Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason the Government did not support the UN resolution A/RES/75/237 on action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The UK is fully committed to the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as to the promotion and protection of human rights for all without discrimination on any grounds. We will continue to be one of the strongest advocates for those United Nations mechanisms that help to combat racism.

However, as set out in our explanation of vote (https://undocs.org/A/C.3/75/SR.15 - last accessed 10 June 2021), the main sponsors of resolution A/RES/75/237 were unwilling to engage with UK suggestions on the text. States had an opportunity to shape the debate on racism at the United Nations in a way that brought countries together, forging a collaborative approach and working with civil society to uproot the evils of violence and discrimination. The UK hope that the main sponsors will seize those opportunities at the next session and take an approach that recognized the need for collaboration and consensus.