective circle, the promotion of human rights and public policies modernization that the OAS impulses in each of our country, as well as all who work collaboratively to advance this matter”.

In his speech, the diplomat recalled that "in Latin America and the Caribbean discrimination and racism represent challenges that must be faced and that are often linked to poverty, inequality and conflict situations, as in the case of Colombia, so that all actions and steps to overcome these challenges are absolutely indispensable".

Among the commitments made by the states in the implementation of the conventions is the adoption of a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences, which should also serve to review the progress made by states parties in their implementation. This protection, monitoring and follow-up mechanism will be oversee an inter-American Committee for the prevention and elimination of racism, racial discrimination and all forms of discrimination and intolerance, comprised of an expert appointed by each state part, who will carry out his duties independently. The entry into force of each of these legally binding instruments requires the deposit of instruments of ratification or accession by two states, a fact that has not occurred thus far.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The B-Roll of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-359/14