UN's top human rights official announces publication of anti-racism action plan

United Nations ^ | 1-3-02 | UN

[Born in a Rage]

3 January----The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, today announced the publication of the declaration and action plan of the World Conference against Racism, which was held last year in Durban, South Africa and concluded without final agreement on a text.

"The anti-discrimination agenda the World Conference gave us is now a living document," the High Commissioner said in a statement released in Geneva. "With this agenda in our hands, we can regain the momentum created by the Conference and get down to the business of making the commitments made at Durban a reality."

Publication of the Declaration and Programme of Action had been delayed due to a "difference of views or perceptions" regarding mainly where to place several paragraphs of text drafted as the Conference drew to a close in Durban last September, according to the statement.

Two key negotiators - South Africa's Foreign Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini, who was President of the World Conference, and Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, who at the time held the Presidency of the European Union - have indicated that all outstanding issues have been resolved.

The General Assembly will consider the report of the Conference, including the Declaration and Programme of Action, in the near future.

The Declaration includes measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels. It also contains a section on providing effective compensatory and other measures to victims of racism and racial discrimination. In addition, it provides strategies to achieve full and effective equality. The 40-page Programme of Action elaborates concrete steps to reach these goals.

[Born in a Rage]

If you go to Mary Robinsons press release about this, there is a word and pdf link to the document --- when I tried to open the pdf file to get more info, my computer froze....

It also contains a section on providing effective compensatory and other measures to victims of racism and racial discrimination.

Since I didn't read the full report, I don't know exactly what it's about, however, I wouldn't be surprised if it included an endorsement for reparations for slavery....

[Enemy Of The State]

"Since I didn't read the full report, I don't know exactly what it's about, however, I wouldn't be surprised if it included an endorsement for reparations for slavery"

Hey..I think we should pay reparations for slavery...You bring every former surviving slaver forward and We'll pay them whats due. oh wait! thats right they have been dead for nearly a hundred years now...ooops! So what should we do, make all thier relativies rich that are looking for a free ride like Jessie "the Jackass" jackson rich? I dont think so! How would the Blacks feel if the Indians wanted reparations from them as well for their part in exterminating the tribes of the west?

[Bogey78O]

Any mention of Zimbabwe?

[Texas_Jarhead]

I'm reading this thing now and man it's disturbing so far.

I never like reading thiungs like this "We note with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization..."

Of course, this is the UN we're talking about.

[GeronL]

The anti-discrimination agenda the World Conference gave us is now a living document," the High Commissioner said

the Conference did not give it to us, the Conference failed... is this lady high?

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

13. We acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, were appalling tragedies in the history of humanity not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms of their magnitude, organized nature and especially their negation of the essence of the victims, and further acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so, especially the transatlantic slave trade and are among the major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and that Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples were victims of these acts and continue to be victims of their consequences;"

[ValerieUSA]

On the surface my reaction to this plan is that it is all about arrogance born of extreme prejudice that mere little non-official people are not able to define racism nor discern the problems of racism without a directive from the high authority of the most tolerant supreme United Nations.
But that is not what it is. It is far more evil than an arrogant tantrum by self-important ninnies.

[GeronL]

I'm reading this thing now and man it's disturbing so far

You meant its Disturbed right?

[xm177e2]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[GeronL]

especially the transatlantic slave trade

yup... they have forgiven Africans, Europeans and the Arabs (who still have slavery) and are aiming at just the USA.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"61. We recognize with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities;"

[Texas_Jarhead]

"63. We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation. We recognize the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State and we recognize the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and call upon all States to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion;"

[GeronL]

"61. We recognize with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities;"

Nothing about anti-Americanism?? Whens the last time... oh forget it.

[GeronL]

We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation.

Most Palestinians are under Arafats occupation, they oughtta be especially concerned about that.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"68. We recognize with deep concern the ongoing manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including violence, against Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers and recognize the need to develop effective policies and implementation mechanisms for their full achievement of equality;"

I'm noting some of the points that mention specific groups. Africans, ASians, and indigenous people are addressed at length. THen there is mention of Jews, Muslims, migrants, and of course minorities in genereal.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"84. We condemn the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial or national prejudice, and state that these phenomena can never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances; "

The UN condemming 'neo-Fascism' and 'violent nationalist idealogies' what a joke.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"88. We recognize that the media should represent the diversity of a multicultural society and play a role in fighting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In this regard we draw attention to the power of advertising; "

[GeronL]

88- we call for a biased socialist media

[GeronL]

we beat them there, we already that media

[Texas_Jarhead]

"103. We recognize the consequences of past and contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as serious challenges to global peace and security, human dignity and the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms of many people in the world, in particular Africans, people of African descent, people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples;"

Dang I didn't realize that these particular groups were so mistreated by the world at large.