News

On 20 April in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance started. At the conference, Lithuania is represented by Lithuania’s Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Eduardas Borisovas.

The Conference aims to assess the implementation of the commitments that were made by governments to combat racism and related intolerance, as is laid out in the Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted during the Durban Conference in 2001.

Aware of the importance of multilateral efforts to tackle racism and racial discrimination, Lithuania is taking part in the conference, is closely following the process of negotiations on the final document and speaks up for the values that are defended by the European Union.

Lithuania holds the position that all the regions and all the victims of racism should be treated equally in the common fight against racism. The freedom of expression should not be limited under the disguise of defamation of religions and Holocaust denial is not tolerable.

Lithuania reserves the right to retreat from the conference, if its final document will encompass provisions that are not in compliance with the universally established human rights.