World Conference against Racism
| Ein location | Durban  |
|---|---|
| Main subject | anti-racism |
| Tym dem start | 31 August 2001 |
| End tym | 7 September 2001 |
| Organizer | United Nations |
De World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) be a series of international events organized by UNESCO to promote struggle against racism ideologies den behaviours. Five conferences have been held so far, insyd 1978, 1983, 2001, 2009 den 2021. Founded after World War II den de Holocaust as a dependent body of de United Nations, UNESCO started as soon as e be created to promote scientific studies concerning ethnic groups den their diffusion insyd public opinion to dispel pseudo-scientific rationalizations of racism. One of ein first published works was The Race Question insyd 1950, signed by various internationally renowned scholars.
1978 conference
[edit | edit source]De 1978 World Conference Against Racism be held insyd Geneva, Switzerland. A major focus on de conference was South Africa ein apartheid policies of racial segregation den discrimination. Dis included condemnation of Israel–South Africa relations (insyd particular economic den military cooperation), a request dat de United Nations Security Council consider "imposition of comprehensive and mandatory sanctions" on South Africa den other "racist regimes of southern Africa", den other criticism of apartheid insyd South Africa.[1] There was sanso a declaration den program of action which resulted from de conference which condemned racial superiority, racism, den racial discrimination, den called for educational resources to promote "mutual understanding between all human beings and demonstrate...de...basis of ethnic den racial equality", among oda statements.[2]
1983 conference
[edit | edit source]De 1983 World Conference Against Racism sanso be held insyd Geneva, Switzerland.
2001 conference
[edit | edit source]De 2001 conference was held insyd Durban, South Africa, under UN auspices, from 31 August until 8 September 2001. Former Irish president Mary Robinson, then de UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, presided as secretary-general.
Entitled "World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance", de conference be discussing unfair treatment of one group against anoda. Significant time be focused specifically on Israeli treatment of Palestinians,[3] treating violations of human rights den genocide insyd oda parts of de world secondarily.
De 2001 meeting be marked by clashes over de Middle East and de legacy of slavery, den coincided plus attacks on Israel den anti-Israel demonstrations at a parallel conference of non-governmental organizations. De U.S. den Israel withdrew midway through de conference over a draft resolution dat, insyd their opinion, singled out Israel for criticism den likened Zionism to racism.[4][5] De European Union sanso refused to accept wording by Arab states criticizing Israel for "racist practices."[6]
Sanso insyd de conference, African countries, led by Nigeria den Zimbabwe, den African-American NGOs wanted individual apologies from each of de countries responsible for slavery, recognition of it as a crime against humanity, and reparations called as such. De Europeans pulled together behind de UK den de best de Africans could get be a call for support for de New African Initiative, debt relief, funds to combat AIDS, de recovery of stolen government funds transferred to de West by former dictators den their cohorts, den an end to de trafficking insyd people. But de word 'reparations' did not survive.[7]
2009 conference
[edit | edit source]De 2009 World Conference Against Racism be held insyd Geneva, Switzerland. Canada, Israel, de United States of America, New Zealand, Germany,[8] Italy,[9] Sweden,[10] de Netherlands, Poland[11] den, after some initial skepticism, Australia[12] announce they would not participate insyd de conference.
Mark Mardell of de BBC news reported: On de Monday de Conference be to begin, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini (who be until last year de European Commissioner for security den justice) had told de Italian newspaper Il Giornale that Europe ein failure to agree on a common approach was "a very serious mistake, because e show our inability, despite all de words uttered insyd this connection, to come up plus at least a lowest common denominator on a basic problem: namely de struggle against discrimination, on behalf of which we insyd Brussels so often speak out".
Frattini continued, "I should imagine dat a compromise be preferred at any price. And dis, despite de fact dat insyd de documents prepared for de rendezvous insyd Geneva, apart from a few minor improvements, a basic approach has been maintained equating Israel plus a racist country rather than a democracy. There are still unacceptable phrases which, if there had been a smidgen of consistency plus what be said at de EU ministers ein meeting, should have convinced people to forgo attending de conference – as we have decided to do, den as de United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, den The Netherlands have decided to do." (Mark Mardell, BBC News)
For April 20, 2009, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully talk dey worry about de Durban Review Conference wey go happen, as Associated Press report am. E talk say de draft wey dem prepare no go fit make sure say de discussion no turn into wahala like de one wey happen for 2001 Durban Conference. McCully dey vex say de event fit turn to place wey dem go dey argue nonsense, just like wetin cause antisemitism wahala for 2001. E dey fear say some Muslim-majority countries go use de conference take still dey criticize Israel, wey don dey cause gbege for Durban matters. Plus, McCully warn say dem fit use de conference to promote restrictions on free speech, especially when e come to religion matter. Dis wahala show say New Zealand no too dey keen to fully support de review process, wey reflect bigger international fears say de Durban framework no fit tackle racism without geopolitical wahala.
