DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE ADOPTS OUTCOME DOCUMENT

Durban Review Conference
AFTERNOON

21 April 2009



High-Level Segment Continues


The Durban Review Conference this afternoon adopted its outcome document, which among other things emphasises the need to address with greater resolve and political will all forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in all spheres of life and in all parts of the world, including all those under foreign occupation.

The Review Conference also continued with its high-level segment, hearing from dignitaries from Armenia, Iraq, India, Ecuador, Chile, Russia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Switzerland, Nigeria, Colombia, Sudan, Zambia, Kenya and Libya.

The outcome document of the Durban Review Conference also acknowledges the need to enhance further the effectiveness of the mechanisms dealing with or addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, with a view to achieving better synergy, coordination, coherence and complementarity in their work; renews its call to States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; calls on States to take effective, tangible and comprehensive measures to prevent, combat and eradicate all forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; urges States to punish violent, racist and xenophobic activities by groups that are based on neo-Nazi, neo-Fascist and other violent national ideologies; and urges all States that have not developed and/or implemented national action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to elaborate such plans and monitor their implementation in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including in particular national human rights institutions and civil society.

After the adoption of the outcome document, Amos Wako, the President of the Durban Review Conference, said that the adoption of the document showed that boycotts did not help the process. It also showed that one could remain constructively engaged and reach a consensus. Provided that all moved forward in this journey, all could achieve their objective united in diversity, based on love and respect, and each member of the human race would enjoy his and her indivisible human rights.
In the high-level segment, Micheline Calmy-Rey, Foreign Minister of Switzerland, said that Switzerland was very satisfied that all countries were able to find consensus on that final document. This was the proof that those who wished that the international community worked together had finally prevailed. After yesterday’s unacceptable words, this was an important sign to the international community and above all to the victims of racism. This Conference brought together countries that wished to participate, sometimes with varying positions on the subjects. Some of the words spoken yesterday ran counter to the ideas of Conference. Switzerland regretted the use of this Conference as a platform for incitement of hatred.

Salamata Sawadogo, Minister of Human Rights of Burkina Faso, said that the Durban Conference in 2001 gave the international community an opportunity to discuss racism as a phenomenon which could affect all societies. She stressed that it was also an opportunity to explore further means necessary to create fairer and equitable societies. Recalling that the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was supposed to overcome racism and its manifestations, Burkina Faso regretted that the world was now more than ever faced with the monstrous hydra of racial discrimination.
Also speaking in the high-level segment were the following dignitaries: Arman Kirakossian, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia; Hussein Al-Zuheiri, Deputy Minister for Human Rights of Iraq; Alfonso Lopez, Vice-Minister External Affairs of Ecuador; Vivek Katju, Special Secretary and Vice Minister for External Affairs of India; Eduardo Abedrapo Bustos, Vice-Minister of Planning of Chile; Baglan Mailybayev, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan; Bounkeut Sangsomsack, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Abdulkarim Al-Eryani, Former Prime Minister and Political Adviser to the President of Yemen; Alhaji Jibril Maigari, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria; Rafael Bernal Alemany, First Deputy Minister of Culture of Cuba; Adriana Mejia Hernandez, Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Colombia; Abdel Daiem Zumrawi, Deputy Minister of Justice of Sudan; Todd Chilembo, Deputy Minister of Justice of Zambia; William Cheptumo, Assistant Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs of Kenya; and Adulati I. Aloibi, Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs of Libya.

The Durban Review Conference will continue on Wednesday, 22 April at 10 a.m. with its high-level segment. It will thereafter commence the general segment.


Outcome Document

The outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, in its first section on review of progress and assessment of implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action by all stakeholders at the national, regional, and international levels, including the assessment of contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, among other things: takes note of the efforts undertaken at all levels and welcomes the progress achieved since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to implement its provisions; emphasises the need to address with greater resolve and political will all forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in all spheres of life and inn all parts of the world, including all those under foreign occupation; reiterates that poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and economic disparities are closely associated with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices which in turn generate more poverty; reaffirms the responsibility of Governments for safeguarding and protecting the rights of individuals within their jurisdiction against crimes perpetrated by racist or xenophobic individuals or groups or agents of the State; condemns legislation, policies and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance which are incompatible with democracy, transparent and accountable governance; deplores the global rise and number of incidents of racial or religious intolerance and violence, including Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and anti-Arabism manifested in particular by the derogatory stereotyping and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief; and in this regard urges all the UN Member States to implement paragraph 150 of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; stresses the need to increase appropriate preventive measures to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, and emphasizes the important role that Governments, international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions, the media, non-governmental organizations and civil society can play in developing such measures; and reaffirms its call upon States to implement all commitments resulting from international and regional conferences in which they participated, and to formulate national policies and action plans to prevent, combat, and eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

