Guyana votes in favor of UN resolution against racism – Permanent Representative

– confirms that Guyana sponsored a resolution on behalf of G-77

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has reminded that Guyana’s vote in favor of the United Nations 2020 resolution against racism has, in fact, played an integral part in sponsoring the UN a decision.
In a statement over the weekend, Rodrigues-Birkett explained that Guyana voted in favor of the resolution when it was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly last year. This comes after reports that Guyana did not, in fact, support the decision.
“It has been brought to my attention that circulation on social media is the claim that Guyana voted against a United Nations resolution entitled” A global call for decisive action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and comprehensive implementation and follow-up of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, ”she said in her statement.
“This is completely false and cannot be further from the truth. As Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, I wish to confirm that Guyana voted in favor of the resolution when it was adopted in the General Assembly. ”
He explained that Guyana was the main sponsor of the decision, as the country at the time held the Chairmanship of the G-77 and China, an intergovernmental group at the United Nations made up of developing countries.
“Guyana introduced and voted in favor of the resolution … indeed, as Chairman of G-77 and China, Guyana was the main sponsor of the resolution and, in conjunction with South Africa, facilitated discussions for this decision in the Third Committee,” Rodrigues -Birkett said.
“The decision was presented by the Guyana representative at the Third Committee on November 19th, 2020, who reminded the Committee that 2021 would mark the 20th Anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Action Program and, as such, the G-77 China has introduced significant changes to the resolution aimed at commemorating this important milestone. ”
He also noted that Guyana had explained how serious the Government is in terms of racial discrimination, in sponsoring the decision. According to her, the G-77 was considering the opportunity presented by the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Action Program.
“(Solution) includes a holistic agenda that encompasses measures to improve education and awareness, to combat poverty and marginalization, and to ensure inclusive development. Its relevance is further strengthened by the recognized link between combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “
“The Group believes that in the forthcoming commemoration, more attention should be given to the issues affecting people of African descent. The International Decade for People of African descent and the adoption of the program of activities for implementing the Decade by consensus are integral to the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Action Program, ”Guyana said at the time of the decision.
According to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guyana invited delegations to co-sponsor and vote in favor of the decision once their statement was over. He also noted that the automatic generation of the vote as shown on the screen in the room at the time of voting is not the last official record of the meeting.
“Needless to say, Guyana, as proposer of a resolution, would not have voted against our own decision,” Rodrigues-Birkett said in her statement.
In the meantime, this publication made its own checks. According to the Third Committee’s report on item 70 on the 75th session agenda, available in the UN data library on its website, Guyana indeed voted in favor of the draft resolution on November 19. The decision was carried by a recorded vote from 124 to 12, with 44 abstentions.
Voting against the decision were Australia, Canada, Czech, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Slovenia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.