World Conference against Racism - Revision history

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 at 10:02, 8 March 2024

2024-03-08T10:02:07Z

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹: Text replacement - "Jew" to "jew"

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	== 2009 conference ==		== 2009 conference ==
	The 2009 World Conference Against Racism was held in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]. [[Canada]], [[Israel]], the [[United States of America]], [[New Zealand]], [[Germany]],<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news\| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/germany-to-boycott-durban_n_187677.html \| work=The Huffington Post \| first=Stuart \| last=Whatley \| title=Germany To Boycott Durban II Anti-Racism Conference \| date=16 April 2009}}</ref> Italy,<ref>{{Cite news\|date=2009-03-05\|title=Italy to boycott Durban 2\|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3681988,00.html\|access-date=2021-07-24\|website=Ynetnews\|language=en\|last1=Sofer\|first1=Roni}}</ref> [[Sweden]],<ref>[http://politiken.dk/udland/article692975.ece "Sverige boykotter racismekonference"], ''Politiken'', 18. April 2009</ref> the [[Netherlands]],<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7ltGxe7QR9OkuSn1jRV49Fuw44gD97LF6TO0], AP 19 April 2009</ref> [[Poland]]<ref name="rfi.fr">{{Cite web\|title=RFI - France calls for firm EU action after Ahmadinejad dubs Israel racist\|url=http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/112/article_3529.asp\|access-date=2021-07-24\|website=www1.rfi.fr}}</ref> and, after some initial skepticism, [[Australia]]<ref>The Australians delayed their decision to withdraw to properly consult other nations on the conference platform. Within a day of learning that the draft was not ready, they announced they were joining the boycott. See:		The 2009 World Conference Against Racism was held in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]. [[Canada]], [[Israel]], the [[United States of America]], [[New Zealand]], [[Germany]],<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news\| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/germany-to-boycott-durban_n_187677.html \| work=The Huffington Post \| first=Stuart \| last=Whatley \| title=Germany To Boycott Durban II Anti-Racism Conference \| date=16 April 2009}}</ref> Italy,<ref>{{Cite news\|date=2009-03-05\|title=Italy to boycott Durban 2\|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3681988,00.html\|access-date=2021-07-24\|website=Ynetnews\|language=en\|last1=Sofer\|first1=Roni}}</ref> [[Sweden]],<ref>[http://politiken.dk/udland/article692975.ece "Sverige boykotter racismekonference"], ''Politiken'', 18. April 2009</ref> the [[Netherlands]],<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7ltGxe7QR9OkuSn1jRV49Fuw44gD97LF6TO0], AP 19 April 2009</ref> [[Poland]]<ref name="rfi.fr">{{Cite web\|title=RFI - France calls for firm EU action after Ahmadinejad dubs Israel racist\|url=http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/112/article_3529.asp\|access-date=2021-07-24\|website=www1.rfi.fr}}</ref> and, after some initial skepticism, [[Australia]]<ref>The Australians delayed their decision to withdraw to properly consult other nations on the conference platform. Within a day of learning that the draft was not ready, they announced they were joining the boycott. See:
	* {{cite news\|last=Levin\|first=Naomi\|title=Smith: Why the Durban decision took so long\|work=[[The Australian ~~Jewish~~ News]]\|place=Melbourne\|volume=75\|issue=29\|page=3\|date=24 April 2009}}		* {{cite news\|last=Levin\|first=Naomi\|title=Smith: Why the Durban decision took so long\|work=[[The Australian jewish News]]\|place=Melbourne\|volume=75\|issue=29\|page=3\|date=24 April 2009}}
	* [http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/17/1003772/australia-ready-to-boycott-durban-ii Australia ready to boycott Durban II]</ref> announced they would not participate in the conference.		* [http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/17/1003772/australia-ready-to-boycott-durban-ii Australia ready to boycott Durban II]</ref> announced they would not participate in the conference.

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	[[New Zealand]]'s Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he was not satisfied that the wording of the review would prevent the conference from "descending into the same kind of rancorous and unproductive debate that took place in 2001," and he reported that he was concerned that it could be used by [[Muslim]] countries to criticize Israel and to limit free speech when it comes to criticizing their religion.<ref>Associated Press, 20 April 2009.</ref>		[[New Zealand]]'s Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he was not satisfied that the wording of the review would prevent the conference from "descending into the same kind of rancorous and unproductive debate that took place in 2001," and he reported that he was concerned that it could be used by [[Muslim]] countries to criticize Israel and to limit free speech when it comes to criticizing their religion.<ref>Associated Press, 20 April 2009.</ref>