In its second section on assessment of the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms and other United Nations mechanisms dealing with the issue of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to enhance them, the outcome document: acknowledges the need to enhance further the effectiveness of the mechanisms dealing with or addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, with a view to achieving better synergy, coordination, coherence and complementarity in their work; and reaffirms its support for the mandate of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, who acts, inter alia, as an early warning mechanism to prevent potential situations that could result in genocide.

In its third section on the promotion of the universal ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and proper consideration of the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the outcome document says the Conference: renews in this context its call to States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of high priority; urges States parties to the Convention to withdraw reservations contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention and to consider withdrawing other reservations; and emphasises the importance of setting up effective national monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to follow up on the concluding observations and general recommendations of the Committee.

In its fourth section, on identification and sharing of best practices achieved at the national, regional and international levels in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the outcome document: recommends that examples of best practices provided for by Governments, regional and international organizations and other stakeholders be placed on the website of the OHCHR and linked to the section on the outcome of Durban Review Conference, with a view to their adaptation and replication.

In its fifth section, on identification of further concrete measures and initiatives at all levels for combating and eliminating all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to foster the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to address challenges and impediments hereto, including in light of developments since its adoption in 2001, the outcome document: calls on States to undertake effective media campaigns to enhance the struggle against all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; calls on States to take effective, tangible and comprehensive measures to prevent, combat and eradicate all forms and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; calls on States to combat impunity for acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to secure expeditious access to justice, and to provide fair and adequate redress for victims; urges States to punish violent, racist and xenophobic activities by groups that are based on neo-Nazi, neo-Fascist and other violent national ideologies; urges States to combat impunity for crimes of genocide in accordance with international law, and in this context urges States to cooperate with international criminal; urges States to bolster measures to eliminate the barriers and to broaden access to opportunities for greater and more meaningful participation by people of African and Asian descent, indigenous peoples and persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres of society, and to grant special attention to the situation of women, in particular their practical incorporation into the labour market and in income and employment-generation programmes; urges States to prevent manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at country border entry areas, in particular vis-à-vis immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and in this context encourages States to formulate and implement training programmes for law enforcement, immigration and border officials, prosecutors and service providers, with a view to sensitizing them to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; urges States to take measures to combat the persistence of xenophobic attitudes towards and negative stereotyping of non-citizens, including by politicians, law enforcement and immigration officials and in the media, that have led to xenophobic violence, killings and the targeting of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers; urges States to step up their efforts to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to protect the human rights of internally displaced persons; urges States to enact and implement legislation, and to devise, enforce, and strengthen national, regional and global action plans that integrate a human rights perspective, in particular accounting for gender and age, to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in persons, particularly of women and children and other vulnerable groups; and urges all States that have not developed and/or implemented national action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to elaborate such plans and monitor their implementation in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including in particular national human rights institutions and civil society.

High-Level Segment

ARMAN KIRAKOSSIAN, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, said that in the context of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Armenia was greatly concerned about the instances of incitement to hatred during the period following the World Conference. As it was noted in the draft outcome document, it was imperative to prohibit by law any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constituted incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, in accordance with the international obligations of States. National or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic minorities were one of the most vulnerable groups in any society and were often subjected to acts of discrimination. In this regard, it was of extreme importance and obligation for all States to provide necessary protection for the persons belonging to minorities, which should be treated equally and enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination of any kind. State policies should be revised and new measures adopted to ensure full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

The preparatory process had shown that while they had made great headway in many areas, those that went deeper into the core of the issues still created many sensitivities, not allowing them to look at the problem with an open eye and strong will to address them. This brought about insurmountable difficulties that kept them at the same juncture as they were in 2001. Genocide was the extreme manifestation of racial discrimination. Armenia highlighted this issue as a nation, which had suffered the first genocide of the twentieth century, with about 1.5 million lives lost and still evident consequences. In this respect, Armenia welcomed the activities of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and especially the recent elaboration of possible warning signs.

