Geneva, October 04 (QNA) - The State of Qatar affirmed Tuesday that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 championship will be an opportunity to enhance the values of respect, cultural diversity, tolerance and social inclusion for all.

It noted that it took advanced steps as part of its efforts to promote the values of equality, combat racism and fanaticism and spread the discourse of tolerance and acceptance of the other, through adopting many measures and working on promoting integration and establishing a safe pluralistic community environment void of tensions and manifestations of hatred, intolerance and racial discrimination, in line with the values and principles of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action.

This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by Third Political Researcher in the Department of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amna Salatt before the 51st regular session of the Human Rights Council, during the general debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the follow-up and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action under Article 9 of the council's agenda.

Salat stressed the State of Qatar's emphasis on the importance of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action in eradicating racism and racial discrimination, noting that equality and the prevention of discrimination are international obligations stipulated by all human rights charters, and they are principles that form part of the basis on which the principle of the rule of law is based.

She also noted that the world is still witnessing an increase in the manifestations and types of discrimination despite the existence of these international and national conventions that affirm the importance of preventing racial discrimination and combating all its forms, adding this discrimination was exacerbated due to the use of information technology and communication.

This technology contributed to providing opportunities for access to information, exchanging views, and promoting the right to freedom of expression, but it also spread hate speech and incitement against people, especially ethnic and religious minorities, immigrants and refugees, she noted.

She stressed the need to work on the use of technology as a means to contribute to the fight against racism and racial discrimination, and to encourage tolerance and respect for human dignity and the principles of equality, expressing appreciation for the measures taken by a number of countries to combat racism, and noting at the same time that there are still challenges that require additional efforts to overcome. (QNA)