Durban II - by Gråulf

The World Conferences against Racism (WCAR) are international events organized by the UNESCO in order to fight racist ideologies and behaviors. There have been three conferences held so far, in 1978, 1983 and 2001. The 1978 World Conference against Racism was held in Geneva, Switzerland. The focus of the conference was South Africa's apartheid policies of racial segregation and discrimination. The 1983 World Conference against Racism was also held in Geneva, Switzerland.

In 2001 the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance was held in Durban, South Africa. What began as a seemingly well-intentioned effort to focus the international community on the problem of racism quickly degenerated into a noxious series of speeches and statements dominated by anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism. Israel was condemned for allegedly pursuing a racist Zionist agenda and committing crimes against humanity. The US was criticized for a litany of perceived crimes, including racism, a foreign policy that was claimed to be responsible for racial oppression around the world, denial of economic rights, and refusal to adopt UN treaties without reservations. The last point is particularly disturbing; since it is well known the US cannot accept any treaty requirements that are incompatible with the US Constitution.

Despite the disaster of its predecessor, the U.N. is busy planning for Durban II, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009. The U.N. General Assembly placed responsibility for organizing Durban II with the Human Rights Council, whose members include Cuba, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other noted human rights advocates. The council has elected Libya to serve as chair of the Preparatory Committee, and Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and South Africa to be vice-chairs. Not surprisingly, Islamophobia is one of the most important issues on the proposed agenda for Durban II. The committee would like to make criticism of Islam equal to racism, and because Muslims equate criticism of Muslim countries to criticism of Islam itself, it would make criticism of Sharia law a punishable crime. Another item, high on the committees agenda, is a proposal to place economic sanctions on Israel, as was done to South Africa for apartheid in 1978.

Several countries have announced their intention to boycott the Durban II Conference, but the U.S. is leaving the decision of whether or not to participate up to the Obama administration. It will be the first tests of where the new administration stands on the spread of Islam throughout the western world.

Gråulf.