Durban Review Summary: August 7, 2008
“Israel likely to skip U.N. racism conference”
August 6, 2008, The Jerusalem Post and USA Today, Associated Press
According to outgoing Israeli ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Israel is strongly considering boycotting next April’s Durban Review Conference. Israel will only participate if it promises to address human rights worldwide without singling out Israel, like Durban I. “But with Libya chairing preparations and Iran and Cuba also involved [...] the Geneva follow-up to the contentious 2001 conference in the South African city of Durban had the making of another international ‘bashing of Israel.’” This declaration follows Canada’s pledge to boycott the Durban Review Conference. The United States, the UK, France and the Netherlands have also issued statements expressing their concern and suggesting they might not attend if it appears that the Durban Review Conference will be an antisemitic forum.
“Libya Preaches to Durban II on Racism Against Maids, as Qaddafi Jr. Arrested for Beating Maids”
August 7, 2008, UN Watch
In anticipation of the upcoming African Regional Preparatory Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria (August 24-26, 2008), Libya, which chairs the Durban Review Conference’s planning committee, has submitted a statement on its policies and practices, in response to a UN questionnaire. In it, Libya claimed to “‘not only not practice racism but we combat the practice of regimes against the African people.’ [...] By confronting [...] a ‘new form of racism related to house helpers (maids).‘” Ironically, Libyan dictator’s son, Qaddafi Jr., was recently arrested in Switzerland for his violent treatment of his helpers. UN Watch comments: “As Libya’s leading expert on how to address what it calls a new form of racism - how to treat house helpers - why not have Hannibal Qaddafi take the place of the current Libyan representative and personally head the UN’s Durban II process?” The fact that a dictatorial country, where human rights are often disregarded, stands at the head of the committee that sets the agenda of the Durban Review Conference, does not signal a positive outcome.
