The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity in the state, urging for the support of all stakeholders to achieve a prosperous and progressive Edo State that is totally free from all forms of discrimination and prejudice.
The governor gave the assurance in commemoration of the 2023 International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination marked yearly by the United Nations and its sister agencies.
Obaseki, who described racial discrimination as a flagrant violation of human rights and a barrier to achieving equality, justice, and peace, said his government will sustain efforts at ensuring an equal opportunity for every Edo citizen to live their life to the fullest.
He said, “As we mark the 2023 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to promoting equality, inclusion and social justice in Edo State.
“Racial discrimination is a global issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is a flagrant violation of human rights, which threatens our collective wellbeing and undermines our efforts to build a just and inclusive society, and requires the collaboration of all stakeholders to end the hydra-headed monster in all its forms.”
Obaseki further noted, “As a government, we understand the dangers of societal discrimination and have taken deliberate steps to eliminate it in all its forms and guise and promote social justice and inclusiveness. We are creating an enabling environment that guarantees equal opportunities for all our citizens to live their lives to the fullest, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion and gender.
“We are also pursuing reforms and programmes to promote diversity in our workforce, improve access to education and healthcare, and empower marginalized communities, thereby tackling inequalities and discrimination in our state.”
According to the United Nations, “The 2023 theme of the International Day focuses on the urgency of combatting racism and racial discrimination, 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
“The UDHR states that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind, such as race and colour, among others. However, racism and racial discrimination continue to affect people all over the world.”
