Durban Review Summary: June 30, 2008
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 basis, Harper said that “[Canada] “will not be party to an anti-Semitic and anti-western hatefest dressed up as an anti-racism conference”.
Harper’s statements come following those made by Jack Layton, NDP leader, who said that Canada might consider backtracking on its boycott policy. Layton’s comments came after he received assurances from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, that Durban 2009 would not be a repeat of 2001. Nevertheless, NDP members remain skeptical, and have criticized Layton for backtracking on the Conservative government’s policy of boycott.
American Jewish Committee Statement on Durban Review Conference
June 23, Press Release
The American Jewish Committee released a statement this week declaring that NGO’s participating in Durban 2009 should commit themselves to a modicum of behavior, which addresses “the original goals of the global campaign against racism and racial discrimination.” This was part of a larger statement on the Durban Review Conference, released by the AJC board of governors.
AJC maintains that although the GA is charged with reviewing “the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,” these texts “should not be reopened for renegotiation, as it would only bring about divisions and controversy.” Rather, substantive human rights issues should be dealt. And if specific countries are to be singled out, Iran and Sudan must be identified human rights abusers, according to AJC.
On the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which various NGOs want to take priority at Durban 2009, AJC maintains that “it [the conflict] is not a racial one, and is thus outside the scope of a conference on racism. It is a political conflict between two peoples with competing national goals – and must be addressed as such, lest it become all the more difficult to resolve.”
AJC also voices support for statements made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy who said that the France will urge to EU to boycott the conference if its “legitimate demands are not respected.” France will hold the EU presidency