HUSSEIN AL-ZUHEIRI, Vice Minister of Human Rights of Iraq, said that participation in this Conference was one of the top priorities for the Iraqi Government, and in particular with regard to international cooperation in the field of human rights. The accomplishment of the objectives of this Conference represented the achievement made by the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, with respect to all concerned partners on a national, international and regional level. The goals also included combating all modern forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. To fulfil these goals a transparent and comprehensive mode for cooperation needed to be established. New forms of racism also needed to be combated including defamation of religions and religious institutions. A large number of ethnic communities had lived in peace in Iraq and the Iraqi Constitution upheld the provisions that protected them. Freedom of faith, religious practices, respect for cultural diversity, and the right to have basic registration documents issued in national languages were protections provided through the Iraqi Constitution.

Despite the circumstances encountered by Iraq during the past five years, which encouraged the spread of intolerance, retribution which targeted all Iraqis without exception and the breakout of xenophobic material, and political ploys which aimed to weaken the control of the Government, this would not prevent the Iraqi Government from taking the necessary steps to protect its citizens without discrimination and to adopt measures to eradicate such acts.

VIVEK KATJU, Special Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, said that this Review Conference was taking place amidst a global and financial crisis of grave magnitude and at a time when the scourge of terrorism sought to undermine global security and freedoms. It was inevitable that these challenges compelled attention. However, even while they focused on them, they could not lose sight of the continuing need to address core issues of racism and ensure that people of African and Asian descent that were facing, in many cases, fresh discrimination did not join the ranks of those victims of racism who in the past had no redress. For India, the issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance held a special significance. India was a victim of colonialism. Colonialism was rooted in the notion of racial superiority; racism had been the very bedrock of colonialism.

Remaining faithful to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, they must seek to craft more effective measures to enhance its implementation so as to make a difference on the ground to the victims of racial discrimination. The outcome of the present Review Conference should be forward-looking and realistic in its approach. The draft outcome document made an appropriate assessment of the effectiveness of the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms and other United Nations mechanism dealing with the issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The 2001 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was an expression of their desire to eliminate the deep scars of racial discrimination. They must ensure that they did not falter in their efforts and that they did not allow the many challenges they faced to deter them from their task.

ALFONSO LOPEZ, Vice Minister for External Affairs of Ecuador, said that Ecuador was committed to ensuring the fullest economic, social and cultural rights for Afro-Ecuadorian people thanks to affirmative action. The Afro-Ecuadorian peoples’ social, cultural and economic rights were safeguarded in Ecuador and their enjoyment of those rights had been secured through programmes implemented by the Government. In addition, Ecuador recently enacted reforms to the criminal code, criminalizing hate crimes, including incitement to hatred, and disrespect on grounds of colour, race, sex, national or religious origin and sexual orientation, among others. The rights of indigenous and Afro-Ecuadorian people were central to the priorities of the Government. The Peoples Social Movements and the Peoples Participation Programmes were implemented to provide those groups with the ability to be a part of the decision making process which affected them directly.

The National Development Plan 2007-2010 also increased opportunities for all peoples, said Mr. Lopez. This plan aimed at the affirmation of national identity and intercultural nature. Thanks to various policies that sought to reform social policies, Ecuador was now a country that promoted social inclusion, which was also in line with the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Additionally, the plan aimed to link public policies with social development initiatives already underway, in particular with respect to measures taken on housing and food. Ecuador like other developing countries had become a country where migrants were a significant aspect of public policies and strategies. The unclear legal status of migrants excluded them from many social benefits and consequently Ecuador attached great importance to the issue of migrants as central to this Conference as they suffered greatly from racism and racial discrimination. With respect to follow-up mechanisms, Mr. Lopez stressed that efficiency of those mechanisms was necessary for the effective implementation of the objectives of the outcome document.