On de opening day of de conference, France say dat Europeans would walk out if Ahmadinejad made any anti-Semitic remarks. "We will have to be very clear. We will not tolerate any slips," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told France Info. "If he utters racist or anti-Semitic accusations, we will leave the room immediately."[11]
Germany dey decide to stay away from de meeting amid western concerns dat de event may take on anti-Semitic overtones, a senior official confirmed insyd Berlin Thursday.[8]
Insyd ein opening address, Secretary-General of UN Ban Ki-moon say, "Some nations who by rights should be helping us to forge a path to a better future be not here. Outside these halls, interest groups of many political den ideological stripes shout against one anoda insyd acrimony."[11]
Later insyd de day, about 40 delegates walked out during Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ein speech after he described Israel as a "racist government" den attack de creation of de state of Israel. France, which had warned of a walkout, described e has "hate speech", de BBC report.
De walkout be a public relations disaster for de United Nations,[13] which had hoped de conference would be a shining example of what de UN be supposed to do best: uniting to combat injustice insyd de world, say de BBC ein Imogen Foulkes insyd Geneva. Ein colleague Jeremy Paxman describe de walkout as a "stunt", arguing dat people should have de right to criticise Zionism.
President Ahmadinejad, de only major leader to attend de conference, say Jewish migrants from Europe den de United States had been sent to de Middle East after World War II "insyd order to establish a racist government insyd de occupied Palestine". De continue, through an interpreter: "And insyd fact, insyd compensation for de dire consequences of racism insyd Europe, they help bring to power de most cruel den repressive racist regime insyd Palestine." French Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Mattei say: "As soon as he started to address de question of de Jewish people den Israel, we had no reason to stay insyd de room."[13]
British ambassador Peter Gooderham, sanso among those who left, said Ahmadinejad ein comments be "offensive den inflammatory". "Such outrageous anti-Semitic remarks should have no place insyd a UN anti-racism forum", he announce to gathered reporters. (BBC News)
A webcast of Ahmadinejad ein speech be made available by de United Nations,[14] den de Foreign Policy Journal, an online news publisher, rushed out a transcript.
2021 conference
[edit | edit source]For September 2021, United Nations General Assembly come together make we remember 20 years wey 2001 World Conference Against Racism happen for Durban, South Africa. Dem wan show say dem go do more anti-racism work all over de world. Durban IV wey dem organize, dey try push di goals of de Durban Declaration to fight discrimination plus promote equality. But 39 countries, wey include Albania, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, UK, and USA, no come join sekof dem get how dem feel about di Durban process history wey dey politicize and some wahala talk wey dey come from di 2001 conference. Even di European Union no join or talk. Some people talk say di conference focus on de Israeli-Palestinian matter go make dem forget universal anti-racism matter, while some supporters yan say e dey very important make we tackle systemic racism for everywhere. De boycott show say international division dey deep, plus e raise how effective de Durban framework go fit be for fit do one united work against discrimination.
Check am too
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Report of the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (PDF) (Report). United Nations. 1979. pp. 10–13, 20–21, 27, 30, 39, 41, 43, 45–46, 49, 55–56, 59, 62, 65, 69–71, 81–84, 87, 89, 90, 98–101, 104, 107, 110–112, 115, 118–122, 125, 127, 130. A/CONF.92/40. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ↑ "World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination 14-25 August 1978, Geneva". United Nations. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). www.un.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ↑ "New racism declaration unveiled". CNN. 2001-09-04. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ↑ "The Racism Walkout: The Overview; U.S. And Israelis Quit Racism Talks Over Denunciation". The New York Times. 4 September 2001. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ↑ "UN rights chief backs anti-racism conference". San Diego Union-Tribune. PA Media. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ↑ McGreal, Chris (9 September 2001). "Africans back down at UN race talks: Special report: UN conference against racism". The Observer.
- 1 2 Whatley, Stuart (16 April 2009). "Germany To Boycott Durban II Anti-Racism Conference". The Huffington Post.
- ↑ Sofer, Roni (2009-03-05). "Italy to boycott Durban 2". Ynetnews (in English). Retrieved 2021-07-24.
- ↑ "Sverige boykotter racismekonference". Politiken - Den levende avis (in Danish). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- 1 2 3 "RFI - France calls for firm EU action after Ahmadinejad dubs Israel racist". www1.rfi.fr. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
- ↑ The Australians delayed their decision to withdraw to properly consult other nations on the conference platform. Within a day of learning that the draft was not ready, they announced they were joining the boycott. See:
- Levin, Naomi (24 April 2009). "Smith: Why the Durban decision took so long". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 75, no. 29. Melbourne. p. 3.
- Australia ready to boycott Durban II
- 1 2 "Walkout at Iran leader's speech". BBC. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ↑ "Live webcast – Durban Review Conference". Retrieved 22 April 2009.
External links
[edit | edit source]- WCAR website
- Summary of Durban Declaration Radio France Internationale
- "Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, G.A. res. 48/91, 48 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 193, U.N. Doc. A/48/49 (1993)", Human Rights Library, University of Minnesota.