Category: UN

“UN human rights chief tries to sway Israel, U.S. on anti-racism summit”
September 1, 2008, Haaretz, Associated Press
Navi Pillay inaugurated her role as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights by attempting to persuade Israel and the United States to reconsider participating in the Durban Review Conference. She asserted: “My instinct would be to get as many […]

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France Reiterates its Commitment to Boycott Durban II if it Fails to Respect its Objectives
August 8, 2008, UN Watch
In response to Roland Blum’s parliamentary question addressed to France’s Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Secretary, Minister Rama Yade writes on August 5, 2008 that “It is only by attending the [Durban Review Conference] and by remaining […]

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Iran Gains Membership to “Group of Friends of the Chair” Responsible for Drafting Durban II Documents
July 31, 2008, Eye on the UN, Anne Bayefsky
Iran has recently joined Armenia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Egypt as a member of the “Group of Friends of the Chair”. Two meetings have already been held in July 2008 and another is […]

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NGOs invited to participate in the African Regional Preparatory Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, (August 24-26, 2008)
July 15, 2008, The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Letter
In accordance with the United Nations’ General Assembly resolution to review the implementation of the Durban Conference’s final declaration, “The Office of the United Nations High […]

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 ”UN’s New Rights Chief Must Counter Global Assault Against Individual Liberty”
July 18, 2008, UN Watch, Press Release
In her capacity as United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Durban-born South African judge, Vanethem Pillay, will also serve as secretary-general of the 2009 Durban Review Conference. Perhaps she will manage to uphold the values of the […]

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“From Durban I to Durban II: Preventing Poisonous Anti-Semitism“August 1, 2008, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Alfred H. Moses
In his May 27, 2008 address to the Jewish International Leadership Conference in Geneva, Ambassador Moses, Chair of UN Watch, reviews the history of anti-Semitism, leading up to Durban I. He refers to Durban I as a […]

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UN OHCHR offers grants to African NGOs to participate in Durban regional preparatory meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, August 24-26, 2008
July 8, UN Watch
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is offering grants of up to $2000 to African NGOs, to facilitate their participation in the Durban Preparatory Meeting, to be held […]

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On July 2, editor of Eye on the UN, Anne Bayefsky, gave an interview to ABC Radio National expressing concern that Durban 2009 may be a repeat of 2001. The interview begins with Bayesky discussing the impact of the NGO Forum at Durban 2001 and the severe consequences resulting from the NGO Declaration which revived […]

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Harper Reiterates Boycott Policy for Durban 2009
June 27, National Post, Andrew Mayeda

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper reiterated his support for Canada’s boycott of the UN Durban Review Conference. During a speech given to B’nai B’rith International, Harper said that Canada has “every reason” to expect that Durban 2009 will be like Durban 2001. On this […]

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Layton backtracks on UN racism conference
June 23, John Ivison, National Post
Canada’s National Post reports on the backlash that occurred within the Canada’s Liberal NDP caucus following an NDP leader’s suggestion that Canada participate in Durban 2009. Although NDP leader Jack Layton initially supported the Conservative government’s decision to boycott Durban 2009, he began to reconsider […]

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