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The UK last week voted against a resolution welcoming the Durban Declaration presented at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), underlining that “regrettably, for far too long, the UN has downplayed the scourge of antisemitism”.
Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. Liz Truss MP confirmed the UK’s position on Twitter last Monday, stating: “The UK is committed to tackling antisemitism and racism around the world. Our statement with Australia on why we could not support resolution presented at the @UN_HRC. Pleased to be supported by friends including European allies”.
CFI welcomed Foreign Secretary Truss’s leadership on the issue, stating that the UK “sent an unmistakable message that it will tackle Antisemitism wherever it occurs. The UK’s opposition to the resolution and decision to call for a vote are important actions. We thank Foreign Secretary @trussliz for her leadership in this fight”.
Simon Manley, the UK’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, delivered a joint statement on behalf of the UK and Australia, in relation to the UNHRC resolution titled ‘From rhetoric to reality: a global call for concrete action against racism, xenophobia and related intolerance’. The statement concluded: “Racism should be tackled in all its forms and, regrettably, for far too long, the UN has downplayed the scourge of antisemitism. This must end. The UK is clear that we will not attend future iterations of the Durban Conference while concerns over antisemitism remain. We therefore wish to call a vote on the resolution before us and will vote against the draft text before us”.
In June, the UK Government announced that the UK would not be attending the United Nations Durban IV conference on 22nd September, alongside 40 other states that boycotted the conference due to Antisemitism concerns.
