The 2009 U.N. Durban Review Conference: Follow-Up to the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism

Abstract

In April 2009, U.N. member states will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for the U.N. Durban Review Conference Against Racism (Review Conference) to examine possible progress made since the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), held in Durban, South Africa. At WCAR, participating governments, including the United States, sought to recommend ways for the international community to address racism. The United States withdrew from WCAR because of what it viewed as participating governments disproportionate focus on Israel as a perpetrator of racism and intolerance in the Middle East. The George W. Bush Administration has not participated in Review Conference preparations and voted against U.N. resolutions supporting or funding the Conference because of concerns that it may repeat the perceived mistakes of WCAR. The Administration has stopped short of announcing it will boycott the Conference, likely recognizing that a new Administration will make the final decision on U.S. participation. Canada and Israel announced that they will boycott the Review Conference, and other governments announced they will not participate unless it is demonstrated that the Review Conference will not target Israel. Congressional perspectives on U.S. participation in the Review Conference vary. Some Members of the 1 100%% Congress have introduced legislation supporting U.S. participation in the Conference, arguing that the United States should play an active role in combating international racism. (See, for example, H.Res. 1361). Other Members contend that the United States should not participate or fund the Conference because of WCAR's focus on Israel. (See S.Amdt. 4264 to S.Con.Res. 70.) Specifically, they propose that the United States withhold a proportionate share of its U.N. assessed contributions that fund the Conference.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 20, 2008
Accession Number
ADA490491

Entities

People

  • Luisa Blanchfield

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Commerce
  • Department Of State
  • Discrimination
  • European Union
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Minority Groups
  • Prejudice
  • Racial Discrimination
  • Task Forces
  • United Nations
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Academic Conference Management
  • Organizational Psychology.
  • Strategic Security Studies