Pres. urges to ease debt burdens, aid vulnerable nations to eradicate racism, inequality

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has urged world leaders to ease debt burdens and provide technical assistance to vulnerable nations, in order to ensure they can continue to uplift communities through inclusive sustainable development.

The president made this remark while addressing the High-Level Meeting held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

He noted that it is important to ease debt burdens and provide technical assistance to vulnerable communities, if the world wishes to thrive for a globe free of inequality, racism and intolerances.

Highlighting that intolerance finds fertile ground in inequality, Solih noted that broad and inclusive development is required to ensure racism does not stem and spread.

Highlighting that we’re now celebrating the progress achieved over the past 20 years since world leaders gathered in Durban, South Africa with a unified vision of creating a new world free from both racial discrimination and bigotry, the Maldivian president stated that the task ahead of effectively overcoming racial injustice must also be taken in account.

As such, he noted that the future is dependent on joint commitment to unify the world despite the differences among the countries, urging world leaders to renew a vow to create a new future, free of racism and inequality, for generations to come.

Further shedding light on the words of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after the Covid-19 pandemic surfaced, President Solih cited SG Guterres having warned that the pandemic had unleashed “a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scaremongering”. SG Guterres had urged the globe to "strengthen the immunity of our societies against the virus of hate."

Solih also stressed that the unpredictability and havoc wreaked by climate change will also test the globe’s unity and solidarity.

With this being said, the president said that intensive efforts are required to prevent the plague of racism, instability and intolerances from disrupting the peace.

Going on to highlight that Maldives recognizes the significance of battling racial discrimination and intolerance in efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism domestically, Solih stated that his administration’s “whole-of-society” approach, aims to build a more solid society and seeks to strengthen and empower stronger communities

Highlighting that it is only unity and politically-driven will that will steer the globe successfully through the daunting global crisis, Solih noted that every single human being deserves nothing less than respect and an acknowledgement of their fundamental dignity.