Newsletter: issue no. 2
Produced by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Durban Review Conference. The Conference aims to develop more effective strategies to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
06 February 2009
Progress made on the Durban Review Conference: delegations have endorsed a Chair’s streamlined text as a basis for negotiation
Government representatives have made progress on preparations for the anti-racism Review Conference which will take place in April in Geneva. “The atmosphere of the meeting has been constructive”, says working group Chair.
Progress in substantial negotiations for Durban Review Conference
Document under consideration by the working group (PDF)
Call for European governments to remain engaged in the Durban Review Conference process
4 December 2008: Two senior European Human Rights officials jointly call on European governments to remain engaged in the preparations for the Durban Review Conference. “The Durban agenda against racism and discrimination must be matched with concrete action and endure vigilance at local, national and European levels”, they declared.
Joint statement by two senior European Human Rights officials
Council of Europe contribution to the Durban Review Conference
In its contribution to the Durban Review process, the Council of Europe recommends strategies to improve access to justice, education, social services and jobs for groups and individuals vulnerable to discrimination. The 24-page document presents a thorough analysis of the status of racial discrimination and xenophobia across Europe.
Council of Europe contribution to the Durban Review Conference (PDF)
Navi Pillay will make concrete proposals on the implementation of the Durban Program of Action
22 January 2008: The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has told a leading think-tank in the United Kingdom that she will make proposals on the implementation of the Durban Program of Action. She will also outline suggestions for strengthening the work of her Office in the fight against racism and racial discrimination.
High Commissioner statement to Wilton Park
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights message on Holocaust Remembrance Day : the threat of genocide remains
Navi Pillay said in her statement that the Holocaust Remembrance Day “is an annual reminder that in the future we must act more decisively at the first signs that a climate conducive to genocide is starting to develop.” The High Commissioner stated also the need to combat any manifestations of racism, xenophobia, intolerance and discrimination against any group – including contemporary acts of anti-Semitism- otherwise “the insidious cancer that leads to hate-fuelled violence will never be definitely defeated”. Based on the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the upcoming Review Conference in Geneva will aim to improve strategies to fight this scourge.
High Commissioner for Human Rights message on Holocaust Remembrance Day
Report of expert seminar on freedom of expression and hate speech
The question of freedom of freedom of expression and what constitutes hate speech has been and remains one of the most difficult topics in the Durban process. To contribute to the discussion on the links between articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner brought together experts from around the world to address “freedom of expression in the context of advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”. The full report is now available.
Report of expert seminar on freedom of expression and hate speech (PDF)