EDUARDO ABEDRAPO, Vice-Minister of Planning of Chile, said that in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, violations of human rights which, at different degrees, occurred in all regions of the world, implied an ethical and political commitment of the international community as a whole. The centre of this concern should be the victims and its goal the elimination and eradication of these scourges. It was therefore imperative to take stock of the progress achieved and to evaluate the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to review the effectiveness of the existing follow-up mechanisms, to foster the ratification and universal implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and to identify and share the good practices in use in the fight against these scourges. Therefore, the Review Conference constituted one of the greatest challenges of the United Nations.

The United Nations was fundamental for the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of ensuring effective enjoyment of human rights throughout the world. The values of equality, liberty, justice and tolerance needed to be propagated throughout the world. The international community could not accept incitement to hate or intolerance in any place, nor under any circumstances. Multilateralism required the ability to listen to each other, and to expose postulates in a constructive way. All countries should centre their attention on the victims, and should continue the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. The international community should continue to search for consensus and act in consistence with such consensus - this was the only way to move forward.

BAGLAN MAILYBAYEV, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, said that the Durban Review Conference would certainly make a contribution to greater tolerance throughout the world. Racial discrimination in the era of globalization was a pressing issue. Since its independence in 1999, Kazakhstan had implemented policies that fully ruled out discrimination. Several institutions had been established and financial grants given to support inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony in Kazakhstan. In July 2009, the third inter-religious congress would be held in the capital on the role of religious leaders in peace making. Kazakhstan continued to seek rapprochement between cultures, regardless of race. It remained fully committed to this noble goal that they all shared.

ALEXANDER V. YAKOVENKO, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said that much had changed since the Durban Conference in 2001, but, regrettably, racism, ethnic and religious intolerance had not vanished. It must be admitted that these social diseases continued to mutate and manifest themselves in more and more ugly forms. In a number of countries one witnessed an increase in protectionism, the emergence of new dividing lines, the uprising of xenophobia, social discord and inter-ethnic tensions. Those were national minorities who became hostages of this situation as they most frequently faced various manifestations of discrimination. One should not forget that it was discrimination that served as a breeding ground, and sometimes – a cause, for global tragedies. Nazism with its theory of racial superiority cultivated itself on discrimination.

Certainly, one could chose to refrain from doing anything to combat these negative phenomena under the pretext of defending the principle of unlimited freedom. However, sooner or later such reluctance would only result in a situation which was out of control. This may become a reality if the international community continued to neglect moral, religious and ideological norms and values. Russia understood that consensus on the outcome document of the Conference was the prerequisite to the success of the Conference. The Russian Federation called on the Conference to give strong new impetus to consolidate efforts in the fight against racism and racial discrimination. The most important thing here was to renounce double standards which were especially destructive in such a delicate sphere as inter-ethnic and inter-confessional relations. It was essential, stressed Mr. Yakovenko that all participants in this forum realized their responsibility for future developments and demonstrated political will to achieve mutually acceptable decisions.

BOUNKEUT SANGSOMSACK, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, said since the Durban Conference, significant progress and achievement had been made in the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. However, the Conference slogan, "United against Racism: Dignity and Justice for all" had not been fully realised, and the realities of today's world were still not free from patterns of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, constituting serious obstacles to the enhancement of international peace, security, and stability, as well as to international cooperation and development. The international situation was still characterised by interstate conflicts, terror, and unlawful unilateral sanctions and interventions, world food, economic and financial crisis, climate change, and other challenges to be addressed.

At the international level, the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had actively cooperated with the international community to protect and promote human rights and to realise the purposes of the United Nations Charter, and had always been in favour of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions against racism and racial discrimination. The Government regarded the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as part and parcel of the wider national effort to protect and promote human rights. The Government reiterated its determination to work in close cooperation with the international community for the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic regarded the Review Conference as a very important opportunity to sincerely assess and evaluate the achievements, challenges and difficulties in fighting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Lessons learnt from the experience of the implementation so far would assist in designing and agreeing on the future course of actions that would help all to be truly "United against Racism" in order to ensure "Dignity and Justice for All".

