The Durban Review Conference, what to expect ? 

By Arielle Herzog Director of Special Projects at UN Watch
December 10, 2008 
UN Watch
Original Source: 
https://mail.hudsonny.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.eurojewcong.org/ejc/article.php?id_article=3239 \t _blank http://www.eurojewcong.org/ejc/article.php?id_article=3239
 			 


In 2001, the UN World conference against racism and discrimination took place in Durban, South Africa. This major event was supposed to be a breakthrough in the fight against racism, in the acknowledgement of slavery and in the promotion of human rights. Unfortunately, the conference was hijacked and turned into a hate fest against Israel and the Jewish people. The NGO forum, attended by more than 3000 NGOs, degenerated into an anti-Israel and anti-Jewish gathering with the Protocol of Elders of Zion as its bible. The forum produced a declaration that was so anti-Semitic, that for the first time in UN history, the document was rejected by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. In parallel, the official governmental meeting was also tainted by anti-Israel rhetoric which led the U.S. and Israel to withdraw. Only after this withdrawal and with European countries threatening to do the same, did the conference participants finally agreed on a compromise and adopted a text, the Durban Declaration and Program of Action. The text is not that bad compared to the conference itself, but still contains six absurd references to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and designates the Palestinians as “victims of racism”.
Now, we are on the eve of a follow-up conference, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland in April 2009. The review conference has the official purpose of assessing the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, especially with regards to the new world situation after September 11. Are we expecting something better ? Not really. The preparatory meetings are chaired by Libya while Cuba and Iran served as vice-chairs. What a choice of exemplary countries in the fight against racism and discrimination ! After two preparatory conferences and regional meetings, we find again the same anti-Israel language in the text which is under negotiation. The occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is painted as a “new kind of apartheid, a crime against humanity, a form of genocide and a serious threat to international peace and security”. In parallel, Muslim and non aligned countries are pushing for the concept of “defamation of religion” which is a direct attempt against free speech. The West is being attacked throughout as if it was solely responsible for all discrimination in the world.
UN Watch, an NGO monitoring the UN and promoting human rights, has taken the lead in denouncing the effects of this conference and its negative results in the fight against racism and discrimination. By lobbying governments who do not want to let a second Durban conference happen, issuing warnings each time a troublesome step is taken or preparing some substantiated responses, UN Watch is fighting on all fronts not just for the sake of Israel and the Jewish people, but for all the real victims of racism which deserve attention and an honest conference.
If you would like to get involved, contact us : aherzog@unwatch.org.