EYE on the UN

UN NGOs Begin Planning Durban II NGO Forum -- Extreme Anti-Israel NGOs Assume Central Role

More than 50 NGO's met three times last week in Geneva to discuss holding another UN NGO Forum "against" racism during the Durban II Conference next April. The group included a contingent of extreme anti-Israel NGOs. Present were representatives from BADIL (BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugees' Rights), EAFORD (The International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination), Nord-Sud XXI, the Union of Arab Jurists, the Syrian UN Association, as well as the League of Arab States. Meeting organizers revealed that requests have already been made to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to make space available within the UN, or to secure the international conference center across from UN premises for the Forum.

During meetings on Thursday and Friday the group purported to create a "Coordinating Committee" which would "facilitate" the NGO Forum during the Durban II Conference. It appears that this Committee will include BADIL and Nord Sud XXI, who recommended themselves for membership.

For incontrovertible evidence of the 'demonization of Israel agenda' emerging from the NGO Forum organizers, what follows is part of a verbatim account of the meetings.

Background on some of the NGO participants

UN-accredited NGO BADIL has long advocated the end of a Jewish state. The following image taken from BADIL's website is just one example of its antisemitic message. Translation: Holiday Cookies [Ed. Note: Jews put hand grenades among holiday cookies fed to the unsuspecting.] For more BADIL images, click here. For information on BADIL, click here. UN-accredited NGO EAFORD describes itself as having been created "in response to...U.N. Resolution 3379, which determined that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination."   UN-accredited NGO Indian Movement Tupaj Amaru has circulated statements to the UN Human Rights body such as: "America subjugates the world as no empire has ever done in the history of mankind." November 29, 2006, the representative of this NGO told the Human Rights Council: "Today, the Palestinian people are suffering a human tragedy. They are victims of genocide and extermination and that because of the only crime of defending their lives and their ancestral land."   UN-accredited NGO Nord-Sud XXI recently circulated a UN document referring to: "the international crime of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people."

Meeting - October 15, 2008 - (partial verbatim record)

[The meeting distributed the following document:]

NGO Forum Information Exchange, October 15, 2008

Objectives

• To explore the modalities of the NGO forum


• Reflection on the contents topic of the forum


• Make suggestions for the designation of volunteers at the regional level for the consultations and information exchange with national NGOs


• Sensitize the actors present in Geneva for adoption of a constructive approach to the Durban review


• Establish agenda for the months to come


• Prepare a register of grievances for the attention of the OHCHR and the member states of the PrepCom


• Set up a coordination committee which will facilitate the compilation of the document- NGO's contribution to the DRC

Afro-Swedish National Association
...The UN has repeatedly said the Conference Against Racism is on an equal footing with other major UN conferences and summits in the human rights and social field. This means that the review process is on equal footing with the expectation of resources, attention and the work from the United Nations and governments....The NGO Forum that happened in Sweden in September was the major congregation of European civil society...We had figures from NGO constituencies that discussed problems related to this Conference such as Islamophobia, such as the situation that emerged after 9/11…

African Canadian Legal Clinic (Margaret Parsons)
I want to thank the Committee against Racism for organizing this NGOs meeting. I am the executive director of the African Canadian Legal Clinic in Toronto...The NGO community in Canada is working to come together and working hard for not only the Durban Review Conference but for the NGO Forum...There was definitely support for an NGO Forum at the Durban Review Conference that came out of the Brasilia [regional] conference. People are expecting there to be an NGO Forum, one that is supported by governments not just in principle but in fact, so that NGOs can have the resources to participate at the NGO Forum in April. [At the Abuja Regional Conference] African NGOs came together to work on how they are moving forward in preparation for the Durban Review Conference and NGO Forum because coming out of Abuja there was a unanimous call for an NGO Forum…It is imperative that we do have an NGO Forum....I think it is important that we have the ability to be able to talk about the impact of the efforts we've made, and in our own space to be able to hold our governments accountable and to be able to say we are discussing areas in which they failed to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Red de Mujeres Afrolatinoamericanas, Afrocribenas y de la Diaspora
...In order to contribute to this Durban process we would like the Forum to be possible and to be able to participate in the April Conference. It is very important to us to say we are here to show are presence …This situation requires a coalition and common point and we can find our common points.

Network of Women of African Descent
We think…the Forum for the NGOs is a proposal so that young people may express themselves their ideas and proposals in the combat against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that still exist in our world.

Indian Movement Tupaj Amaru
I want to intervene on behalf of indigenous peoples and as an NGO Indian Movement Tupaj Amaru. I would like to support strongly the organization of a social Forum against racism during the Conference of the Durban Review Process. Why? The reasons are multiple. First we always have suggested this to the PrepCom so that the governments will reinforce measures in the fight against racism after the 11th of September… Because many, many things happened after 9/11. There is more discrimination against indigenous peoples, against Africans, migrant workers, …then genocide against the Palestinian people. It is very important and it must be at the center of our debate.

