INFORMATION NOTE REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN FOR THE DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE 17 – 19 JUNE 2008, BRASILIA, BRASIL Introduction In its decision PC.1/11, adopted during the organizational session, the Preparatory Committee called upon States and regional organizations to hold international, regional and national meetings and/or to undertake other initiatives in preparation for the Durban Review Conference in line with the objectives of the Review Conference, and to request that reports from such activities, on the outcome of the respective deliberations, be submitted to the Preparatory Committee through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/62/375). Agenda The draft agenda can be found in Annex 1 of this document. As the agenda may still be changed by the organizers, participants are requested to check regularly the webpage: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/DurbanReview/regional.htm http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/DurbanReview/regional.htm Venue and dates Venue: Ministerio das Relações Exteriores (Palacio Itamarati), Brasilia, Brazil Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco H. Webpage: http://www.mre.gov.br/ http://www.mre.gov.br/ Dates: 17 to 19 June 2008 Objectives The objectives of the regional conference are the same as the Conference Review Conference, and these are: To review progress and assess implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action by all stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels, including assessing contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, through an inclusive, transparent and collaborative process and identify concrete measures and initiatives 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; To assess the effectiveness of the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms and other relevant United Nations mechanisms dealing with the issue of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to enhance them; To promote 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; To identify and share good practices achieved in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; The outcome of the discussions in Brasilia, as well as those from the other regions, will be key working documents for the Durban Review Conference scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland in 2009. Outcome document The Chairperson will present the report prepared by the Drafting Committee to the plenary for its adoption. The outcome document of the Regional Conference will be composed of a preamble and a text that will reflect the objectives of the Durban Review Conference. Methodology The Conference will divide its work into two committees, a Main Committee and a Drafting Committee. The main committee will be constituted in plenary, whenever needed. The Drafting Committee will be responsible for the preparation of the draft declaration for its adoption in plenary. At its first session, the plenary will consider the list if speakers for the four themes. The list of speakers will remain open during the conference for all participants. The Chairperson will announce in advance the closing of the list of speakers. Participants Participants attending the regional Conference are the following: Government representatives; United Nations Organizations; Independent experts of the United Nations Treaty Bodies; International Regional Organizations; National Human Rights Institutions; Non Governmental Organizations (the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will provide a financial support to contribute to the cost of the participation of NGOs up to a maximum of 1,500 USD per NGO selected (one NGO per country) for those NGOs that fulfill the criteria described in the webpage: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/DurbanReview/regional.htm http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/DurbanReview/regional.htm). Registration Participants to the Regional Conference can register by sending a letter expressing their interest to the Anti Discrimination Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights or by fax: +41 22 928 90 10. Participants can also register in situ until the day of the opening of the Regional Conference directly at the venue. At that time participants will receive an identification card. For NGOs, please see the details for registration in the following webpage: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/DurbanReview/regional.htm http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/DurbanReview/regional.htm Working languages The working language of the Regional Conference is Spanish. There will be simultaneous interpretation in the following languages: Spanish, English and French. Visas Participants are responsible for obtaining the necessary visas to enter Brazil where the Regional Conference will take place as well as all the transit visas if these are required. Organizers will not cover the costs for obtaining visas. Hotels Participants are responsible for making their own reservations in a hotel of their choice. In annex 2 we attach a list of hotels that are in the vicinity to the venue of the Regional Conference. Weather Brasilia in June varies from 11 º C to 28 º C in the same day. Contacts: The contact details of the organizers are: Ministerio das Relações Exteriores: Contact: Sra. Sonia Regina, Chief, Conference Organization Committee. Tel: 61 34119608 Fax: Email: mailto:regina@mre.gov.br regina@mre.gov.br Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Sr. Jose Dougan-Beaca Coordinator, Anti-Discrimination Unit Tel: +41 794445277 Fax: +41 22 928 90 10 Email: mailto:jdougan-beaca@ohchr.org jdougan-beaca@ohchr.org Sr. Richard Clarke Anti-Discrimination Unit Cell phone: +41 79 444 37 07 Fax: +41 22 928 90 10 Email: mailto:rclarke@ohchr.org rclarke@ohchr.org Sra. Michelle Buteau Anti-Discrimination Unit Tel: +41 22 928 91 01 Fax: +41 22 928 90 10 Email: mailto:mbuteau@ohchr.org mbuteau@ohchr.org United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sr. Jean Philippe Bernardini Coordination Officer United Nations in Brazil Tel: + 55 61 3038-9114 Fax: + 55 61 3038-9209 Annex 1 Annex 2 List of suggested Hotels Mercure Aparthotel Brasilia http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/mer/3627/fiche_hotel.shtml http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/mer/3627/fiche_hotel.shtml Shn Qd 5 Projecao I Asa Norte Brasilia 70710300 Asa Norte Brasilia, Brazil Tel : (+55)61/ 34264000 Fax : (+55)61/ 34264023 Email: mailto:reservasmercurelider@accorhotels.com.br reservasmercurelider@accorhotels.com.br Grand Bittar Hotel http://www.hoteisbittar.com.br www.hoteisbittar.com.br SHS Qd 5 Bl J S s/n Brasília, 70322911, Brazil +55 61 3218-5858 Rates: US$ 122.00 + 10% service Bonaparte Hoteis http://www.bonapartehotel.com.br www.bonapartehotel.com.br SHS Cuadra 2 Bloco J, Brasilia, Brazil + 55 (61) 2104 6600 Rates: US$ 148.00 + 10% service Naoum Plaza Hotel http://www.hoteibittar.com.br www.hoteibittar.com.br SHS Quadra 05, Bloco H Brasilia, Brazil +55 (61) 3322 4545 Rates: US$ 140.00 + 10% service Sol Melia Brasilia http://www.solmelia.com www.solmelia.com SHS Quadra 06, Conj. A, Bloco D Brasilia, Brazil +55 (61) 3218 4700 Rates US$123.00 + 5%   2