After intensifying scrutiny of the racism embodied in policies of the United States government, South African government, Israeli government, other colonial governments, World Bank/IMF, and multinational corporations, Colin Powell announced that the U.S. would pull out of the conference on Sunday, citing concerns over discussion of apartheid in Israel. Canada and Israel also downgraded their involvement.
The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa, continues amid much street protest and diplomatic controversy. South African President Thabo Mbeki angered many during his speech to the conference's NGO forum for his unwillingness to address the effects of his government's neo-liberal economic policies and their relationship to the intertwining issues of race and class. The United States delegation has pulled out of the conference after failing to convince the conference body to remove reparations and Zionism from the agenda, an attempt that fueled charges that the U.S. is dodging responsibility for current and historic racism promoted by its policies. Muslim countries united to deny
observer status to the International Gay and Lesbian Association. The
Government of India said
calls by its National Human Rights
Commission to include the subject of caste are inappropriate because
caste is not racism,
but
dalits
have many counterarguments and
wish the issue to
be discussed.
Independent black journalists with decades of distinguished media
experience were denied press
credentials, and wonder if this exclusion was motivated by a desire
to appease the U.S. government.
Initial ceremonies were marred by angry confrontations between Palestinian and Jewish participants. Nonetheless, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson was greeted with thunderous applause when she took the podium and announced that the issue of Palestine would be discussed.
Thousands are taking to the streets of Durban to express views contrary to those being expressed in the conference. Coinciding with the conference, anti-privatization and anti-globalization activists called a general anti-privatization strike. African women have collectively banded together to bring their issues not only to the UN's table, but to people worldwide. Women'sNet, APC-Africa-Women, and Radio Internacional Feminista (FIRE) are reporting daily from Durban via email, bulletins, live streamed radio, online chat, and by hosting a local Cyber Café.
--
Landless People's Assembly launch the "Landless People's Charter"
--
Black Radical Congress Statement on the World Conference Against
Racism
-- Draft Declaration of the
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
-- World Conference Against
Racism NGO Forum
See IMC South Africa and
IMC San Franciso Bay Area for continuing coverage, analysis, and critique.
[ South Africa IMC
| Durban Social Forum Declaration | World Racism Meeting: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