ABDULKARIM AL-ERYANI, Former Prime-Minister and Political Adviser to the President of Yemen, said that this Review Conference was a major step in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. It was a source of hope and optimism in these times of international crisis. There were still obstacles that had been identified at the Durban Conference in 2001 which still required solutions. A new Constitution had enshrined democratic choice, peaceful transition to power and a multi-party system in Yemen. Since its independence, there had been remarkable progress in that regard. It had also moved forward on the legal level in order to set things on the right path. Yemen had also ratified a large number of international conventions, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It had submitted various reports to the relevant Committees. It was Yemen’s brotherly duty to extend help to Somali refugees.

The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was a solid basis for the discussion of the current situation and solutions that needed to be found. Combatting racism in all forms required further measures. Assessments of process made under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was an important action. This was done in a transparent and well-prepared way in Yemen. The Arab and the Islamic Group had cooperated with all in order to obtain a consensual text. The international community must bring its points of view closer together and reach out to the least developed countries. One must not forget that the right to development was a major human right. Today’s world was witnessing current forms of racism such as insults to religions and religious symbols due fundamentally to ignorance, Islam in particular had been insulted as had the Prophet Mohammed. The freedom of expression could not be given up but it must not be an excuse to incitement to hatred.

SALAMATA SAWADOGO, Minister for the Promotion of Human Rights of Burkina Faso, said that the Durban Conference in 2001 gave the international community an opportunity to discuss racism as a phenomenon which could affect all societies. She stressed that it was also an opportunity to explore further means necessary to create fairer and equitable societies. Recalling that the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was supposed to overcome racism and its manifestations, she regretted that the world was now more than ever faced with the monstrous hydra of racial discrimination.

Ms. Sawadogo noted that Burkina Faso had ratified most international instruments relating to all forms of discrimination and took action against racism. Burkina Faso held every two years a National Week of Culture that exalted the culture of different ethnic groups. Burkina Faso was indeed a country of emigration; its nationals were or could be subjected to denial of various kinds of human rights, which was why the Government placed great hope in the findings of this Review Conference. She noted the importance that this Conference was the ultimate opportunity to consolidate the Durban process, and to find appropriate ways and means for effective implementation of actions that were recommended. These objectives would be achieved only in a dynamic assembly and with the consensus of all States. Burkina Faso supported the development of additional standards which backed up the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to better respond to new challenges as the international community campaigned against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance.

RAFAEL BERNAL ALEMANY, First Deputy Minister of Culture of Cuba, said the World Conference against racism had been a milestone in the fight for equal rights for all human beings. On that occasion, Fidel Castro had stated that "racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia constituted a social, cultural and political phenomenon, not the natural inclination of human beings". The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action represented the will of humanity to overcome this, and should constitute a priority for all in its implementation. Rooting out this phenomenon was a moral obligation and vital to this was political will, not only at the national, but also the international level. All should recognise that slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade were crimes against mankind, and the descendents of the victims of those criminal practices, just like the victims of colonialism and genocide should receive the compensation they deserved as a measure of historic justice.

The adoption of the final document was welcomed, although it was regrettable that the negotiations took place in a negative atmosphere, as this precluded a more inclusive and powerful text that would have further protected the victims of this scourge. In the years after the Durban Conference, it was regrettable that progress so far was very modest - racial discrimination and xenophobia were getting worse, and were being perpetuated by the growing gap between rich and poor, as a result of globalization, and neo-liberal patterns. Racism and racial discrimination took root in the social fabric, and were a reality in all countries, but in the lands of the North, the rich industrialised countries, they were entrenched to the greatest extent. The media was used to disseminate ideas based on theories of religious and racial superiority, as was the Internet. It had been amply shown that in the absence of genuine cooperation among all States, the national efforts of many countries were doomed to fail. There was a need for a new international economic order, and the development of cooperative programmes which assisted the peoples, minorities, ethnic groups and other vulnerable groups that fell victim to discrimination.

MICHELINE CALMY-REY, Foreign Minister of Switzerland, said that Switzerland had supported the final document that had been adopted today because it corresponded to the guidelines set by the Government. It was limited to the follow-up of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and did not lead to a renegotiation of the document and treated in a balanced way various subjects while it did not offer a platform for one particular situation. Switzerland was very satisfied that all countries were able to find consensus on that final document. This was the proof that those who wished for the international community to work together had finally prevailed. After yesterday’s unacceptable words, this was an important sign to the international community and above all to the victims of racism. This Conference brought together countries that wished to participate, sometimes with varying positions on the subjects. Some of the words spoken yesterday ran counter to the ideas of the Conference. Switzerland regretted the use of this Conference as a platform for incitement of hatred.

