The GCC participated on Friday, 15 March 2019, in a panel on the mitigation and countering of rising nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies, as part of the 40th session of the Human Rights Council, in Geneva.

In his speech, HE Mr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al- Rahbi, the Omani UN Ambassador, stated on behalf of the GCC countries, that the cowardly terrorist attack that targeted two mosques in New Zealand and claimed the lives of dozens of innocent Muslims and a number of others injured in a horrific scene, prove that terrorism has no borders, religion and culture. He stressed the importance of this dialogue, today at the Human Rights Council, which came as a response to the calls of countries promoting peace, tolerance and respect for cultural diversity, such as the GCC countries, whom they expressed their concern at the rise of movements based on racist and extremist ideologies spreading notions of racial superiority, and fuelling racism and xenophobia

The Ambassador Mr. Al- Rahbi stressed that the GCC countries emphasize the importance of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, Especially in terms of calling for concrete action for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia. In that context, the GCC countries stressed the need for States to pay adequate attention to develop ways to combat this dangerous phenomenon that threatens societies, and to be guided by the universal principles of human rights, which affirm that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

The Ambassador Mr. Al- Rahbi said that the GCC countries have made great efforts to promote tolerance and coexistence, as they have established specialized centers to fight intolerance and extremism, and enacted many laws to regulate national efforts dealing with tolerance, and criminalized hate speech, extremism and fanaticism; and intensified their efforts to organize conferences and forums aimed at highlighting the role of tolerance in achieving community security, and promoting peace.

In conclusion, the GCC countries called for giving priority to studying this dangerous phenomenon, its causes and the ways to address it within the work of the Human Rights Council, and to intensify the efforts to raise awareness and warn societies of the increasing danger of this discourse, so that all the society, and the State and its institutions contribute to putting an end to this phenomenon, and address all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia. They stressed the priority of providing the necessary political cooperation and adequate funding at national, regional and international levels, to address all manifestations of racial discrimination and xenophobia.