UK Race & Europe

NETWORK

Briefing note

The Durban Review Conference against Racism: reaffirming the international commitment to combat racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

In 2006 the United Nations General Assembly decided (resolution 61/149) that the World Conference Against Racism 2001 would be reviewed during a follow-up conference. The Durban Review Conference took place from 20 to 24 April 2009 in Geneva.

Important dates: World Conference Against Racism: 31 August – 7 September 2001 First Preparatory Committee 24 – 30 April 2008 First Regional Meeting 17 – 19 June 2008 Second Regional Meeting 24 – 26 August 2008 Second Preparatory Committee 6 – 17 October 2008 First IWG 19 – 23 January 2009 Second IWG 6 – 9 April 2009 Third Preparatory Committee 15 – 17 April 2009 Durban Review Conference 20 – 24 April 2009

What was the purpose of the once more affirming the existence Durban Review Conference? of racism and the importance of The Durban Review Conference eliminating it. aimed to review the Durban Declaration and the Programme of What was the situation on the Action (DDPA) adopted at the 2001 Durban Declaration and World Conference Against Racism Programme of Action across (WCAR). The Review Conference the world? included an assessment of the Regional meetings to evaluate the implementation process of the implementation process of the measures set out in the DDPA. DDPA were organised to prepare Gaps in implementation could be for the DRC. Two meetings took identified and both Governments place before the DRC: the first for and civil society would have the Latin America and the Caribbean in opportunity to share examples of Brazil (17 to 19 June 2008) and the good practice. The organisation of second for Africa in Abuja (24 to 26 the DRC also served the purpose of August 2008). In Latin America UKREN Secretariat, c/o Runnymede Trust, 7 Plough Yard, London, EC2A 3LP – T: 020 7377 9222 – F: 020 7377 6622 E: [email protected] – W: www.runnymedetrust.org/projects/europe/UKREN.html Chair: Don Flynn Programme Director: Sarah Isal

UKREN is a formal member of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR)

and the Caribbean, legislation and to leave the DRC either temporarily institutions have been created to or permanently. At the end of the combat racism and help eliminate Conference however the Outcome discrimination. In addition, NGO Document of the DRC was adopted networking has ensured that the by consensus and reaffirms the lives of minorities throughout Asia international commitment to have improved. combating racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related Which were the main intolerance. The Outcome challenges for the Review Document includes a reference to Conference? multiple discrimination, to the Apart from not all regions importance of the freedom of individually having reviewed the expression in the fight against implementation process, the racism and denies the existence of a organisation of the Durban Review hierarchy among the victims of Conference has met with a number discrimination. of other challenges. These challenges include the decision of NGOs at the Review several important states - Canada, Conference Australia, Israel and the United Unlike during the WCAR, there was States - to not participate in the no separate NGO conference at the DRC. Where Europe is concerned, Durban Review Conference. some EU Member States - Instead, NGOs were given time on Germany, Italy, the Netherlands the last day of the conference to and Poland -announced early in the make contributions. ENAR issued a preparatory process that they statement at the occasion of the would not be attending due to Durban Review Conference in concerns that the conference would which it emphasised the be used to reopen negotiations on importance of the DRC as an certain issues discussed at the opportunity to strengthen the WCAR rather than reviewing the commitment towards creating a implementation of the DDPA. world without racism. ENAR also These issues included broadening assessed the implementation of the the scope of international National Action Plans against standards on racial and religious Racism. It concluded that while hatred and the establishment of some states have adopted international guarantees against ambitious programmes to combat blasphemy. racism, others have only minimal strategies in place or indeed none What happened at the Review at all. Conference? The Durban Review Conference “ Amnesty International welcomes the was organised by the Human consensus adoption by the Durban Rights Council. The keynote speech Review Conference of its Outcome Document. It is a significant achievement was delivered by the President of for the international community that – Iran and notwithstanding difficult negotiations caused a number of delegations and actions that threatened to derail the including from EU Member States Conference – states were able to come together to reaffirm the Durban

Declaration and Programme of Action Others left the DRC during the (DDPA) and their commitment to prevent, speech of the Iranian President. combat and eradicate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and The EU as a whole was represented related intolerance .” – Amnesty by the Commission, which attended International , Public Statement Durban as an observer. Several Review Conference: We have the words, parliamentary groups including the now it is time for the action Progressive Alliance of Socialists and the European Parliament What was the position of the (PSE) and the Alliance of Liberals regarding the and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Review Conference? have criticised the EU’s lack of a As mentioned above, certain EU common strategy both prior to and Member States decided they would during the DRC. not be participating in the DRC.

List of Acronyms ALDE - Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe DDPA - Durban Declaration and Programme of Action DRC - Durban Review Conference EU - European Union IWG - Intergovernmental Working Group NAPR - National Action Plans against Racism NGO - Non-governmental organisation PrepCom - Preparatory Committee PSE - Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament UK - United Kingdom UN - United Nations WCAR - World Conference Against Racism

Useful links Durban Review Conference website http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/ International Service for Human Rights http://www.ishr.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=9 &Itemid=503 ENAR Statement http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/pdfpress/2009-04- 20%20Durban%20Statement%20final.pdf European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/search/simple/perform.do?language=en&qu ery=Durban+Review+Conference Amnesty International Public Statement http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/IOR41/020/2009/en/4624d463- 8fe3-4069-afa5-8b51941d703b/ior410202009en.pdf