NGO Committee Against Racism (Charles Graves)
The NGO Committee Against Racism has had several meetings here…and what it boils down to now is to find a space here in the Palais des Nations during the Durban Review Conference, in other words we can have a room like this where we can discuss problems like this. We can reserve a room every day like this… or we can reserve rooms at the International Conference Center, which costs money. But we could have contribution from the government of Geneva. We have already written a letter to the High Commissioner [for Human Rights] to ask what she can do for us about the space. It is a problem of space. We are working already together with this other group World Against Racism Network to provide space for NGOs in the Durban Review Conference. We don't know where this space is going to be. We have to decide what the agenda is going to be…We'll do our best to provide space.

African Canadian Legal Clinic (Margaret Parsons)
There is consensus around the world, in this room, in other countries for an NGO forum and I think we have support from a lot of regions and governments for an NGO forum.

CIRAC (Circle of International Reflect Action and Communication)
We want to put together a strategy that would work as of today on the content of the NGO Forum, on the content of the press conference and perhaps Declaration on the youth which there was in 2001. The message was important and also it was a memorandum of the civil society.

Nord Sud XXI
The PrepCom needs to decide that there will be a Forum.

Interfaith international
I think its absolutely necessary in the next two days to try to decide on the coordinating committee for an NGO Forum. We want to put together a strategy that would work as of today on the content of the NGO Forum, on the content of the press conference and perhaps Declaration on the youth which there was in 2001. The message was important and also it was a memorandum of the civil society.

Meeting - October 16, 2008 - (partial verbatim record)

NGO Committee Against Racism (Charles Graves)

… Set up a Coordinating Committee which will facilitate the compilation of the document - the NGO's contribution to the Durban Review Conference.

…When this Committee is established the question of rooms will be discussed which will be used by NGOs that will come to the Conference which will be either here or at the International Conference Center of the City of Geneva where rooms if we'll have more than 100 people will be gratis.

...This Committee should mobilize the participation in the Forum and the Conference…There should be a final declaration of this meeting and this will also be up to this Committee.

...I believe all members of our Committee except a few are interesting in pursuing the possibility of this Forum. Even if the Committee Against Racism cannot participate or votes...not to participate in this kind of event, the NGO Forum, or whatever you want to call it, then we have to accept the decision of the Committee. That Committee at the moment seems to at least have a majority in favor of exploring the idea of the Forum; it is not just individual. That is the consensus of the Committee. Even if the Committee decides it won't participate in the Forum, I believe NGO members of the committee will actively participate.

...It's difficult to say there is no interest in such meeting.

...We are not creating the NGO Forum of Durban in 2001. We are simply providing a place where people can express themselves in continuation of Durban in 2001. If they want to come here and express themselves we are providing the effort to provide the space that's all.

...Let me read this to you again:

• The Coordinating Committee for the NGO Forum for 2009 Durban Review Conference shall be established after the second substantive session of the PrepCom.


• The Coordinating Committee will be composed of the NGOs, civil society structures from all regions that fully support the DDPA.


• The Coordinating Committee shall decide on the program for the NGO Forum and promote the broadest participation from all regions.


• The Coordinating Committee may co-opt additional members to strengthen its representation.

For the time being the WARN (World Against Racism Network) will function as facilitators or secretariat of the Coordinating Committee.

Simon Wiesenthal (Shimon Samuels)
You said the Committee will be composed of the members who fully support the DDPA. Are you referring to the NGO Forum Declaration or the governmental Declaration?

NGO Committee Against Racism (Charles Graves)
No, I am referring to the governmental Declaration… The NGO Forum Declaration, we have consulted it very carefully. I have a copy. It has said nothing which would insinuate that there was a racist or anti-Israel element. The paragraph on antisemitism was well stated and well done in the NGO document. So the idea that at the first Durban Conference NGO participation was antisemitic in its Declaration, I don't agree. I don't think it was. One half of the NGOs dissassociated itself from it, but another half didn't. So let's not give the impression to the media that this Forum was dangerous, bad, so on and so forth which has been heard from several sources. This is certainly misrepresentation that many NGOs believe. Many NGOs believe this was the first time in history they could discuss their problems. Whether or not certain groups took advantage of the situation to blast and demean other groups, that is another matter. But the Forum itself, I found it to be quite well worked out. So I am making a distinction about giving a bad name to the NGO Forum in Durban.

Simon Wiesenthal (Shimon Samuels)
I want a solid clarification. Are you saying there was nothing anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, is that the position members of this Committee have to take?

