Opening remarks by Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance 3rd Preparatory Committee Meeting

3rd Preparatory Committee Meeting


Geneva, 30 July, 2001

Madame Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to welcome all of you to this third Preparatory Committee meeting for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

I extend my thanks to the Group of 21 for its work during 4 weeks of long days - and nights - on the draft Declaration and Programme of Action. The Group’s work did not constitute negotiations but rather a streamlining of the text, in accordance with the mandate given to the group, by the deletion of duplicate paragraphs and the merging of paragraphs having similar ideas. The aim was to produce a document that would be more user friendly for negotiations. I hope that the many hours put in by the Group of 21 and the document that emerged will assist the Preparatory Committee in its negotiations.

National and regional views have been well rehearsed at this stage. The time for setting out individual positions is past. Now the aim must be to reconcile differences and reach agreement on a strong Declaration and a substantive Programme of Action at Durban to which every government can rally.

Our work over the coming fortnight will be crucial to the success of the Durban Conference. All the preparations, all the work at the regional conferences and expert meetings, all the drafting and discussions – they all have the same ultimate objective: to ensure that Durban marks a breakthrough in combating racism and fostering diversity in the twenty first century.

I would ask every delegate to bear that in mind over the next two weeks. As you consider your approach to the issues that arise for decision I would like you to ask yourselves one question: is the position I am taking likely to lead to a successful outcome at Durban?

It is clear from the discussions to date there are matters on which views differ. But there is also a lot of common ground. The best preparation we can make for Durban at this stage is to identify the areas of common ground quickly, to find clear language to express them and move ahead. Where real differences arise, I ask for flexibility and a sense of realism. And I ask that the overall goal of Durban marking a breakthrough should be kept to the fore at all times.

Notwithstanding the work that has been and is being done, as I look at where we stand I have the same impression as at the start of the last Prepcom – that the clock is ticking and that there is still a lot of ground to make up, still a great deal to be done. But the situation is much more serious now since the time remaining is so short. Despite the best efforts of many, the drafts are long and need to be reduced so as to convey essential messages and avoid repetition. We really do need to get down to business in earnest and to concentrate on making swift progress on drafting.

The true test of the value of both the Declaration and the Programme of Action will be whether they help to ensure progress in combating racism. The victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are watching events here and they will be watching what happens at Durban. They have the most urgent of reasons to look to us to secure a successful outcome at Durban which will improve their lives.

I need hardly say that it would send an extremely negative signal if agreement could not be reached on a worthwhile Declaration and Programme of Action. I prefer to look at the positive side: for the international community to mobilise behind a serious document that explains the nature of racism in the modern world, and that sets out the strategies to combat it, would be a major step forward.

I am encouraged by progress I have observed in recent weeks. There have been a number of informal consultations by and among regional groups, bilateral discussions between States and other meetings. Discussions are taking place on some of the difficult issues that have been the subject of disagreement. I welcome these initiatives and can assure you that my office is ready to facilitate such meetings. I am confident that they will contribute to the search for consensus language on outstanding issues.

A major preoccupation during the preparations for this Conference has been how to address the wrongs of the past and the effects of mass slavery and other past exploitations which persist even today. I have made clear my own views on this – that it is essential to recognise these wrongs and the negative impact they have had and to do so in a solemn way which truly respects the suffering of the victims. To those who argue that the emphasis on the past has been too great I would say that we must come to terms with the past in order to move forward. Finding ways of addressing the past will allow us to focus on the daunting challenge of addressing racism in all its contemporary forms and spelling out a blueprint for the future.

I am encouraged by a growing sense that the developed countries are becoming more aware of the depth of the wounds and the need for the global community to recognise this together as a form of healing. At the same time, it will serve no purpose, as Secretary-General Kofi Annan put it, to get lost in the past or to lapse into recriminations. With goodwill and realistic approaches I feel that the gap between the differing views can be bridged, though once again I would remind all concerned of the very short time remaining.

One point which I feel I must make clear today refers to language in the draft document that seeks to equate Zionism with racism. As delegates are well aware, the United Nations has already dealt with this issue at great length. The Resolution stating that Zionism is a form of racism was repealed a decade ago. I believe that it is inappropriate to reopen this issue in any form here, and that anyone who seeks to do so is putting the success of the Durban Conference at risk. However, I am acutely aware of the suffering of the Palestinian people and dismayed at the continuing toll of deaths and injuries on a daily basis.