	On the opening day of the conference, [[France] said that Europeans would walk out if President Ahmadinejad of [[Iran]] made any [[anti-Semitic]] remarks. "We will have to be very clear. We will not tolerate any slips," the ~~Jewish~~ French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner<ref>{{cite web\|last=Linde\|first=Steve\|title=World's 50 most influential ~~Jews~~\|url=http://www.jpost.com/~~Jewish~~-World/~~Jewish~~-Features/Worlds-50-most-influential-~~Jews~~\|work=The Jerusalem Post\|date=21 May 2010\|quote=15. Bernard Kouchner, Foreign Minister.}}</ref> told ''France Info'' "If he utters racist or anti-Semitic accusations, we will leave the room immediately."		On the opening day of the conference, [[France] said that Europeans would walk out if President Ahmadinejad of [[Iran]] made any [[anti-Semitic]] remarks. "We will have to be very clear. We will not tolerate any slips," the jewish French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner<ref>{{cite web\|last=Linde\|first=Steve\|title=World's 50 most influential jews\|url=http://www.jpost.com/jewish-World/jewish-Features/Worlds-50-most-influential-jews\|work=The Jerusalem Post\|date=21 May 2010\|quote=15. Bernard Kouchner, Foreign Minister.}}</ref> told ''France Info'' "If he utters racist or anti-Semitic accusations, we will leave the room immediately."

	[[Germany]] had decided to stay away from the meeting amid western concerns that the event may take on anti-Semitic overtones, a senior official confirmed in Berlin Thursday.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" />		[[Germany]] had decided to stay away from the meeting amid western concerns that the event may take on anti-Semitic overtones, a senior official confirmed in Berlin Thursday.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" />
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	Later in the day, about 40 delegates walked out during [[Iran]]ian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech after he described Israel as a "racist government" and attacked the creation of the state of Israel. France, which had warned of a walkout, described it as "hate speech", the BBC reported. The walkout was a public relations disaster for the [[United Nations]],<ref name="BBC"/> which had hoped the conference would be a shining example of what the UN is supposed to do best: uniting to combat injustice in the world, said the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in [[Geneva]]. Her colleague [[Jeremy Paxman]] described the walkout as a "stunt", arguing that people should have the right to criticise [[Zionism]].		Later in the day, about 40 delegates walked out during [[Iran]]ian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech after he described Israel as a "racist government" and attacked the creation of the state of Israel. France, which had warned of a walkout, described it as "hate speech", the BBC reported. The walkout was a public relations disaster for the [[United Nations]],<ref name="BBC"/> which had hoped the conference would be a shining example of what the UN is supposed to do best: uniting to combat injustice in the world, said the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in [[Geneva]]. Her colleague [[Jeremy Paxman]] described the walkout as a "stunt", arguing that people should have the right to criticise [[Zionism]].

	President Ahmadinejad, the only major leader to attend the conference, said ~~Jewish~~ migrants from Europe and the United States had been sent to the Middle East after World War II "in order to establish a racist government in occupied Palestine". He continued, through an interpreter: "And in fact, in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine." French Ambassador, the Liberal Jean-Baptiste Mattei said: "As soon as he started to address the question of the ~~Jewish~~ people and Israel, we had no reason to stay in the room."<ref name="BBC">{{cite news\|title=Walkout at Iran leader's speech\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8008572.stm\|access-date=25 January 2011\|publisher=BBC\|date=20 April 2009}}</ref>		President Ahmadinejad, the only major leader to attend the conference, said jewish migrants from Europe and the United States had been sent to the Middle East after World War II "in order to establish a racist government in occupied Palestine". He continued, through an interpreter: "And in fact, in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine." French Ambassador, the Liberal Jean-Baptiste Mattei said: "As soon as he started to address the question of the jewish people and Israel, we had no reason to stay in the room."<ref name="BBC">{{cite news\|title=Walkout at Iran leader's speech\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8008572.stm\|access-date=25 January 2011\|publisher=BBC\|date=20 April 2009}}</ref>

	British ambassador [[Peter Gooderham]], also among those who left, said Mr Ahmadinejad's comments were "offensive and inflammatory". "Such outrageous anti-Semitic remarks [regardless of the fact that they were true] should have no place in a UN anti-racism forum", he announced to gathered reporters.<ref>BBC News</ref>		British ambassador [[Peter Gooderham]], also among those who left, said Mr Ahmadinejad's comments were "offensive and inflammatory". "Such outrageous anti-Semitic remarks [regardless of the fact that they were true] should have no place in a UN anti-racism forum", he announced to gathered reporters.<ref>BBC News</ref>

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	==Sources==		==Sources==
	~~<references/>~~		{{Reflist\|2}}

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en>Matt58 at 16:56, 21 December 2021

2021-12-21T16:56:09Z

New page

The '''World Conference against Racism''' is a series of conferences organized by [[UNESCO]], supposedly against [[racism]]. They have been held in 1978, 1983, 2001, and 2009 and 2021.

