Durban Watch

Durban II

EYEontheUN ALERT - DURBAN WATCH
November 8, 2008

IRAN and DURBAN II

Iran, a leading state sponsor of racism,
is playing a significant role in promoting and
preparing the Durban II "anti-racism" conference. Here's how.


1. Iran is a Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Committee (known as the Bureau) of the Preparatory Committee responsible for planning Durban II.

2. A just released Report of the Secretary-General, dated October 19, 2008, describes the Iranian role: "as a Bureau member of the Preparatory Committee, it has been playing an active role in the preparatory process."

3. Iran is a major supporter of Durban II. In their words:



Watch video here.
4. Iran led the successful charge to keep a Jewish NGO out of the first planning meeting for Durban II. Watch them in action, in concert with the Libyan Chair of the Planning Committee.



Watch video here.
5. Iran plays an active role in the negotiating sessions of the final document scheduled to be adopted at Durban II. Their role? Advocating the destruction of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In their words:



Watch video here.


Watch video here.
6. Iran's written "contribution" for the Durban II final document has just been released. It claims that the most important form of racism and xenophobia targets culture and religion (ie. Muslims), that all the people of Iran "enjoy equal rights", and "judicial officials are to refrain from using sarcastic, offensive words or phrases that might result in offending the feelings and emotions of listeners." One wonders if that is before or after hanging homosexuals, stoning men and women, or bringing down sentences of cross-amputation. Here is a portion of its "contribution":
    "15. The Islamic Republic of Iran informed that the most serious manifestation of setback in the campaign against racism has been the resurgence of racist and xenophobic violence targeting ethnic, cultural and religious communities. According to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the emergence of new forms of discrimination also constitutes a negative impact in combating terrorism and the marginalization of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

    17. Regarding Iranian society, the Government informed that article 19 of the Constitution specifies that the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, regardless of tribal or ethnic origin, enjoy equal rights; and colour, race and language do not constitute a privilege. Through its policies and actions, the Government seeks to ensure that these principles are realized. Consistent with its effort to promote and protect human rights, the Government has adopted various measures, which include, inter alia, in the performance of their duties, judicial officials are to refrain from using sarcastic, offensive words or phrases that might result in offending the feelings and emotions of listeners..."
7. The Asian regional group, which includes Iran, has proposed a major assault on Israel and human rights protection.

Contribution of the Asian Region to the Durban Review Conference(10/8/2008)

The Demonization of Israel:

 Preambular paragraph:

 Recalling the 2001 Tehran Declaration and Programme of Action by the Asian Preparatory Meeting,
    [Editor's Note:The Tehran Declaration includes

    21. Recall with deep regret the practices of racial discrimination against the Palestinians as well as other inhabitants of the Arab occupied territories which have an impact on all aspects of their daily existence such as to prevent the enjoyment of fundamental rights, express our deep concern about this situation and call for the cessation of all the practices of racial discrimination to which the Palestinians and the other inhabitants of the Arab territories occupied by Israel are subjected;

    33. Express deep concern at the plight of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies of the occupying power and who are prevented from returning to their homes and properties because of a racially based law of return, and recognize the right of return of the Palestinian refugees as established by the General Assembly in its resolutions, particularly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and call for their return to their homeland in accordance with and in implementation of this right;

    34. Re-emphasize the responsibility of the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people under occupation against aggression, acts of racism, intimidation and denial of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, liberty and self-determination;]
Operative paragraphs:

 18. Recognize Jerusalem as a city of reverence and religious sanctity for three major religions of the world and call for an international effort to bring foreign occupation, together with all its racial practices, to an end, especially in holy shrines dear to the three religions;

19. Reaffirm that a foreign occupation founded on settlements, its laws based on racial discrimination with the aim of continuing domination of the occupied territory, as well as its practices, which consist of reinforcing a total military blockade, isolating towns, cities and villages under occupation from each other, totally contradict the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and constitute a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, a new kind of apartheid, a crime against humanity, a form of genocide and a serious threat to international peace and security;

26. Express deep concern at the plight of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies of the occupying power and who are prevented from returning to their homes and properties because of a racially based law of return, and recognize the right of return of the Palestinian refugees as established by the General Assembly in its resolutions, particularly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and call for their return to their homeland in accordance with and in implementation of this right;

27. Re-emphasize the responsibility of the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people under occupation against aggression, acts of racism, intimidation and denial of fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, liberty and self-determination;

68. Express deep regret the practices of racial discrimination against the Palestinians as well as other inhabitants of the Arab occupied territories which have an impact on all aspects of their daily existence such as to prevent the enjoyment of fundamental rights, express our deep concern about this situation and renew the call for the cessation of all the practices of racial discrimination to which the Palestinians and the other inhabitants of the Arab territories occupied by Israel are subjected;

69. Reiterate that the Palestinian people continue to be denied the fundamental right of self determination and urge member States to look at the situation of Palestinian people during the Durban Review Conference and implement the provisions of DDPA with a view to bring lasting peace in the Middle East;

Violating freedom of expression:

 15. Express deep concern at the use of new information technologies, such as the Internet, to propagate racial hatred, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance and that children and youth have access to this material;

40. Note with deep concern the widening use by some groups and organizations of the opportunity provided by print, audio-visual and electronic media as well as scienfific and technological progress, such as the Internet, to promote racist and xenophobic propaganda aimed at inciting societies throughout the world to racial hatred and in this connection urge all Governments to take necessary measures against such incitement;

89. Urge States to take necessary measures to denounce, actively discourage and prohibit the transmission of racist and xenophobic messages through all communications media, including new communications technologies such as the Internet;

91. Call upon the world media to establish and disseminate through their relevant associations and organizations a code of ethical conduct with a view to prohibiting the proliferation of ideas of superiority and the justification of racial or religious hatred and discrimination in any form, and promoting mutual respect and tolerance among all peoples;

Undermining the effort to end terrorism:

 87. Call on states to ensure that any measures taken in the fight against terrorism do not discriminate, in purpose or effect, on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin as well as on the grounds of culture, religion and language and that non-citizens are not subjected to racial or ethnic profiling or stereotyping;

Manufacturing victims of discrimination:

 77. Urge States to take serious steps to address the contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and in this context to take firm action against negative stereotyping of religions and defamation of religious personalities, holy books, scriptures and symbols.