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31/8/2001 The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance will open today, 31 August, in Durban, South Africa. For the next eight days, world leaders and representatives from nearly 200 nations will meet to debate both the vision and the practical actions necessary to eliminate the scourge of racism. The conference will focus on measures of prevention, education and protection but will also consider the somewhat more contentious issues of redress for those nations that have suffered as a result of racial bias and prejudice. The first step towards holding the World Conference on Racism (WCAR) was taken in 1997 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 52/111 to hold such a conference. In the four years since then, the year 2001 was named as the International Year of Mobilisation against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, four intergovernmental meetings have taken place and six regional experts seminars - in Geneva, Warsaw, Bangkok, Santiago de Chile and Addis Ababa - have been held, to discuss regional priorities and concerns. These have included issues such as refugees, protection of minorities, migrants and trafficking of persons, and ethnic conflicts. In addition to these meetings, and guided by their findings, three preparatory sessions have been held prior to the Conference to draft its provisional agenda and to submit a programme of action for approval. The UN High Commission for Human Rights has been the Preparatory Committee for the Conference, the High Commissioner Mary Robinson, also acting as the Conference's Secretary-General. The provisional agenda for the Conference includes the discussion of the causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism; the victims of racism and related intolerance, and measures of education and prevention. The Conference will also consider the provision of effective remedies and redress against racism, and strategies to achieve full and effective equality, at regional, national and international levels. Out of these discussions, it is hoped that a Programme of Action will be agreed so that principles and words can be translated into tangible actions. However, the third and final session of the Preparatory Committee identified the tension in the Middle East and the issue of reparations for victims of racism (either as individuals or as nations) as particularly volatile and potentially divisive issues. Following
the wish of the High Commissioner Mary Robinson, that the Conference
benefit from the broadest involvement of civil society, a parallel
forum for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has preceded the
WCAR by three days. It is expected that the Declaration and Programme
of Action adopted by NGOs during this platform will influence the
final outcome of the World Conference. A Youth Summit is also being
held. ©EuropaWorld 2001 - Copyright Policy
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