Liberal International Human Rights Committee (LI HRC) is deeply shocked by the racist comments made by Senator Celeste Amarilla against a French footballer Kylian Mbappé, as well as by her threat to pursue legal action against him. As a representative affiliated with the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) of Paraguay, the Senator holds a position of public trust and responsability. Such conduct is fundamentally incompatible with the principles of human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination that underpin the liberal tradition and are enshrined in international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Public officials have a particular responsibility to uphold these universal principles and to refrain from rhetoric that fosters racial prejudice or undermines the equal dignity and rights of all persons.

LI HRC notes and welcomes the response of the PLRA leadership, which has clarified that Senator Amarilla’s comments reflect her personal opinion and do not represent the official position of the party, and has reaffirmed that the PLRA rejects all forms of discrimination. LI HRC shares and joins the party leadership in this position.