UN Chronicle | Durban Conference against Racism

Durban Conference against Racism
From the Birthplace of Passive Resistance, A Call for Tolerance

UNICEF Photo

The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance ended in Durban, South Africa, with a call for the international community to eradicate those scourges. Durban: where Gandhi began his movement of passive resistance against apartheid and colonialism. South Africa: the birthplace of a model for a future of understanding and respect.

After nine days of intensive and often difficult deliberations that threatened to unravel hard-won compromises, the Conference adopted a Declaration and Programme of Action that commit Member States to undertake a wide range of measures to combat racism and racial discrimination at the international, regional and national levels. Determined to draft a text before the official end of the Conference, participants worked into the following day to finalize an agreement. An apology for slavery and “a recognition” of the plight of Palestinians in Israel were both part of the final document. A number of delegations made known their reservations or disassociations on certain issues, including those relating to the Middle East and the legacy of racism.

On the Middle East, the Conference called for the end of violence and the swift resumption of peace negotiations; respect for international human rights and humanitarian law; respect for the principle of self-determination; and the end of all suffering, thus allowing the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume the peace process and to develop and prosper in security and freedom. Expressing concern about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation, its Declaration recognized their inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State. It also recognized the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and called upon all States to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion. On slavery, the Conference agreed on a text that acknowledges and profoundly regrets the massive human sufferings and the tragic plight of millions of men, women and children as a result of slavery, the slave trade, a! partheid, colonialism and genocide. Acknowledging these were appalling tragedies in the history of humanity, it further acknowledged that slavery and the slave trade, especially the transatlantic slave trade, are a crime against humanity and should always have been so.

“I do not claim that this Conference has solved the problems of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”, Mary Robinson, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the Conference, said at the closing session. “The issues have been addressed, not answered. But we have a framework. We have made a start and that is what counts. The true measure of our work will be whether it makes a real difference in the lives of the victims of racism and discrimination.” Mrs. Robinson has put emphasis on the follow-up to the Conference, saying there was new hope for millions of people in their sense of being reaffirmed in their rights and sense of dignity. “Now we have to show it makes a difference”, she said. The follow-up would be key, involving the responsibility of Governments and the role of civil society in monitoring the implementation of the final documents.

UN Photo

The Conference President, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma of South Africa, said that what came out of Durban would be a powerful tool for activists to use in the struggle against racism. She hoped that people had made networks and that the movement started in Durban would continue. Asked about the issue of apology and reparations, Dr. Zuma said: “To most of us an apology did not mean money, it means dignity”. You could not put monetary value on the restoration of that dignity. Development to restore the dignity of the people of the developing countries was what it meant. On the Middle East, she added, what was important was whether there would be enough energy, determination and political will to deal with the peace process.

Some of the key provisions in the
Declaration and Programme of Action
resulting from the Durban Conference are:

The Declaration agrees on a definition of victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as “individuals or groups of individuals who are or who have been affected by or subjected to or targets of those scourges”.

It expresses and recognizes:

Solidarity with the African peoples in their continuing struggle against racism and intolerance, and that those evils are among the root causes and consequences of armed conflict;

The inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent state, and the right to security for all States in the Middle East, including Israel;

Regret for the massive human sufferings resulting from slavery, the slave trade, apartheid and genocide, recognizing that slavery and the slave trade are crimes against humanity and should always have been so;

The need to develop programmes for social and economic development, and for developed countries and the United Nations to support the New African Initiative and similar innovative mechanisms;

Deep concern that socio-economic development is being hampered by widespread internal conflicts and from lack of democratic governance;

Concern that in some States political and legal structures do not correspond to the diverse characteristics of the population;

The ongoing manifestations of racism and intolerance, and the need to develop effective policies and implementation mechanisms for their full achievement of equality;

That people of African descent have for centuries been victims of racism, discrimination, enslavement and of history’s denial of their rights, and that they, as well as people of Asian descent, face barriers as a result;

The responsibility of States to protect the human rights of migrants, and of Governments to protect them against illegal or violent acts perpetrated because of racism or xenophobia;

That intolerance against refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons continues, and underlines the urgency of addressing root causes and finding durable solutions;

The existence of intolerance against religious communities, as well as the emergence of increased negative stereotyping, hostile acts and violence against such communities;

That victims of human rights violations resulting from racism and intolerance should be assured of access to justice, legal assistance and appropriate protection and remedies, including the right to seek reparation;

That media should represent the diversity of a multicultural society by fighting racism and intolerance and avoiding stereotyping;

That quality education, the elimination of illiteracy and access to free primary education for all can contribute to more inclusive societies and a culture of peace;

That international response and policy, including financial assistance, towards refugees and displaced persons should not be based on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.
The Declaration condemns:
the persistence and resurgence of neo-nazism, neo-fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial or national prejudice;

political platforms and organizations based on racism;

xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination;

and legislation and practices based on racism and intolerance
as incompatible with democracy and transparent, accountable governance.

The Conference recommended the establishment of a follow-up observatory, made up of eminent persons, to work with and report to the High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations bodies.

Programme of Action

States are urged, among other things, to:

Develop or implement effective legislation and other measures to protect migrant workers, domestic workers and trafficked persons and facilitate family reunification;

Ensure education and training, especially of teachers, promote respect for human rights, the fight against racism, and awareness of the causes of racism;

Develop strategies to address discrimination against refugees;

End impunity and prosecute those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including sexual and other gender-based violence against women and girls;

Adopt or continue to apply all necessary measures to promote, protect and ensure the rights of indigenous people;

Ensure accountability for misconduct by law enforcement personnel motivated by racism, and eliminate racial profiling;

Enhance measures to fulfil the right to good physical and mental health, eliminating disparities in health status that might have resulted from racial discrimination;

Guarantee the right to freedom of expression and encourage access to, and use by all people of, the Internet.