Freedom of expression and the limits placed on that freedom were one of the questions that concerned our societies and were also at the centre of the negotiations leading to this Durban Review Conference. Exercising the freedom of expression was a fundamental element of freedom itself. It was clearly inadmissible, that one could incite to national, racial or religious hatred in the name of freedom of expression. Restrictions to this freedom were set by international law. These restrictions were not in contradiction with a democratic society. To the contrary, it showed that a democratic society could not tolerate actions that ran counter its most fundamental values: pluralism, tolerance and respect of human rights. Racism being a global phenomenon, it was important to unite effort to fight together the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The main responsibility lay with them, the States. Considerable work had been done by civil society in teaching tolerance which lay at the heart of the fight against racism. This Conference was a new step on the long path towards the eradication of racism.

ALHAJI JUBRIL MAIGARI, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, said that the World Conference against Racism was a landmark event. For the first time, the world agreed to adopt documents that recognised racism and racial discrimination as shared global concerns requiring urgent action. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action developed specific and actionable recommendations for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance at the national, regional and global levels. Regrettably, racism had been on the increase in many parts of the world since then. This was why this Review Conference was a necessary and important one, for determining the extent to which the commitments made in Durban had been fulfilled.

Africans, people of African descent, minorities and migrants remained prime targets of discrimination and xenophobia. In many countries, including those that prided themselves as bastions of civilization and democracy, political movements with racist and hateful ideologies were being formed. In some parliaments, far-right political parties had been allowed to take their place alongside other parties to espouse their openly racist and anti-migrant agenda. For Nigeria, there was no compromise in the fight against racism and racial discrimination, and it was totally committed to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. There was cause for concern by the absence of some countries at this Conference, as many were involved in earlier negotiations. Many of them were critical actors in the world and had missed a great opportunity to further contribute to the on-going global effort to eradicate racism.

ADRIANA MEJIA-HERNANDEZ, Vice-Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Colombia, said there was no doubt that the purpose of the gathering here today was to highlight the right of equality for all human beings and to call attention to the actions which the Conference, jointly and decidedly, should undertake in order to ensure its full enforcement. There were many and very painful experiences which history had left, and some of these which were recent showed that there was still a long way to go before the aspiration to overcome all forms of discrimination became a reality. This hope should constitute a motivation to face persisting challenges, and States could not spare efforts to overcome them. Colombia had worked towards the elimination and sanctioning of all forms of discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or economic or social conditions. The Government had a wide catalogue of successful experiences and best practices that it was willing to share with the international community to enrich the actions focused on ensuring the right to equality. However, there were great challenges which hindered the achievement of these goals.

Colombia endorsed the outcome Declaration, and considered it a valuable road map, but understood that the Declaration was not a perfect document and that from an individual perspective, each country could identify that certain gaps still remained. However, considered as part of an ongoing process, this document stood as a positive landmark that would allow all to work, now and in the future, against all forms of discrimination and to accomplish the legitimate aspirations and expectations of all those who had been victims. In Colombia, diversity was a source of strength whenever dialogue was prioritised to reach an understanding across differences. Only through rational management of those differences would the millions of human beings suffering the consequences of discrimination encounter the determination of the Governments of the world to surpass past events and to work to act together in a world free of hatred with justice and dignity for all.

ABDEL DAIEM ZUMRAWI, Deputy Minister of Justice of Sudan, said that international principles and standards had set solid rules that affirmed that respect for racial diversity was a resident armature of issues of human rights that should not be subject to double standards. The Durban Declaration incorporated these principles and values and confronted all of the contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. Sudan suffered as many African countries did from war and conflicts and external intervention that obstructed efforts towards peace, stability and development. Intervention culminated in targeting the President of Sudan who led the greatest development endeavor in its history and who managed aided by wide international support to bring to an end to the longest African war. Sudan’s firm belief was that the accusation of the President did not relate to doing of justice or bringing peace and stability to a country that was not party to the Statute of Rome. The International Criminal Court was being employed as a racist instrument that went after certain groups while overlooking others.

