31 August 2001
In his opening address to the World Conference Against Racisim (WCAR), South African President Thabo Mbeki said the meeting had the potential and the responsibility to "convey a message of hope to billions of people across the globe".
"We have gathered as we have, because we are united in our resolve to ensure that every human being leads a life of dignity. We meet here because we are determined to ensure that nobody anywhere should be subjected to the insult and offence of being despised by another or others because of his or her race, colour, nationality or origin," Mbeki said. "It became necessary that we convene in Durban because, together, we recognised the fact there are many in our common world who suffer indignity and humiliation because they are not white."
He added: "This World Conference will have to indicate what is to be done practically so that this call results in a changed and changing world in which all human beings actually enjoy the inalienable right to human dignity ... We have gathered in Durban to make the commitment that this we will do and, together, to decide what steps we will take to ensure what has to be done, is done."
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday urged civil society to "shine a spotlight into the dark corners where racism lurks, in every society". Speaking to participants at the NGO Forum, he said: "So often it is you, the civil society activists, who breathe life into these events. Sometimes it is also you who bring clarity, because you can discuss openly those awkward issues that governments have to avoid, or to blur, in the interests of reaching consensus."
The Secretary-General added: "Many of you, I know, feel that your concerns are not properly represented in the conference itself. And you fear that they will not be reflected adequately - or perhaps at all - in the Declaration and Programme of Action. But your anger and frustration can be valuable in themselves, if you channel them into the creation of a worldwide antiracist movement, in which all your different struggles will converge."
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