Questions and Answers

What is a boycott?

According to the Concise Oxford Dictioniary of Politics, a boycott is "an orchestrated way of showing disapproval, such as by not attending a meeting or avoiding a country's or company's products, so as to punish or apply pressure for change of policy or behaviour. The term originated with Captain Boycott, an Irish landlord who was subjected to this treatment in 1880".

Why are some countries boycotting or threatening to boycott the Durban Review conference?

The 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban was the scene of widespread attacks on Israel and the Jewish People. The final declaration named Israel as the only country with a human rights problem. The concurrent NGO conference accused Israel of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and destabilizing world peace.
The Durban Review Conference will be held in Geneva in April 2009. Indications are that the same issues of scapegoating are likely to occur, whilst genuine human rights issues such as genocide in Sudan, executions of minors in Iran, persecution of homosexuals throughout much of the Middle East and related human rights abuses will likely be ignored. A number of countries are thus expressing their disapproval of the conference by boycotting or threatening to walk out of the conference should it prove to be simply a repeat of the 2001 conference.

Who is boycotting?

Canada, the United States, Italy, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands either did not attend or quit the conference in protest within the first day. Sweden is sending only a low level delegation.

What is at stake when countries consider a boycott?

As a growing number of states declare their intention to stay away from an international gathering such as the Durban Review Conference, the legitimacy of such conference is called into question. Consequently, the ability to implement any of the conference's recommendations will be limited, particularly given the prominence of some of the boycotting states.

Other articles on the Durban Review Boycott

For related articles, visit the Durban Review Boycott section of Durban Review or select from the articles below. Articles on anti-racism themes, the 2001 conference and NGO Forum, and news articles are available from the Durban Review home page.