NGO Committee Against Racism (Charles Graves)
I said "The Coordinating Committee will be composed of the NGOs, civil society structures from all regions that fully support the DDPA." That is what it will do. My personal opinion is that there is too much widespread gossip floating around about the Durban Forum: it was a disaster, a failure, it was antisemitic, so on and so forth which I don't believe. There were other parts of the Durban meeting that were openly antisemitic, but I am not saying the Forum itself was. But this Coordinating Committee that will be set up there is no guarantee it will be semitic or antisemitic. This is the UN. People have the right to say what they want to say. They will say it. We have to accept what people say. We cannot always be keeping people from saying what they are supposed to say. My friend from Simon Wiesenthal is trying to make me reassure him that there won't be a repeat of what happened in Durban. But I cannot guarantee that.

Nord Sud XXI
We are not here to really judge the Forum. If we judge the Forum now, it means we are not sincere. We know among civil society there are a lot of different opinions. Let's not bring our differences here. We are trying to create a Coordinating Committee. So if we are going to have conditions to condemn the civil society for Durban 2001 we will not create anything or even participate in the Durban Review Conference. So do we want NGOs to come to this event as civil society or not? I think yes, because we have been here six months now discussing. We know everybody. We know that we have this problem with the friends of Israel or civil society...We know everything. We are clear. Let's be transparent. We will continue to condemn the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. That's our problem. It is very legislative. It's coming form the Charter of the UN that nobody has the right to accept the occupation of other people's territories. There are a lot of resolutions at the General Assembly, the Security Council, condemning the permanent occupation of Israel of Palestinian and Arab territories. That's our view. But to bring this to the Coordinating Committee…? It is not right. We have to set up the Coordinating Committee now.



Meeting - October 17 - (partial verbatim record)

African Canadian Legal Clinic (Margaret Parsons)

The criteria used for the NGOs recommended for the Coordinating Committee are:

Actively participated in the Conference in Durban 2001, as well as the process that led up to Durban conference

• NGOs involved in Durban follow-up, whether on a national or regional level, at the PrepComs that have taken place up until today


• They must be NGOs rather than individuals


• We looked for regional representation from each region


• These NGOs support the DDPA and also support the civil society Forum for the Durban Review Conference.

The list of the names recommended for this Committee are:

Americas

• Red de Mujeres Afrolatinoamericanas, Afrocribenas y de la Diaspora
• "Gilleres" (Brazil)
• The Caribbean Policy Development Center
• [indigenous organization] (St. Lucia)
• African Canadian Legal Clinic for North America

Europe

• European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
• The Swedish Center Against Racism
• The Italian Antiracism Committee
• "Lineup" (Russia)
• The Anti-racism Information Service (Geneva)

Africa

• The African Steering Committee for the Durban Review Conference (established at regional preparatory meeting in Abuja)
• The International Committee for the Respect and Application of the African Charter on People and Human Rights
• Rights and Development Forum

Asia

• Movement Against All Forms Of Discrimination And Racism (IMADRE)
• "Mamasilla" (Philippines)
• UN Association of Syria

Nord Sud XXI
I would like to propose Nord Sud XXI because we have also our affiliation in Middle East.

BADIL (Rania Madi)
There are two organizations who are not here for the moment and I would like to add Teja who represents the Arab organizations in Israel and BADIL Resource Center based in Bethlehem.

Afro-Swedish National Association
I am very glad we have this list now because that shows clearly that we have a group of NGOs from different continents who have agreed on setting up the Coordinating Committee for an NGO Forum at the Durban Review Conference. So that means that matter is settled and resolved at this moment. We do have an agreement that there is going to be an NGO Forum and there is a very potent, strong group of NGOs who are behind this…I think the idea was that it would be expanded to consultations. This will be a good thing that we have group who is ready to start work. Then we can see how we can constitute the participation for the different regions. In order to be able to move the work forward.

African Canadian Legal Clinic (Margaret Parsons)
This Committee is working towards organizing the NGO Forum for the Durban Review Conference. That is clearly my understanding. That is what I am signing up for.

Afro-Swedish National Association
WARN (World Against Racism Network) was established last year primarily to facilitate the work of the Durban Review process. It has some 20 members from all continents, and of course they are of different kinds of ECOSOC and non-ECOSOC NGOs. It has been promoting this work - the NGO preparation for the conference and it has organized together with the NGO Committee Against Racism a letter to the High Commissioner requesting the support for the NGO preparations, and NGO Forum. Its chair is Edith Balentyne from the International Women's League for Peace and Freedom and Krishna Batellli its treasurer.