It is worth recalling that the struggle against racism and racial discrimination is not a new focus for the world community or for the United Nations. In fact, the challenge of racism has had a profound influence on the international human rights protection system that has evolved over the last half century. Indeed, it is possible to write the story of the development of the entire human rights capacities of the UN in terms of the precedents established in confronting racism during the first decades of its existence. Insofar as the UN has worked with member states to act effectively in fulfilling one of its purposes - promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion- it has been its continuous confrontation with racism that proved the key.

The first human rights Convention of the new world body - the 1948 Genocide Convention - aimed at stigmatizing as a crime against humanity the ultimate expression of racism in the destruction of other groups and peoples.

At the outset of this new century, the challenge remains of how to realise the right of all individuals to the equal human dignity promised in the Charter of the United Nations. The key to meeting that challenge is the elimination of racial discrimination and the repudiation of the prejudices that sustain such discrimination. There is a need to renew a global commitment to the ideals of those who framed the basic documents of the United Nations and their determination to eliminate all forms of discrimination. There is a need to recognise what they saw, that without a clear commitment to a core idea of the UN Charter, namely that of the equality of all human beings and the need for international cooperation to achieve that ideal, the particular evil of racism cannot be eliminated.

The Durban Conference has the capacity to take another historic step in the struggle against racism and to forge a new partnership between governments and civil society that will work effectively for the elimination of an evil that has survived too long.

A comparison which I have been making is with the achievements at Beijing in the context of the movement to secure women’s rights. Under the banner 'women’s rights are human rights' there has been undeniable advance internationally and nationally on equality for women. That does not mean that women’s rights are not grievously violated in many parts of the world, both developed and developing. But Beijing helped to foster a sense of optimism that change is possible. And that has had tangible results as the international human rights standards are increasingly integrated into both legislation and women’s campaigns.

Durban should bring about a similar breakthrough against racism, and it can if the political will exists. Since this Committee last met I have been taking the message of the Durban Conference to leaders in many parts of the world. I met leaders from the Americas at the meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington; I briefed Foreign Ministers of the European Union in Luxembourg; I met the Secretary of State and members of the United States administration and had talks with the British Foreign Secretary. At the OAU Summit in Lusaka I discussed the Conference with a wide range of leaders including many heads of state and government. I was glad to have the opportunity to hold detailed discussions there with the President and Foreign Minister of South Africa.

In my meetings with political leaders I have found a growing recognition at the highest levels of the urgency and importance of the issues on the agenda at Durban and the need to have a successful outcome. I will continue in the time that remains to use every opportunity to promote the Durban Conference. I remain convinced that it has the potential to shape attitudes, not only towards racism but towards the basic question of how we relate to each other, in a positive and innovative way, at the start of this century.

Madame Chairperson, Distinguished Delegates,

To help lift the debate to a higher level of political awareness, I have established an Eminent Persons Group, under the patronage of Nelson Mandela, which I hope will help us shape our vision and sense of looking forward from Durban. The response I got from the 24 outstanding personalities I contacted has been most encouraging. On Friday a number of them will come to Geneva to take part in a panel discussion to which Heads of Delegations and Non-Governmental Organisations have been invited. The insights and experience of the Eminent Persons Group can strengthen efforts to generate a sense of common purpose. They can give us moral leadership and inspiration. I have asked all of them to speak out publicly in the weeks ahead on the importance of securing a breakthrough in Durban and I urge you to take advantage of their wisdom.

I would also like to note and welcome the continued strong involvement of NGOs in the build up to Durban and their participation in the third session of the Preparatory Committee, as well as the participation of representatives from inter-governmental institutions, specialized agencies, UN bodies, UN human rights mechanisms, and National Human Rights Institutions. The response of NGOs has been extremely positive with some 3,000 now accredited to come to Durban. The list of parallel events being organised is most impressive and looks set to enrich the Conference greatly.

Finally, I would like to express my particular thanks to the Government of South Africa for all of its efforts - both substantively in terms of leading the G21 to a successful conclusion of its work, and also for all the logistical and administrative preparations it has undertaken to ensure that the Conference will be well organized, will run smoothly, and be as inclusive as possible. I would like to, once again, encourage those States in a position to do so – and who have not yet done so - to support South Africa to defray the costs of this important conference.

I have tried to keep my remarks brief in line with the decision to eschew long statements at the Prepcom and concentrate on the vital job of drafting. I wish you success in your efforts.