UNESCO is also the creator of the controversial 1950 declaration "[[The Race Question]]".

The conferences have been controversial, and boycotted by some countries, for reasons such as:
*Attempts to equate criticism of religion with racism and to promote blasphemy laws. See also [[Islamization]].
*Demands for [[reparations]] for [[slavery]], only demanded from Western countries.
*Criticisms of [[Israel]] and [[Zionism]], opposed by the strong [[Israel Lobby]] in Western countries.

On the 31st December 1985 the [[United Kingdom]]'s Prime Minister, [[Margaret Thatcher]], took the the UK out of UNESCO and halted all funding to it.<ref>https://apnews.com/article/9449cad6c2473fd962ce973bf9ca4076</ref> However, [[Tony Blair]]'s [[socialist]] government renewed Britain's membership.

==2001 conference==
The 2001 conference was held in [[Durban]], [[South Africa]], under UN auspices, from 31 August until 8 September 2001. Former [[Ireland|Irish]] President Mary Robinson, then the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, presided as Secretary-General.

Entitled "World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance," the conference was discussing unfair treatment of one group against another. Significant time was focused specifically on Israeli treatment of Palestinians,<ref>UN.org [https://www.un.org/WCAR/durban.pdf ''World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance'']. "General issues" 63 and 151(pages 13 and 48). Retrieved 8 October 2020.</ref> treating violations of human rights and genocide in other parts of the world secondarily.

The 2001 meeting was marked by clashes over the [[Middle East]] and the legacy of slavery, and coincided with attacks on [[Israel]] and anti-Israel demonstrations at a parallel conference of non-governmental organizations. [[Canada]], followed by the [[U.S.A.]] and Israel walked out midway through the 2001 conference over a draft resolution that, in their opinion, singled out Israel for criticism and likened [[Zionism]] to racism. The [[European Union]] also refused to accept demands by Arab states to criticize Israel for "racist practices". [https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h-NABlEjaGSsDBh_qdpdNmX7V6VwD96M0PV00]

Also in the conference, African countries, led by [[Nigeria]] and [[Zimbabwe]], and African-American NGOs wanted individual apologies from each of the countries responsible for [[slavery]], recognition of it as a 'crime against humanity', and reparations called as such, regardless of the fact that these events took place almost 200 years and more past. The [[European]]s pulled together behind the [[United Kingdom]] and the best the Africans could get was a call for support for the New African Initiative: debt relief, funds to combat AIDS, the recovery of stolen government funds transferred to the West by former dictators and their cohorts, and an end to human trafficking. But the word 'reparations' did not survive.
<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/unracism/story/0,,548954,00.html "Africans back down at UN race talks: Special report: UN conference against racism," by Chris McGreal (''The (Guardian) Observer'', Sunday 9 September 2001 18.32 EDT)]</ref>

== 2009 conference ==
The 2009 World Conference Against Racism was held in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]. [[Canada]], [[Israel]], the [[United States of America]], [[New Zealand]], [[Germany]],<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/germany-to-boycott-durban_n_187677.html | work=The Huffington Post | first=Stuart | last=Whatley | title=Germany To Boycott Durban II Anti-Racism Conference | date=16 April 2009}}</ref> Italy,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2009-03-05|title=Italy to boycott Durban 2|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3681988,00.html|access-date=2021-07-24|website=Ynetnews|language=en|last1=Sofer|first1=Roni}}</ref> [[Sweden]],<ref>[http://politiken.dk/udland/article692975.ece "Sverige boykotter racismekonference"], ''Politiken'', 18. April 2009</ref> the [[Netherlands]],<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7ltGxe7QR9OkuSn1jRV49Fuw44gD97LF6TO0], AP 19 April 2009</ref> [[Poland]]<ref name="rfi.fr">{{Cite web|title=RFI - France calls for firm EU action after Ahmadinejad dubs Israel racist|url=http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/112/article_3529.asp|access-date=2021-07-24|website=www1.rfi.fr}}</ref> and, after some initial skepticism, [[Australia]]<ref>The Australians delayed their decision to withdraw to properly consult other nations on the conference platform. Within a day of learning that the draft was not ready, they announced they were joining the boycott. See:
* {{cite news|last=Levin|first=Naomi|title=Smith: Why the Durban decision took so long|work=[[The Australian Jewish News]]|place=Melbourne|volume=75|issue=29|page=3|date=24 April 2009}}
* [http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/17/1003772/australia-ready-to-boycott-durban-ii Australia ready to boycott Durban II]</ref> announced they would not participate in the conference.

Mark Mardell of the Far-Left [[BBC]] news reported: "On the Monday the Conference was to begin, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini (who was until last year the [[European Commission]]er for security and justice) had told the Italian newspaper ''Il Giornale'' that Europe's failure to agree on a common approach was "a very serious mistake, because it shows our inability, despite all the words uttered in this connection, to come up with at least a lowest common denominator on a basic problem: namely the struggle against discrimination, on behalf of which we in [[Brussels]] so often speak out".

Frattini continued, "I should imagine that a compromise was preferred at any price. And this, despite the fact that in the documents prepared for the rendezvous in Geneva, apart from a few minor improvements, a basic approach has been maintained equating [[Israel]] with a racist country rather than a democracy. There are still unacceptable phrases which, if there had been a smidgen of consistency with what was said at the EU ministers' meeting, should have convinced people to forgo attending the conference – as we have decided to do, and as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and The Netherlands have decided to do."

[[New Zealand]]'s Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he was not satisfied that the wording of the review would prevent the conference from "descending into the same kind of rancorous and unproductive debate that took place in 2001," and he reported that he was concerned that it could be used by [[Muslim]] countries to criticize Israel and to limit free speech when it comes to criticizing their religion.<ref>Associated Press, 20 April 2009.</ref>

On the opening day of the conference, [[France] said that Europeans would walk out if President Ahmadinejad of [[Iran]] made any [[anti-Semitic]] remarks. "We will have to be very clear. We will not tolerate any slips," the Jewish French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner<ref>{{cite web|last=Linde|first=Steve|title=World's 50 most influential Jews|url=http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Worlds-50-most-influential-Jews|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=21 May 2010|quote=15. Bernard Kouchner, Foreign Minister.}}</ref> told ''France Info'' "If he utters racist or anti-Semitic accusations, we will leave the room immediately."

[[Germany]] had decided to stay away from the meeting amid western concerns that the event may take on anti-Semitic overtones, a senior official confirmed in Berlin Thursday.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com" />

In his opening address, Secretary-General of UN, Ban Ki-Moon, said, "Some nations who by rights should be helping us to forge a path to a better future are not here. Outside these halls, interest groups of many political and ideological stripes shout against one another in acrimony."

Later in the day, about 40 delegates walked out during [[Iran]]ian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech after he described Israel as a "racist government" and attacked the creation of the state of Israel. France, which had warned of a walkout, described it as "hate speech", the BBC reported. The walkout was a public relations disaster for the [[United Nations]],<ref name="BBC"/> which had hoped the conference would be a shining example of what the UN is supposed to do best: uniting to combat injustice in the world, said the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in [[Geneva]]. Her colleague [[Jeremy Paxman]] described the walkout as a "stunt", arguing that people should have the right to criticise [[Zionism]].

President Ahmadinejad, the only major leader to attend the conference, said Jewish migrants from Europe and the United States had been sent to the Middle East after World War II "in order to establish a racist government in occupied Palestine". He continued, through an interpreter: "And in fact, in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine." French Ambassador, the Liberal Jean-Baptiste Mattei said: "As soon as he started to address the question of the Jewish people and Israel, we had no reason to stay in the room."<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Walkout at Iran leader's speech|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8008572.stm|access-date=25 January 2011|publisher=BBC|date=20 April 2009}}</ref>

British ambassador [[Peter Gooderham]], also among those who left, said Mr Ahmadinejad's comments were "offensive and inflammatory". "Such outrageous anti-Semitic remarks [regardless of the fact that they were true] should have no place in a UN anti-racism forum", he announced to gathered reporters.<ref>BBC News</ref>

== 2021 conference ==
In September 2021, the UN General Assembly commemorated the 20th anniversary of its 2001 conference by pledging to redouble its [[anti-racist]] efforts.<ref name=usnews>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-09-22/un-racism-meeting-recommits-to-goals-but-renews-divides|url-status=live|title=UN Anti-Racism Event, Rejected by Some, Recommits to Goals}}</ref> The event was as fiasco as it was boycotted by [[Albania ]], [[Australia]], [[Austria]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Canada]], [[Colombia]], [[Croatia]], [[Cyprus]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Denmark]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Estonia]], [[France]], Georgia, Germany, [[Greece]], [[Honduras]], [[Hungary]], [[Israel]], [[Italy]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Montenegro], [[Moldova]], [[Netherlands]], [[New Zealand]], [[North Macedonia]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]], [[Spain]], [[Sweden]], [[Ukraine]], [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]] and [[Uruguay]]. The [[European Union]] also did not participate in the commemoration.

==Sources==
<references/>

[[Category:UNESCO]]
[[Category:Racism]]