Double standards and discrimination and the absence of justice bred malice, terrorism and extremism. Hence, there was need for the reformation of international institutions, especially the Security Council, as it was steering now towards politicization and selectivity and recurrence to the colonial practices which the African and peace and human values-loving countries struggled to terminate. The effects of the international financial crisis, the food crisis, climate change and conflicts in and among States represented great impediment to the Durban action, especially to the African peoples who suffered most from racism and discrimination and economic exploitation.

TODD CHILEMBO, Deputy Minister of Justice of Zambia, said that Zambia was committed to prevent, combat and eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. This was demonstrated by the country’s high-level participation at the first World Conference against Racism in 2001. The Constitution of Zambia recognized that every person in Zambia regardless of race or place of origin was entitled to fundamental rights and freedoms. It further prohibited the enactment of law that made any provision that was discriminatory either of itself or in its effect. The Penal Code explicitly criminalized acts of racial discrimination.

Zambia welcomed the inclusion of respect for cultural diversity in this Conference as one of the instruments in combating, preventing and eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. Zambia was concerned that, in most of the recent conflicts especially in Africa, ethnic differences continued to claim the lives of thousands of people due to racial and ethnic differences being manipulated and instrumentalized for political ends. This resulted into the ever-increasing vulnerability of asylum seekers. This movement had culminated into contemporary forms for racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. No effort to fight racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance would be successful while race or ethnicity and poverty continued to overlap.

WILLIAM K. CHEPTUMO, Assistant Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs of Kenya, said eight years ago the international community met in Durban for the World Conference against Racism. This was a historic event at which the international community adopted the strong and comprehensive action-oriented Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as the blueprint to guide and measure actions in combating the scourge of racism as well as protecting victims of racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. As the international community gathered here eight years later, it was regrettable that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance had continued to thrive, and that new elements of racism and racial discrimination had emerged. Global incidents of racial, religious, ethnic and other forms of intolerance, stereotyping and racial profiling had increased. No country could claim to have totally eliminated discrimination - these were global problems which could only be eliminated through sustained commitment by the international community. The Review Conference gave a timely opportunity to reaffirm the principles of non-discrimination, and to build and reinforce the Programme of Action adopted.

The effects of racism and racial discrimination on its victims could be far-reaching. The effects of the current economic crisis, coupled with the food crisis in many countries, had placed severe challenges on the most vulnerable sectors of society, and could derail progress in the fight against racism and racial discrimination. The international community had the responsibility to address the issue of poverty, under-development and economic disparities, which were a major cause of contemporary racial attitudes. As a follow-up to the Conference, the international community should work together to overcome the development challenges faced, and undo the damage caused by past injustices. The first step towards a resolution of this problem was an acknowledgement that it existed - denial and escapism only compounded a problem. This Conference should send a clear message that the international community was determined to eradicate the vestiges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

ABDULATI I. ALOBIDI, Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs of Libya, said this Conference took place eight years after the Durban Conference in South Africa in 2001, which was a uniquely important event, held in a country that was freed after a lengthy struggle. The people of South Africa had lost thousands until the day when the detestable apartheid regime was conquered. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was adopted as a framework - nevertheless, the contemporary forms of racism and racial hatred based on religion, race, culture and skin colour were frequent in many countries of the world, and the scourge had not been overcome due to a lack of political will in the international community as a whole. Racial discrimination affected all human beings, not just developing societies. Despite all international efforts to combat the problem, the objectives had not been met as hoped, as the manifestations and causes of racism remained entrenched, in particular religious hatred and some countries trying to dominate others.

The challenges affecting the problem of racism required a will to fight among the international community, as well as the implementation of true programmes of action as means to combat racist programmes and coalitions. It was not acceptable that Islam be likened to terrorism, and the attacks on Islamic holy places were intolerable. People of African origin had been exploited for centuries by whites, who did not accept their dignity. Providing compensation and making apologies were indispensable to avoid repetition of this scourge. Libya called upon all States that suffered from colonisation to seek compensation and apology. A paragraph of the final outcome text should reflect this. There were many forms of racism, but the most dangerous were practices against people under colonial domination, where laws perpetuated the discrimination and ignored international human rights law - this was a policy of apartheid. The plight of the Palestinian people was grave, their human rights were crushed and the Occupier continued to commit violations against them.

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