The top United Nations official for human rights today stressed the need for
Member States put aside their differences and work together to defeat racism
ahead of the so-called Durban Review Conference later this year, which will
examine the progress made worldwide since the 2001 global anti-racism summit
held in the South African city.
Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, sent a report to Member
States planning the review conference that will be held in April in Geneva
to assess and accelerate progress towards the implementation of measures
adopted at the landmark 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
She appealed to governments "not to allow any single issue dominate
discussions of such vital importance to human dignity to the exclusion and
detriment of others."
Some of the language proposed for a draft outcome document that will be used
as the basis for negotiations at the conference has been controversial
because of its criticism of Israel's policies in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
Israel indicated last November that it does not plan to take part in the
April review conference.
"I appeal to all to uphold the consensually agreed objectives of the Durban
Review Conference, and to bear in mind their importance to the millions of
victims around the world," said Ms. Pillay, adding, "I urge Member States to
transcend their differences and to join efforts to confront racism and
xenophobia."
The High Commissioner also proposed holding a series of workshops to help
governments find common ground on the issue of defamation of religions.
Several Islamic nations have suggested revising language in the document to
limit wording that they describe as offensive to religion, but some Western
states have expressed difficulty in accepting the changes because of the
potential negative impact on freedom of expression.
"I believe that from a human rights perspective and in light of the Durban
Review Conference, it should be addressed as an issue of incitement to
religious hatred within the existing framework of international human rights
law," said Ms. Pillay.
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
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