Durban: Admission unreserved - Conference Room Paper - World Conference against Racism, Durban, South Africa - Brief Article

UN Chronicle, June-August, 2001 by Jonny Sinaga

The World Conference against Racism will be held in 3 Durban, South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001. Among its many-goals is to deliberate on what has been achieved over the past decades in the global struggle against racism and racial discrimination, as well as to identify the obstacles to further progress. It also aims to conclude with a set of action-oriented and practical steps that can be implemented by all countries and to ensure that the United Nations has the financial and other resources needed to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Given the financial obstacles that have been experienced in implementing the programmes of action of several UN Decades against racism, this will be a key achievement. Also important is the global awareness that the Conference will create, bringing this sensitive issue to the forefront of the international agenda.

These tasks have been made much easier to achieve as a result of the substantial preparatory process leading up to Durban, which has included expert seminars and regional conferences. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights conducted an open debate in Geneva in March 2001, where participants concluded that the key issues in preventing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are "tolerance and respect". While it is useful for the Conference to have a common understanding of what constitutes discrimination, there is no imperative to define what racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are--for although subjective, it is a universally accepted principle that these acts are wrong.

In seeking solutions, it is worthwhile to understand how feelings of superiority develop. People are born free of the antagonistic attitudes against particular groups that are the foundation of intolerance based on race. Ironically, it seems that such feelings come about during maturity. As an individual grows older, there may be a negative experience with an individual or group of individuals from another back. ground, mistakenly seen as a national, racial or ethnic trait. They may seek simple solutions to complex problems by attributing certain negative behaviour to race or ethnicity rather than to economic status or environmental conditions which place the onus on society at large to find solutions.

As Bob Herbert noted in The New York Times on 19 April, riots result from explosive rage, "the rage that comes from living in a society where every day there are humiliating reminders of one's debased status". This is the kind of specific issue that can be discussed in Durban, so that all States may learn from it. Ethnic-related conflicts must also be discussed so that the Conference can produce a sound, realistic solution to the problem. Participants need to realize that this meeting should not he seen as an occasion to promote extraneous political agendas. It should not become a forum of blame; rather, it should be embraced as an opportunity to discuss openly and thoroughly matters related to race and racial discrimination, and to try and find the best solutions to help people live harmoniously and peacefully. It is important to realize that tolerance also includes respect among States.

The World Conference can play a very important role in the history of mankind. However, there must be a genuine willingness among participants, State representatives, non-governmental organizations, the UN system and other international organizations to adopt historical, realistic and documented solutions on racial issues that will be useful for our children and future generations. If this can be realized, the Conference will be remembered as one of the milestones in the evolution of mankind in promoting respect and tolerance among peoples and States, regardless of colour, prosperity, background, etc. However, if participants come only to preach and lecture, it will just be another expensive gathering, without any concrete action.

One consideration, therefore, could be the establishment of independent national mechanisms, specifically aimed at promoting tolerance and monitoring the implementation of efforts to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as monitoring international organizations and institutions, which would make a report annually to the United Nations as a basis for ongoing discussions and future progress.

Jonny Sinaga is First Secretary for human rights at the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations.