WCAR: Durban 2001
The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) was a United Nations Conference held in Durban, South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
- Key issues covered by the conference were:
- Slavery and trafficking in women and children
- Migration
- Gender and racial discrimination
- Racism against indigenous peoples
- Protection of minority rights
The Conference produced a Declaration and Programme of Action which will be reviewed at the Durban Review Conference in Geneva in April 2009. The conference ended in disarray after the US and Israel walked out over victimization of Israel.
The UN organisers also put together a concurrent Non-Governmental Conference (the NGO Forum) which was held right before the governmental program at Durban in 2001. The NGO Forum was steeped in racism leading to shocked reactions around the world and the refusal to forward the NGO Forum outcome document for consideration by the government part of the conference as the UN originally planned.
Articles on WCAR and Durban 2001
Please note that articles on the NGO Forum are listed seperately.
- World Conference Against Racism - brief introduction
An introduction to the 2001 World Conference Against Racism - Neil Lazarus, The myth of Zionism=Racism After Durban, JAFI Education
An attempt to include a statement comparing Zionism with Racism in the outcome document from the government forum of the Durban 2001 Conference was narrowly avoided after Israel and the US walked out. The Zionism = Racism equation is itself a tool of racism and was solidly rejected by the UN General Assembly in 1991 (external link) - Gil Troy, Zionism, Racism and Durban
The renewed attack on Zionism overshadowed the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in 2001. Prof Troy explains why Zionism should be seen as a force opposing racism.
