Durban Review Summary: September 3, 2008
“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 countries to participate as possible.” She promised to avoid singling out Israel, as her predecessor had done, declaring: “The High Commissioner should fearlessly focus on protecting the victims around the world, and that does involve speaking out against the violators as well […] I intend to do that without the application of any double standards.” Despite her commitment to universality, the documents issued by the Regional Preparatory Meetings in South America and Africa suggest that the Durban Review Conference may result in the same demonization and anti-Semitism that prompted Israel and the United States to walk out of the 2001 World Conference against Racism.
“Israel firm on boycotting Durban II despite UN plea”
September 2, 2008, The Jerusalem Post, Tovah Lazaroff
Israel responded to Pillay’s request that it attend the Durban Review Conference by reiterating its intention to boycott it. As Israeli Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Roni Leshno Yaar, said: “So far I have no reason to believe that Israel was wrong in deciding not to participate. In fact, all the signs are leading to one conclusion: that it is going to be a repeat of the previous Durban conference. This is unfortunate and we regret this.” Leshno Yaar will meet with Pillay in the coming days to discuss the Durban Review Conference, as well as the Human Rights Council’s anti-Israel tendencies. “Leshno Yaar said he hoped that Pillay could serve as a moderate voice and could use her influence to guarantee that the anti-racism conference would not display the same anti-Semitism as the first one.”
Sri-Lankan Ambassador Appointed Asian Facilitator
September 1, 2008, The Island
Sri-Lankan Ambassador, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, has been appointed by the Asian Group of the Human Rights Council as the Facilitator responsible for producing the Regional Document, which will contribute to the final outcome of the Durban Review Conference. His appointment was supported by China, the Asian Group’s Coordinator. It is ironic that two countries considered among the world’s worst violators of human rights occupy such prominent positions in the preparation toward a conference aimed at evaluating the implementation of anti-racism and anti-discrimination initiatives formulated at the 2001 World Conference against Racism.