African Canadian Legal Clinic (Margaret Parsons)
It is an NGO Forum - not a space. We cannot compromise on that in terms of its language, its intent and its work. I do not agree on calling it a space. It is an NGO Forum and this is what we are here talking about. It is a Forum and I am not about to capitulate to anti-Durban forces.

Canadian Labor Congress
We want an NGO Forum and I can definitely tell you for my organization which represents 55,000 people we are here and we believe it's important that civil society participate and that there will be an NGO Forum. And I can assure you that the Canadian Labor Congress will participate and we want an NGO Forum.

Durban II: The Making of a Racist "Anti-Racism" Conference

October 10, 14, 15 & 16, 2008: Syria, South Africa on behalf of the African Group, Algeria, Cuba, Palestinian Observer, Joint Statement: HIC and BADIL, EAFORD

Durban II: The Red Lines Have Been Crossed

October 15, 2008: Anne Bayefsky (Joint Statement of the Hudson Institute, the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, and the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists)

"Apartheid Israel" Returns at Durban II

Shocking Draft of the Durban II Final Declaration Released - UN Racist "Anti-Racism" Campaign Now in Black & White

The shocking text of the "Draft Outcome Document" to be adopted at the UN's so-called anti-racism conference, Durban II, has just been released. It features:

• accusations that Israel is guilty of apartheid, crimes against humanity and genocide
• allegations that Palestinians are victims of Israeli racism
• the accusation that Zionism is racism by referring to a "racially based law of return"
• claims of a right of return that would end the Jewishness of the state of Israel
• an effort to end Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem
• an attempt to strangle free speech by demands that states "encourage objective and balanced portrayals of people, events and history, especially in the media"
• a demand that states adopt laws to invade public and private life for the purposes of "preventing and punishing expressly and specifically contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in public and private life"
• an insistence that the world media be governed by "a code of ethical conduct with a view to prohibiting the proliferation of ideas of superiority and the justification of racial or religious hatred"
• an effort to tarnish "counterterrorism or national security" efforts with the accusation that they "hamper...progress in the collective struggle against racism"
• trumped-up accusations of global Muslim victimhood - including the claim that "the most serious manifestations of defamation of religions are the increase in Islamophobia and the worsening of the situation of Muslim minorities around the world"- a blatant effort by states sponsors of terrorism to turn attention away from their own heinous behavior by reinventing themselves as victims
• demands for broad new laws that would undercut democratic rights and freedoms in the name of religious sensibilities: "take firm action against negative stereotyping of religions and defamation of religious personalities, holy books, scriptures and symbols."

During the week of October 13, 2008, democratic states led by the European Union are sitting down to conduct a second reading of this outrageous "anti-racism" document. The continued participation of democratic states like the EU and Australia in the Durban II forum is legitimizing a global discussion for and against antisemitism, for and against a Jewish state, for and against freedom of expression. Instead of providing a global platform to the enemies of human rights, they should immediately join Canada, the United States and Israel and get out.

***

The Second Substantive Session of the Durban II Preparatory Committee Selected Provisions in the "Draft Outcome Document"

THE DEMONIZATION OF ISRAEL AND OF JEWISH SELF-DETERMINATION

Section 1 - Review of progress and assessment of implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action by all stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels, including the assessment of contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

A. Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

57. Reaffirm that a foreign occupation founded on settlements, its laws based on racial discrimination with the aim of continuing domination of the occupied territory, as well as its practices, which consist of reinforcing a total military blockade, isolating towns, cities and villages under occupation from each other, totally contradict the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and constitute a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, a new kind of apartheid, a crime against humanity, a form of genocide and a serious threat to international peace and security;

B. Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

114. Reiterates its concern about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupations, urges respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law and calls for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region;

115. Notes that the Palestinian people continue to be denied the fundamental right of self determination. In order to consolidate the occupation, they have been subjected to unlawful collective punishment, torture, economic blockade, severe restriction on movement and arbitrary closure of their territories. Illegal settlements continue to be built in the occupied territories. The Review Conference must look into the human rights situation and urge member states to implement the provisions of DDPA with a view to bring lasting peace in the Middle East.

116. Express deep concern at the plight of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies of the occupying power and who are prevented from returning to their homes and properties because of a racially based law of return, and recognize the right of return of the Palestinian refugees as established by the General Assembly in its resolutions, particularly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and call for their return to their homeland in accordance with and in implementation of this right;

117. Re-emphasize the responsibility of the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people under occupation against aggression, acts of racism, intimidation and denial of fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, liberty and self-determination;

E. Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation and enhancement of the United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

305. Recognize Jerusalem as a city of reverence and religious sanctity for three major religions of the world and call for an international effort to bring foreign occupation, together with all its racial practices, to an end, especially in holy shrines dear to the three religions;

Section 4 - Identification and sharing of best practices achieved at the national,regional and international levels in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

