United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that racism remains deeply entrenched worldwide, saying artificial intelligence and digital technologies are helping spread hate speech, disinformation and harmful stereotypes.
Speaking at a high-level meeting marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on Monday, Guterres said racism continues to “poison societies, deepen inequalities, and deny people their fundamental rights and freedoms.”
He linked present-day discrimination to the enduring legacies of colonialism, enslavement and oppression, citing inequalities affecting people of African descent, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, refugees and minorities.
“Racism continues to take many forms,” Guterres said, pointing to discriminatory laws and institutions, unequal access to safety and opportunity, and the use of digital tools to fuel violence and abuse.
He called for governments to strengthen anti-discrimination laws, dismantle systemic bias and invest in more inclusive societies.
Businesses, he added, must prevent discrimination in the workplace, while technology companies must identify and correct bias in artificial intelligence systems.
“Digital technologies” should advance equality and digital justice rather than undermine them, Guterres said.
The UN chief also urged countries to address the lasting consequences of slavery, colonialism and racial discrimination through concrete measures for reparatory justice grounded in international human rights law.
He called for the second International Decade for People of African Descent to deliver “concrete change” and urged universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
“Together, let us reject injustice,” Guterres told delegates, urging governments, businesses and citizens to defend dignity, rights and belonging for all.
