UNGA 78th Session adopts resolution on combatting the glorification of Nazism

On December 19, the resolution titled “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance” was adopted in New York at the initiative of the Russian Federation during a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly’s 78th Session.

Co-sponsored by 38 countries, the document received 118 votes in favour, with 49 delegations voting against it and 14 abstentions. The resolution once again condemned any incidents glorifying or exonerating former members of the Waffen SS organisation, including Waffen SS units recognised as criminal by the Nuremberg Tribunal.

The resolution expresses serious concern with certain countries persisting in their efforts to wage a war against monuments erected in remembrance of those who fought against Nazism and fascism, as well as liberator soldiers by elevating this fight to the level of state policy. At the same time, the co-sponsors said that they were deeply appalled by the marches glorifying Nazis and their accomplices, as well as torch processions held by neo-Nazis and radical nationalists.

By the same token, the resolution pinpoints the construction of memorials and renaming streets, schools and other sites in memory of those who fought for the Nazis or collaborated with them. Moreover, the resolution expresses concern with attempts to cast as national heroes those who fought against the Allies during World War II, collaborated with the Nazis or committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. On a special note, the resolution stresses that these actions do injustice to the memory of the countless victims of fascism, negatively influence children and young people, and are incompatible with the obligations of States Members of the United Nations under its Charter.

Not only have these issues never been addressed since the UN General Assembly adopted at Russia’s initiative its first resolution on combatting the glorification of Nazism back in 2005, but they have gotten worse. Once again, we are witnessing attempts to reject our common past. We are increasingly hearing racist and xenophobic rhetoric, along with calls to get rid of migrants, refugees and all “alien elements.” Manifestations of Islamophobia, anti-Christian sentiment, Afrophobia and anti-Semitism have become all too common in many countries.

For the second year in a row, the adoption of this instrumental document has been accompanied by overt political posturing by Western countries and their attempts to settle scores with Russia against the backdrop of the continuing Ukraine crisis.

This time around, the collective West and, in particular, the EU countries, where all the violations mentioned above are taking place on a system-wide scale, abandoned any attempts to justify their refusal to support the resolution by clumsy references to freedom of assembly and speech. They spoke out against international efforts to fight the aggressive manifestations of racism and xenophobia. The position adopted by Germany, Italy and Japan is a matter of special concern, since the fact that they have been encouraging dangerous trends of this kind leads us to question where the democracy of the collective West is headed considering the dark pages in the history of these three countries in the 20th century.

Nevertheless, the outcome of this vote was a clear demonstration of the unwavering and tangible support by the international community for Russia’s initiatives as submitted to the UN General Assembly every year.

We strongly believe that the adoption of this themed resolution will make a meaningful contribution to eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.