General

11. Reaffirm that a foreign occupation founded on settlements, its laws based on racial discrimination with the aim of continuing domination of the occupied territory, as well as its practices, which consist of reinforcing a total military blockade, isolating towns, cities and villages under occupation from each other, totally contradict the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and constitute a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, a new kind of apartheid, a crime against humanity, a form of genocide and a serious threat to international peace and security;

Section 5 - Identification of further concrete measures and initiatives at all levels for combating and eliminating all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to foster the implementation of the DDPA and to address challenges and impediments thereto, including in light of developments since the adoption of the DDPA in 2001

25. Express deep regret the practices of racial discrimination against the Palestinians as well as other inhabitants of the Arab occupied territories which have an impact on all aspects of their daily existence such as to prevent the enjoyment of fundamental rights, express our deep concern about this situation and renew the call for the cessation of all the practices of racial discrimination to which the Palestinians and the other inhabitants of the Arab territories occupied by Israel are subjected;

26. Reiterate that the Palestinian people continue to be denied the fundamental right of self determination and urge member States to look at the situation of Palestinian people during the Durban Review Conference and implement the provisions of DDPA with a view to bring lasting peace in the Middle East;

ATTACKING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BY ALL MEANS

Section 4 - Identification and sharing of best practices achieved at the national,regional and international levels in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

General

4. The OIC strongly believes …misuse or abuse, as provided in Article 20 of the ICCPR and Article 4 of the ICERD must be taken into account to avoid possible negative fall outs. Therefore, while elaborating specific laws on combating incitement to racial and religious hatred, these must conform to the relevant provision of ICCPR and ICERD;

10.(h) - Adopting measures to address the issue of hate speech in the Media, including on the Internet;

Combating

24 (c) Elaborating specific laws on combating incitement to racial and religious hatred, in conformity with obligations under article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

Section 5 - Identification of further concrete measures and initiatives at all levels for combating and eliminating all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to foster the implementation of the DDPA and to address challenges and impediments thereto, including in light of developments since the adoption of the DDPA in 2001

11. recent events have once again highlighted the need to demarcate the legal contours between freedom of expression and hate speech. OHCHR's proposed Expert Consultations on the permissible limits to freedom of expression, by taking into account the mandatory prohibition of advocacy of religious hatred, should reach some conclusions and recommendations coming out from the consultations should be worthy of including in the Review Conference documents.

74. Recommend that the use of the new information technologies, including the Internet, should contribute to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and that they should also be used to promote tolerance and respect for diversity;

75. Call upon States to prevent, through all appropriate means, stereotyping of any ethnic, racial, national, cultural, religious and linguistic group, and encourage objective and balanced portrayals of people, events and history, especially in the media, recognizing the profound influence that such portrayals have on societal perceptions of groups whose members are frequently victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;

83. Urges States to adopt and enforce legal and administrative measures at the national and local levels, or to strengthen existing measures, with the aim of preventing and punishing expressly and specifically contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in public and private life;

100. Call upon the world media to establish and disseminate through their relevant associations and organizations a code of ethical conduct with a view to prohibiting the proliferation of ideas of superiority and the justification of racial or religious hatred and discrimination in any form, and promoting mutual respect and tolerance among all peoples;

147. Stresses the importance of the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards to elaborate a basic document to fill the gaps in the existing international treaties about the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination;

148. Call upon the Durban Review Conference to provide guidelines for States taking into account the assessment of various Durban follow up mechanisms as well as the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the issue of defamation or negative stereotyping of religions;

ATTEMPTING TO THWART EFFORTS TO END TERRORISM

Section 1 - Review of progress and assessment of implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action by all stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels, including the assessment of contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

C. Measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels

160. Noting that some of the other obstacles hampering progress in the collective struggle against racism and racial discrimination include; weak legislation and policies, lack of moral, educational and practical strategies, non-implementation of international legal framework and commitments by some, persisting impunity on different grounds such as freedom of expression, counter terrorism or national security

D. Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and compensatory and other measures at all levels

212. Call on states to ensure that any measures taken in the fight against terrorism do not discriminate, in purpose or effect, on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin as well as on the grounds of culture, religion and language and that non-citizens are not subjected to racial or ethnic profiling or stereotyping;

Section 5 - Identification of further concrete measures and initiatives at all levels for combating and eliminating all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to foster the implementation of the DDPA and to address challenges and impediments thereto, including in light of developments since the adoption of the DDPA in 2001

142.Call on states to ensure that any measures taken in the fight against terrorism do not discriminate, in purpose or effect, on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin as well as on the grounds of culture, religion and language and that non-citizens are not subjected to racial or ethnic profiling or stereotyping;

THE VICTIMHOOD GAME: ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MUSLIMS

Section 1 - Review of progress and assessment of implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action by all stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels, including the assessment of contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

A. Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance26. Note that, some of the most worrying trends since 2001 include racio-religious profiling and discrimination, defamation of Muslims, their faith and beliefs, incitement to religious hatred and its concomitant effects on multiculturalism, national and international peace and stability as well as human rights of the affected communities.

