Thank you co-facilitators,

1. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I have the honour to advise you that the Group will negotiate this process collectively. We wish to congratulate you on your appointment as co-facilitators and assure you of or commitment and support through this process. The group will be represented by Uruguay as the Chair and South Africa as coordinator during this negotiation. We may also be assisted by other members of our group during the process and will inform you accordingly.

Co-facilitators,

2. The Group of 77 and China has remained committed to its foundational opposition to all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. As the core group that present he annual resolution on the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action we have a demonstrated history of commitment and support for this seminal and fundamental process. The upcoming High-level meeting to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action offers an important opportunity to reaffirm the milestone achievement of the DDPA, assess gaps in implementation and accelerate our collective efforts at combatting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
  
3. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the meeting should enable Member States to reaffirm their strong commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and strengthen global public support for the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Given the historic significance of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a comprehensive framework and solid foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the anniversary of its adoption should be celebrated and its visibility increased.

Co-facilitators,

4. The Group wishes to recognise the submission of the Report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action un the title "Road map to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action" submitted last year in which the IGWG expressed the theme and proposed format for the meeting. We are pleased to note the theme "Mobilizing global public support for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action" is referenced in the guiding question.
 
5. We further wish to bring your attention to the format proposed by the inter-governmental working group of a plenary session and panels discussions. We would like to encourage this format and theme proposal is captured in the zero draft of the modalities and we maintain this is in line with the previous commemorative meeting held in 2021. We are considering some proposals for the themes for the roundtables/ panel discussion and will present them during the discussion on the modalities.

Co-Facilitators,

6. The Group wishes to emphasise the adoption of a political declaration is vital to this meeting and should reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in monitoring the implementation of the DDPA and in fostering international cooperation efforts. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action emphasizes human dignity and that equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles of international human rights and international humanitarian law and are essential in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It constitutes a holistic agenda that encompasses measures to improve education and awareness, to fight poverty and marginalization, and to secure inclusive development. Its relevance is further strengthened by the recognized nexus between combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

7. The declaration should be focused on strengthening the resolve of the international community to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as agreed by consensus in 2001. The declaration should renew the global commitment to the effective implementation of the outcomes of Durban, as articulated in Durban and reflected in the successive review declarations and annual resolutions on it implementation. The group would encourage attention is given toward the need to eliminate all forms of persistent historical and structural inequalities, including by acknowledging, addressing and taking effective measures to remedy past tragedies and their consequences, and eradicate all forms of discrimination - as articulated in the Declaration on Future Generations and the DDPA. We also wish for the political declaration to centre on education on the history of racism and racial discrimination and the impact thereof and in this regard, we would welcome underscoring the important role of youth. It is a stain upon humanity that succeeding generations bear the burden of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, are robbed of their basic human rights and are prevented from attaining their true potential.

8. It is also important to recognise the modern elements impacting racism and racial discrimination and would encourage the declaration seek to combat this, whilst remaining grounded in the Durban Declaration and programme of action. As recognised in the most recent resolution on a Global Call to action, resolution 80/193, which mandated this very meeting and declaration.

9. The group would further wish to include the importance of widely distributing the text of Durban as recognised in the report of the Inter-governmental Working Group and requested by numerous resolutions on the implementation of the DDPA and would encourage a 25th anniversary commemoration print is prepared and distributed as part of the commemorations and may also include the updated Programme of Activities of the Second Decade of People of African Descent.

Co-facilitators,

10. We wish to conclude that the act of hosting this meeting and the adoption of focused and succinct declaration will be positive step in the global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Provided the text does not seek to re-define or re-determine the parameters and goals established in 2001. We remain deeply concerned about the alarming resurgence of all forms of racism in society and call upon States, in opposing all forms of racism, including hate-speech and religious intolerance, worldwide in line with Durban Declaration and Program of Action.

I thank you.