Cancers of racism, xenophobia plague the globe

By Ashahed M.Muhammad
Assistant Editor | Last updated: May 4, 2009 - 9:16:56 AM

Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and abilities resulting in the inherent superiority, or inferiority of a particular racial group. The global existence of institutional racism which results in certain racial groups receiving special privileges or in the converse being denied opportunities, rights or benefits is also a reality.

GENEVA (FinalCall.com) - Ambassadors, human rights activists and journalists from all corners of the earth traveled to the Palais des Nations, the European headquarters of the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland April 20-24 for the Durban Review Conference.

It was the largest unified international effort to establish real policies to end racism globally, with an opportunity to repent, atone and correct the injustices of the past. The conference would also serve as a comprehensive assessment to determine what progress was made following the 2001 World Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa.

In a letter written to conference participants, elder statesman and former South African President Nelson Mandela wrote that the 2001 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action established at the World Conference Against Racism “has been hailed as providing the most comprehensive framework of our time to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and all other forms of intolerance.”

“The memory of slavery and the slave trade, the holocaust, apartheid in South Africa, genocides in Kosovo and Rwanda are still fresh in our minds and continue to remind us of the ultimate price paid due to racial prejudice,” said Oryem Henry Okello, Minister of Foreign and International Affairs for the Republic of Uganda. “The memory must spur us into action so that future generations will live in a more just society,” Mr. Okello added.

Xenophobia is generally defined as the fear of anything considered strange or foreign.

Discrimination involves treating or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of, or against, a group of people based on race, class or creed.

It was overwhelmingly agreed that the issues identified in the 2001 Declaration and Programme of Action are still problems that are in need of solutions, and the Durban Review Conference was the forum to review progress and assess levels of implementation.

“The elimination of racism is a gradual process,” said Bernard K. Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the United Republic of Tanzania. “Eight years since the adoption of the DDPA, and many years after the coming into force of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, the world is still facing diverse forms of discrimination and related intolerance,” Mr. Membe said.

The multi-level building which officially became the European headquarters of the United Nations in 1966 hosted discussions—in many different languages—throughout the entire week. Large visual displays filled the corridors and hallways, with pictures and sculptures along the walls. Interesting side programs, and unique documentary viewings provided ample opportunities for ethnic, cultural and ideological interaction by those aware of the global nature of racism, discrimination and its effects.

Many heartfelt stories were shared and ideas were put forth by grassroots activists, and victims of racism and xenophobia.

During one such panel discussion titled “United Against Racism” Berthe Kayitesi described how at the age of 15, her father was killed with machetes. In addition, she described the loss of her older siblings, many cousins and friends during the during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Now 15 years later, she is raising her voice against ethnic conflict.

“We don't choose where we are born,” said Ms. Kayitesi. “What happened to me could happen to you and someone else,” she added.

Others spoke of the plight of migrant workers who are often exploited by unscrupulous businessmen and individuals involved in illegal activity. It is estimated that over 200 million people live in locations other than their country of birth. Some spoke of poverty and health challenges presented by various forms of racism while others raised the issue of human trafficking of women and girls.

Many Non-Governmental Organizations, or advocacy groups, involved in the 2001 Durban World Conference Against Racism felt their voices and desires were ignored in Geneva an effort to appease critics—namely the United States and Israel—in an attempt to coax them into participating in the conference in Geneva.

After September 11, 2001 and the Bush administration's legacy of Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, Islamophobia has crept into the lexicon of human rights advocates. Ironically, Durban 2001 wrapped up just 4 days prior, and following the World Trade Center attacks, global Xenophobia, led by the Bush administration reached levels of extremism.

The Durban Review Conference found a unanimous position from all of the Arab nations and many African nations warning of the dangers of Islamophobia, while at the same time, expressing deep concern for the plight of the Palestinian people.

“The Durban outcome document (of 2001) highlighted the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation and called for the realization of its inalienable right to self-determination,” said Fayza Aboulnaga, minister of International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt. “Regretfully, we are no closer today to putting an end to their suffering, or to the realization of this right than the day the DDPA was endorsed,” he added.

Gen. Prof. John Ukec Lueth Ukec, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sudan to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, told The Final Call the Israelis can't continue to rule by force, because the international opinion of the world favors a just solution.

“The Palestinians have been squeezed so much. All of the things we are doing here at the conference become evident in Palestine,” said Mr. Ukec. “Force is a limited thing. Human will is the most powerful thing.”

The Denmark-based International Dalit Solidarity Network works on behalf of the Untouchables of India and across the globe. According to IDSN, 260 million people in Asia and Africa suffer discrimination.

Armenia, a nation actively involved in the review process from the beginning, has experienced with genocide and xenophobia. Though not as well known as perhaps what happened to European Jews in WWII, it is still etched in the collective memories of the Armenian people.

“Genocide is the extreme manifestation of racial discrimination,” said Arman Kirakossian, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Armenia. “We highlight this issue as a nation which suffered the first genocide of the 20th Century, with about 1.5 million lives lost and still evident consequences.”

Despite attempts to place ethnic discrimination and racial confrontation in the past, racial tension remains a serious global issue.

Recent riots in France and the growing influence of European nationalists are bringing tension boiling just below the surface to the forefront. The recent election of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with his right-wing militant ultranationalist foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman point to the possible escalation of conflict in an area that has been gripped by tension for over 60 years.

In the U.S., following the election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States, hate group researchers have shown an increase in interest and membership of White supremacist organizations and anti-immigrant violence has increased sharply.

The United Nations has always been involved, with varying levels of success, in the fight to eliminate discrimination. Going back to 1965, the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination (ICERD) was adopted and then implemented four years later. The establishment of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms Discrimination CERD followed to monitor its success, or failure.

The World Conference Against Racism was first proposed in 1997, and in the same year, the UN General Assembly decided in resolution 52/111 to conduct the conference in 2001. The UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) acts as the preparatory committee. The chairperson of the Durban Review Conference Preparatory Committee, Ms. Najat Al-Hajjaji of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya was thanked by many UN representatives for her efforts to bring the conference together.

Preparation includes intergovernmental meetings, regional planning meetings, the establishment of a provisional agenda as well as agreement on rules of procedure. The creation of draft declarations and a program of action are part of the process. NGOs who desire to participate in many parts of the globe have adopted the same procedures.

The WCAR held in Durban, South Africa, in commemoration of the dismantling of the most well-known apartheid state in history, attracted 18,000 people, in total, including 4,000 NGO members representing 170 different countries.

The U.S. and Israel both walked out of the 2001 conference after NGOs challenged Israel on its treatment of the Palestinian people and would not waver on the issue of declaring the trans-Atlantic slave trade a crime against humanity.

Despite the U.S. and Israeli led boycott in 2009, a vast majority of the UN member nations ratified the final 2009 Durban Review Conference document.

Deputy Ambassador for Palestine to the United Nations Imad M. Zuhairi said the fact that the conference ended with the nearly unanimous adoption of a final outcome document that reaffirms the principles of the 2001 DDPA “is a good thing.” He said they were aware of the fact that certain groups used the Palestinian question as a distraction from the real issues at hand.

“We were aware of that since the first beginning that some were using the issue of Palestine to sway the ongoing negotiations. We showed Palestine as a part of the solution and not the problem,” said Mr. Zuhairi.

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