28. Shares the assessment that the most serious manifestations of defamation of religions are the increase in Islamophobia and the worsening of the situation of Muslim minorities around the world. He has mentioned three main developments in this context; a) the stereotypical association of Islam (and Muslims) with violence and terrorism; b) the determination to impose restrictions on manifestation of Islam including construction of mosques and its minarets; and c) monitoring and surveillance of places of worship, culture and teaching of Islam.

30. Acknowledges that the most disturbing phenomenon is the intellectual and ideological validation of Islamophobia. When it is expressed against migrants it takes the form of religo-ethnic or religo-racial tones, when it is expressed in the form of defamation of religions, it takes cover behind the freedom of expression and when it is expressed in the form of profiling. It hides behind the war against terrorism. Believes that association of terrorism and violence with Islam or any other religion including through publication of offensive caricatures and making of hate documentaries would purposely complicate our common endeavours to address several contemporary issues including fight against terrorism and occupation of foreign territories and peoples.

31. Besides strengthening discrimination against Muslims, this insidious association is preventing Muslim communities from practicing their religion freely or integration in the society, in many countries. Discrimination on multiple grounds of religion, ethnicity or culture further affects enjoyment of their basic human rights including economic, social and cultural rights. Durban Review Conference, therefore, must look into this contemporary manifestation of racism and seek proscription of this practice through legal and administrative measures. As the existing national laws and courts have failed to address the issue, internationally binding normative standards need to be devised that can provide adequate guarantees against defamation of religions and religious intolerance.

42. Recognizes that there have been increasing risks of stereotyping Muslims and other groups and expresses its commitment to combat this phenomenon;

Section 3 - Promotion of the universal ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and proper consideration of the recommendations of the CERD

Replies from CERD [Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination]

When examining periodic reports, the Committee has expressed its concern about reported cases of "Islamophobia" following the 11 September attacks. Furthermore, while taking note that the criminal legislation of some States includes offences where religious motives are an aggravating factor, it has regretted that incitement to racially motivated religious hatred is not outlawed. The Committee has recommended that States give early consideration to the extension of the crime of incitement to racial hatred to cover offences motivated by religious hatred against immigrant communities

Section 5 - Identification of further concrete measures and initiatives at all levels for combating and eliminating all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to foster the implementation of the DDPA and to address challenges and impediments thereto, including in light of developments since the adoption of the DDPA in 2001

16. Urge States to take serious steps to address the contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and in this context to take firm action against negative stereotyping of religions and defamation of religious personalities, holy books, scriptures and symbols;

131. National laws alone cannot deal with the rising tide of defamation and hatred against Muslims, especially if such trends are spreading to the grass root communities. A framework is needed to analyze national laws and understand their provisions. This could then be compiled in a single "universal document" as guidelines for legislation - aimed at countering "defamation of religions".

The Durban II "anti-racism" campaign off and running

Durban II preparations push multi-pronged strategy: attack Israel, defeat the war on terror, manufacture "Islamophobia"

Speaker after speaker from the earliest moments of the second session of the Durban II Preparatory Committee declared their intention to turn Durban II into "Durban I plus" on many fronts - including a repeat of the formula for disguising racism as combating racism. Representing the 117 members of the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as the 56 states in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, these speakers represent the majority of members of the General Assembly.

October 6, 2008: Cuba on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Algeria, Egypt

Durban II preparatory process raises prospect of new NGO Forum

The Second Substantive Session of the Durban II Preparatory Committee, October 7, 2008, Geneva, Switzerland

South Africa and members of the NGO community are now raising the prospects of an NGO Forum alongside the Durban II Conference to be held in Geneva next April. The NGO Forum of the 2001 UN "anti-racism" conference provided a global platform for virulent anti-semitism.

South African representative, October 7, 2008: "I think we are now all in full agreement about the maximum participation of NGOs... And I think there are also other opportunities, as happened at the World Conference Against Racism, that NGOs in fact can gather in their own setting and they can then come up with constructive input that they can then deliver at the point in time that [they are] allowed to make such interventions. That would certainly help the process. But it has to be in some sort of forum setting so that at least they have an opportunity to talk amongst themselves as to how best to take the process forward from their point of view and to assist the intergovernmental process."

On October 8, 2008, a flyer was distributed in Palais Des Nations room XXI, which announced that on Wednesday, October 15th members of the NGO Committee Against Racism and Racial Discrimination (CONGO) and World Against Racism Network (WARN) are organizing a discussion on "Preparing the NGO Forum for the Durban Review Conference 2009".

