Featured Update
African Perspective
The challenges ahead in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance will be high on the agenda of a regional meeting in Abuja, Nigeria from 24 – 26 August.
"Abuja hosts the regional preparatory meeting for Africa in the run-up to the anti-racism Review Conference in Geneva - © OHCHR"
The meeting is one of a series of such gatherings in preparation for the Durban Review Conference to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 20 – 24 April 2009.
Inputs from the regional meetings will be considered during the drafting of the outcome document of the Review Conference in Geneva. The first regional meeting—of Latin American and Caribbean States—was held in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, in June.
The 2009 Review Conference in Geneva will evaluate progress and assess implementation—at the national, regional and international levels—of the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the 2001 World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
The Declaration and Plan of Action are widely viewed as blueprints for individuals, NGOs, governments and other institutions in their efforts to combat racism and other forms of intolerance.
The review process will also identify concrete measures and initiatives for combating and eliminating discrimination in its various forms, and assess the effectiveness of the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms.
Furthermore, it will promote the universal ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and identify and share good practices.
All member states of the United Nations may participate in the review process. Inter-governmental organizations, specialized UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) may take part as observers.
The Abuja meeting will provide delegates from all the African States their first major opportunity since the 2001 World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, to meet and discuss how racism and its root causes are affecting the lives of their people.
August 2008
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