BAN, UN RIGHTS CHIEF HAIL ADOPTION OF OUTCOME DOCUMENT AT ANTI-RACISM
CONFERENCE
New York, Apr 21 2009 5:10PM
Top United Nations officials welcomed today's adoption of an outcome
document, emphasizing the need to address all manifestations of intolerance
with greater resolve, on the second day of the world body's anti-racism
<"http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/story23.shtml">Durban Review
Conference.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "heartened" that all States at the
five-day gathering in Geneva adopted the text by consensus, signalling the
international community's rejuvenation of its commitment to implement the
landmark Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) agreed on by
nations in 2001.
Today's adoption gives "hope to the millions of victims of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance around the world," he
said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3801">statement issued
by his spokesperson.
Mr. Ban underlined that "the fight against racism is a continuous process,"
voicing hope that Member States not taking part in the current event -
including the United States and Israel -will "rejoin the international
community soon in the fight against the scourges of racism and racial
discrimination."
Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, hailed today's
development as good news, stressing that it is the culmination of a lengthy
process by nations.
The document, she said, contains valuable elements, calling on States to
take effective, tangible and comprehensive measures to prevent, combat and
eradicate all forms and manifestations of racism, and urging countries which
have not yet done so to create and implement national plans to combat
intolerance, among other steps.
Further, it highlights the increased suffering since 2001 of many different
groups of victims of racism and reaffirms the positive role of freedom of
expression while deploring derogatory stigmatization of people based on
their religion.
Ms. Pillay stressed that, contrary to media reports, today's document
includes no reference to the defamation of religions.
The adoption comes on the heels of yesterday's address to the Conference by
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which was strongly deplored by both
the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner
The Iranian leader's remarks were intended to "accuse, divide and even
incite," Mr. Ban said, while Ms. Pillay characterized them as
"grandstanding."
Protesting Mr. Ahmadinejad's remarks, delegates of several nations left the
conference hall, a move that both officials said they regretted.
The gathering is "too important for anyone to remain outside this conference
hall," the Secretary-General said, while the High Commissioner said that
although she was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the Iranian leader's
speech, his behaviour did not "provide any justification for any other
Member States to walk out."
Apr 21 2009 5:10PM
CONFERENCE
New York, Apr 21 2009 5:10PM
Top United Nations officials welcomed today's adoption of an outcome
document, emphasizing the need to address all manifestations of intolerance
with greater resolve, on the second day of the world body's anti-racism
<"http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/story23.shtml">Durban Review
Conference.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "heartened" that all States at the
five-day gathering in Geneva adopted the text by consensus, signalling the
international community's rejuvenation of its commitment to implement the
landmark Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) agreed on by
nations in 2001.
Today's adoption gives "hope to the millions of victims of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance around the world," he
said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3801">statement issued
by his spokesperson.
Mr. Ban underlined that "the fight against racism is a continuous process,"
voicing hope that Member States not taking part in the current event -
including the United States and Israel -will "rejoin the international
community soon in the fight against the scourges of racism and racial
discrimination."
Navi Pillay, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, hailed today's
development as good news, stressing that it is the culmination of a lengthy
process by nations.
The document, she said, contains valuable elements, calling on States to
take effective, tangible and comprehensive measures to prevent, combat and
eradicate all forms and manifestations of racism, and urging countries which
have not yet done so to create and implement national plans to combat
intolerance, among other steps.
Further, it highlights the increased suffering since 2001 of many different
groups of victims of racism and reaffirms the positive role of freedom of
expression while deploring derogatory stigmatization of people based on
their religion.
Ms. Pillay stressed that, contrary to media reports, today's document
includes no reference to the defamation of religions.
The adoption comes on the heels of yesterday's address to the Conference by
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which was strongly deplored by both
the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner
The Iranian leader's remarks were intended to "accuse, divide and even
incite," Mr. Ban said, while Ms. Pillay characterized them as
"grandstanding."
Protesting Mr. Ahmadinejad's remarks, delegates of several nations left the
conference hall, a move that both officials said they regretted.
The gathering is "too important for anyone to remain outside this conference
hall," the Secretary-General said, while the High Commissioner said that
although she was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the Iranian leader's
speech, his behaviour did not "provide any justification for any other
Member States to walk out."
Apr 21 2009 5:10PM
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