Antisemitism at the UN under the guise of "combating racism"

Iran - a Vice-President of the Durban II PrepCom - thinks the antisemitism expressed by the Iranian President is not relevant

More attempts to silence NGOs

October 6, 2008: Anne Bayefsky (Joint Statement of the Hudson Institute, the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, and the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists)

What the United Nations Does on the Holiest Day of the Jewish Calendar, Yom Kippur

Provides a global platform to encourage hatred and violence against the Jewish State

Durban II: A Conference to demonize Israel

October 9, 2008: The planning committee of an "anti-racism" conference listens politely to the racism coming from the Syrian Arab Republic, and BADIL, a Palestinian NGO

Fifty three states launch attack on Israel at Durban II preparations

The Second Substantive Session of the Durban II Preparatory Committee, October 8, 2008, Geneva, Switzerland

As preparations for the Durban Review Conference - aka Durban II - enter their final phase, the "demonize Israel" agenda has become undeniable. The Asian regional group - representing 53 states of the United Nations - has now released its list of demands for the final outcome document. Those urging the United States and others to participate in this alleged "anti-racism" forum should be embarrassed by their continued refusal to recognize the Durban II agenda and to continue to urge its legitimization.

Reproduced below is just some of what the Asian states have put front and center for discussion, debate and inclusion at Durban II.

Note - that the claim that Palestinians are victims of Israeli racism was already a part of the Durban I Declaration and since the agreed purpose of Durban II is at least to implement and affirm Durban I, there is no avoiding such an outcome.

Contribution of the Asian Region to the Durban Review Conference(10/8/2008)

Demonization of Israel - Israel is racist - only Israel condemned:

Preambular paragraph 2

Recalling the 2001 Tehran Declaration and Programme of Action by the Asian Preparatory Meeting,

[Editor's Note: The Tehran Declaration includes

21. Recall with deep regret the practices of racial discrimination against the Palestinians as well as other inhabitants of the Arab occupied territories which have an impact on all aspects of their daily existence such as to prevent the enjoyment of fundamental rights, express our deep concern about this situation and call for the cessation of all the practices of racial discrimination to which the Palestinians and the other inhabitants of the Arab territories occupied by Israel are subjected;

33. Express deep concern at the plight of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies of the occupying power and who are prevented from returning to their homes and properties because of a racially based law of return, and recognize the right of return of the Palestinian refugees as established by the General Assembly in its resolutions, particularly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and call for their return to their homeland in accordance with and in implementation of this right;

34. Re-emphasize the responsibility of the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people under occupation against aggression, acts of racism, intimidation and denial of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, liberty and self-determination;]

Operative paragraphs of the Asian Group Durban II Document:

18. Recognize Jerusalem as a city of reverence and religious sanctity for three major religions of the world and call for an international effort to bring foreign occupation, together with all its racial practices, to an end, especially in holy shrines dear to the three religions;

19. Reaffirm that a foreign occupation founded on settlements, its laws based on racial discrimination with the aim of continuing domination of the occupied territory, as well as its practices, which consist of reinforcing a total military blockade, isolating towns, cities and villages under occupation from each other, totally contradict the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and constitute a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, a new kind of apartheid, a crime against humanity, a form of genocide and a serious threat to international peace and security;

26. Express deep concern at the plight of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies of the occupying power and who are prevented from returning to their homes and properties because of a racially based law of return, and recognize the right of return of the Palestinian refugees as established by the General Assembly in its resolutions, particularly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and call for their return to their homeland in accordance with and in implementation of this right;

27. Re-emphasize the responsibility of the international community to provide international protection for the Palestinian people under occupation against aggression, acts of racism, intimidation and denial of fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, liberty and self-determination;

68. Express deep regret the practices of racial discrimination against the Palestinians as well as other inhabitants of the Arab occupied territories which have an impact on all aspects of their daily existence such as to prevent the enjoyment of fundamental rights, express our deep concern about this situation and renew the call for the cessation of all the practices of racial discrimination to which the Palestinians and the other inhabitants of the Arab territories occupied by Israel are subjected;

69. Reiterate that the Palestinian people continue to be denied the fundamental right of self determination and urge member States to look at the situation of Palestinian people during the Durban Review Conference and implement the provisions of DDPA with a view to bring lasting peace in the Middle East;

Other plans of the Asian group to use Durban II to undermine rights and freedoms include:

Violating freedom of expression:

15. Express deep concern at the use of new information technologies, such as the Internet, to propagate racial hatred, xenophobia, racial discrimination and related intolerance and that children and youth have access to this material;

