Racism and racial discrimination – Summary record (excerpts)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

SUB-COMMISSION ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Fifty-seventh session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 14th MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Monday, 8 August 2005, at 10 a.m.

 Chairperson:   Mr. KARTASHKIN

later:  Ms. O’CONNOR

    (Vice-Chairperson)

later:  Mr. KARTASHKIN

     (Chairperson)

CONTENTS

PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION:

 (a)   RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND XENOPHOBIA;

 (b)   PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

 (c)  PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRACY (continued) 

SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES:

 (a)   WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS

 (b)  CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF SLAVERY

 (c)   NEW PRIORITIES, IN PARTICULAR TERRORISM AND COUNTER-TERRORISM (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.

PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION: 

 (a)   RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND XENOPHOBIA

 (b)   PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF

   INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 

 (c)   PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES

(agenda item 5) (continued ) (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/26-31; E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/WP.1; E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/NGO/8, 17, 31, 32 and 34; E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/28 and 29; E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.4/2005/5; E/CN.4/2005/81)

…

2. Ms. SHARFEDDIN (International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) said that a mere 2 per cent of the American people dominated the economy, the media and culture in the United States, and perhaps even worldwide. They were thus able to force United States leaders to support the ambitions of international Zionists to achieve their dream of Greater Israel, which in any case tallied with the ambition of the extreme right in the United States to dominate the oil of the Arab world in order to counter Chinese and European economic competition. That approach had, however, led the country into the invasion of Iraq, which had been deplored by the international community, as well as large portions of the United States population and many Jews in Israel. A Europe-wide poll conducted in 2004 had shown that 59 per cent of Europeans considered that the Israeli leadership posed the gravest danger to the planet, with the United States in second place. The applause that had greeted the statement of the representative of Cuba at the latest session of the Commission on Human Rights had not reflected absolute support for Cuba but had indicated resentment at United States foreign policy. Given the gap between the public and its political leaders, who abused the power of money and the media, it was up to NGOs to work to make the United Nations the focus for the resolution of all regional and international conflicts by strengthening the International Court of Justice, the Security Council and the Commission on Human Rights.

…

19. Ms. SABA …

…

20. Discrimination remained a primary cause of social disharmony and violations of fundamental human rights. People were most frequently denied the opportunity to govern their own affairs in areas under foreign occupation. The Palestinian people of the occupied Palestinian territories and the Kashmiris of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir suffered discrimination in their own countries: they were denied their right to self-determination, in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions, and had no say in their own political or economic institutions. …

The meeting rose at 1.05 p.m.