Havana, Cuba.-Cuba has reaffirmed the willingness to support the international fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, during the UN Human Rights Council, whose sessions continues today.

After speaking at the forum in Geneva, the permanent representative of the Caribbean nation in Geneva, Anayansi Rodriguez, recalled that despite the adoption of Durban’s Action Program referred to the issue, some practices of racism and xenophobia are still affecting the populations in many places of the planet.

‘We have seen with concern how political parties and associations with a strong anti-immigrant, xenophobic and racist nature have grown in developed countries,’ she said.

Millions of migrants are daily harassed, discriminated and marginalized in developed societies, while minorities such as gypsies or Romani citizens continue receiving a humiliating treatment, she said.

She also described as alarming the multiple examples in which police have resorted to lethal force against members of minorities and Afro descendants.

Given this facts, Cuba provided and continues providing its solidarity contribution to the realization of the basic human rights of excluded sectors in many countries, she said.

She also estimated as crucial the international cooperation on the issue because ‘most of the victims and people exposed to these practices belong to historically marginalized groups, among them are Afro descendants, indigenous people, women, migrants and ethnic minorities.’

The 33rd regular session of the Human Rights Council is being held in Geneva from September 13 to 30.