40. Note with deep concern the widening use by some groups and organizations of the opportunity provided by print, audio-visual and electronic media as well as scienfific and technological progress, such as the Internet, to promote racist and xenophobic propaganda aimed at inciting societies throughout the world to racial hatred and in this connection urge all Governments to take necessary measures against such incitement;

89. Urge States to take necessary measures to denounce, actively discourage and prohibit the transmission of racist and xenophobic messages through all communications media, including new communications technologies such as the Internet;

91. Call upon the world media to establish and disseminate through their relevant associations and organizations a code of ethical conduct with a view to prohibiting the proliferation of ideas of superiority and the justification of racial or religious hatred and discrimination in any form, and promoting mutual respect and tolerance among all peoples;

Undermining the effort to end terrorism:

87. Call on states to ensure that any measures taken in the fight against terrorism do not discriminate, in purpose or effect, on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin as well as on the grounds of culture, religion and language and that non-citizens are not subjected to racial or ethnic profiling or stereotyping;

Manufacturing victims of discrimination:

77. Urge States to take serious steps to address the contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and in this context to take firm action against negative stereotyping of religions and defamation of religious personalities, holy books, scriptures and symbols.

Anne Bayefsky, Joint Statement of the Hudson Institute, the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, and IAJLJ

The Second Substantive Session of the Durban II Preparatory Committee, October 6, 2008, Geneva, Switzerland 

Preparations for the UN second Durban racism conference have now moved into a new and alarming phase.

1. This week Jews mark the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. The committee's decision to hold an anti-racism meeting on this day confirms fears that Durban follow-up has become synonymous with antisemitism and the violation of racial and religious equality rather than its reverse.

2. The written contribution and oral statement today of the Organization of Islamic states contains some familiar strategies:

• Allege Palestinians are the victims of Israeli racism - a throwback to the racist and discredited "Zionism is racism" slander in the General Assembly
• Promote double-standards: Israel is singled out for condemnation while no mention of racism in any Muslim state is tolerated
• Profess interest in non-discrimination based on religion, without mentioning endemic violations of freedom of religion which are common place in the very same states with this new found zeal for religious liberty
• Use claims of Islamophobia to justify curtailing freedom of expression and stifling efforts to combat terrorism.

We strongly condemn any plan to use the OIC's contribution in any consolidated outcome document of the second Durban Conference.

3. The report of the regional preparatory meeting for Africa, the Abuja Declaration, takes its inspiration from "the values and principles of human dignity and equality enshrined in the...African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights." Those values include a vow to "undertak[e] to eliminate...zionism" - a racist statement in its own right. Furthermore, the Abuja Declaration

• repeats the Israel is racist charge
• challenges the right to freedom of expression
• gives Islam special preference, and
• attempts to restrain efforts to combat terrorism.

These elements are antithetical to the genuine battle against racism.

4. Iran, as a Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau of this Preparatory Committee and a member of the Group of Friends advising the Chairperson of the working group, is playing a leading role in the planning of this conference. And yet the statement of its President at the opening of the General Assembly included reference to "a small but deceitful number of people called Zionists…[that] have been dominating…financial and monetary centers…[and] political decision-making centers…in a deceitful, complex and furtive manner." He describes "the Zionist network" as "a small number of acquisitive and invasive people." These words were met by a round of applause from the assembled states and a hug from the General Assembly President. This, of course, is classic antisemitism - the very racism and xenophobia that the second Durban conference purports to oppose. By putting and retaining Iran in a position of authority in the planning of this conference, its authenticity as a vehicle for defeating racism is discredited.

5. The report of the intersessional working group is an alarming document. Its reference to all the victims named in the Durban Declaration is a clear call to include the DDPA claim that Palestinians are victims of Israeli racism - again a revision of the 'Zionism is racism' slander. Accompanying this are recent statements in the framework of follow-up to the Durban conference to redefine antisemitism as meaning something other than the hatred of Jews and applying to Arabs and Muslims.

6. The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights begins her tenure by criticizing, not the substance of the Durban Declaration, but the decision of Canada, Israel and the United States not to participate in the Durban process. Contrary to her claims, the antisemitism of the first Durban conference was not merely a result of NGOs on the sidelines - as paragraph 63 of the governmental Declaration attests. Nor was the Declaration as a whole adopted by consensus, since the U.S. and Israel did not participate and substantial reservations were made by numerous states. Furthermore, Durban "has given us a comprehensive plan of action to combat racism in all its manifestations" only if one accepts the demonization of Israel is a legitimate formula for combating racism rather than encouraging it.

The slogan of the Durban Review Conference is more accurately "United Against Racism: Dignity and Justice for All - except Jews" and the High Commissioner would do well to find an alternative venue for a genuine campaign to combat racism.