Durban, South Africa — The United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has made a plea for tolerance, human dignity and respect on the eve of the opening of the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) in South Africa.
Robinsons appeal came amidst recrimination and vitriol between Jews and their supporters, attending the conference and rival groups opposed to the Jewish presence at the WCAR. The issue of whether Zionism (the movement that led to the creation of the Jewish state) should be equated with racism has dominated the headlines in the run up to the global meeting in the South African port city of Durban.
There is still a divisive dispute about whether it should be included in the conference agenda. But Robinson was unequivocal on the issue. ""No. The issue of Zionism as Racism will not be on the agenda. That has been one very progressive step made" during the preparatory WCAR committee meetings in Geneva, Switzerland.
The UN Human Rights Commissioner said the committee working groups would have to agree on the text of the final document at the end of the Conference. But, she added, "There is no confirmed language in the (draft) text that in any way refers to or relates to the Zionism and racism issue, and what is there, in brackets, has the tendency to be changed. The commitment has been given to do that".
Robinson expressed concern and regret about what she described as "hostile, personalised and unpleasant exchanges" between the Jewish groups and those who object to their participation in the Durban conference. And, she warned, it was "well recognized that this conference cannot solve the Middle East problem".
She said the protagonists in Durban must not be the "victims of racism and discrimination. It is a conference to move us forward, towards tolerance, inclusiveness and respect. It is a conference about human dignity," said the UN Commissioner, who is also the secretary-general of the Durban gathering. The conference, which opens Friday 31 August ends on 7 September.
The United States has downgraded its representation at the Conference against Racism in support of Israel and the possibility that the Jewish state might be singled out and 'victimized. The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, will not be attending. Leading the American delegation is Michael Southwick, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of International Organisations in Washington.
The move has both disappointed and irritated some Africans who hope the focus will shift away from the Zionism-Racism quarrel and move onto slavery and the contentious issue of reparations, as well as xenophobia and racial discrimination and other issues of concern to Africa.
Mary Robinson praised the continent for dispatching the majority of world leaders who will be at the Durban conference. "I have noted that it is mainly heads of state from Africa who are attending, not exclusively, but mainly". She said this would be an historic event. "There are issues that the global community has never addressed before which we are dealing with here in Durban. And, after a long and very positive process, much of it, despite some acrimonious notes being struck, a lot of it has been positive".
Robinson said "the reality is sobering...the delegates here have to address and find common language". She said there was a strong and genuine political will to resolve the issues and to see a successful outcome to the conference "so we can have an energized global alliance of governments and civil societies against racism and discrimination".
The UN Rights Commissioner added that she and the United Nations secretary-general, Kofi Annan, himself an African from Ghana, would do all they could to facilitate this 'difficult task to ensure that it was accomplished. "If it is, it will be truly historic," concluded Robinson.
Asked whether the World Racism Conference could give the impression of being a massive public relations' exercise in view of the acrimony before the event, Robinson replied that every problem had problems when it came to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. She added that some nations were either in denial or completely underestimated their problems, while others came to terms with and faced up to them.
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Groups from all over the world have arrived in Durban for the week-long Racism Conference. These include representatives from the global Roma (gypsy) population, Native Americans and other indigenous peoples, as well as citizens of India once known as 'untouchables in their country, where a discriminatory caste system remains in force.
Castes also exist in several parts of West Africa, including Senegal and Mauritania, but are far less publicized.
The Durban World Conference against Racism was to be a showcase for the post-apartheid government of President Thabo Mbeki. But the South African leader faced personal tragedy the day before the opening, with the death of his father, Govan Mbeki.
Mbeki senior was a pillar of the anti-apartheid struggle and a fellow political prisoner with Nelson Mandela on the infamous Robben Island. Govan Mbeki was 91.
