AS PRINTED IN THE CHICAGO BULLETIN-REPORT FROM DURBAN II CONFERENCE-GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, APRIL 20-APRIL 24, 2009

2 May 2009
DURBAN 2 REVIEW
REPORT FROM UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM GENEVA, SWITZERLAND-APRIL 20-24, 2009

In September, 2001, the 3rd World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance was held in Durban, South Africa. At this conference, it was estimated that 18,000 people were in attendance, with 2,500 delegates from 170 countries including 16 heads of State, 58 foreign ministers and 44 other ministers, nearly 4,000 NGO’s (Non-government Organizations) and 1,300 members of the media.
From the conference in Durban, a document entitled “The Durban Declaration and Program of Action was formulated. There were 400 NGO delegates in attendance from the United States who were primarily of African descent. Their exclusive purpose was to have entered into the Durban Declaration language that specifically addressed the issue of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. They were successful in that it was stated; The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery were Crimes Against Humanity. Further, the “Durban 400” rationalized that as a result of what had been inflicted on those kidnapped Africans, “Reparations” are due.
The “Review Conference” in Geneva, Switzerland was held to reaffirm, acknowledge, take note of, express concern for, reiterate, emphasize, condemn, deplore, express appreciation for, stress, welcome, adopt, recall, renew, urge or encourage language that existed in the document being presented which were the Durban Declaration and Program of Action. This is a customary process which is usually convened several years after the original conference.
The official count for participants in the review conference has not been released. However, the U.S. delegation was substantially less than the 400 who participated at the conference in South Africa in 2001. The number of participants for the United States in Durban was unprecedented. The Geneva conference posed a serious struggle for the delegations representing African nations around the world (including Blacks from America) to maintain the adopted language regarding the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. We only had three days of the five to complete this task because the government bodies would leave on Wednesday.
Of the 185 plus member States attending the conference in Geneva, the United States of America was not one of them. Neither were Canada, Britain and several other Western countries. The United States has never participated in any World Conference against Racism including the first one which addressed the issue of apartheid in South Africa.
While the news was reporting the live statements by the President of Iran, denouncing the pro-Zionist governments of the world including the U.S. and the orchestrated walk-out of several Western nations, another significant occurrence was taking place among the NGO’s.
One of brother Malcolm X’s five daughters was participating in the Geneva conference. At some point while making remarks in a side session, abruptly, without warning, a group of pro-Zionist NGO delegates began shouting her down and completely disregarding the protocol of United Nations behavior. At the same time they began taking photos of her which is another UN violation. Several members from African delegations came to her defense by shielding her from the hostile pro-Zionists. Finally, the United Nations police arrived after being summoned quite earlier. Even then, initially, they attempted to remove Malcolm’s daughter and her rescuers instead of the villains who initiated the action. Although the instigators were escorted from the room, they were not barred from the conference nor were their cameras confiscated which is normal operating procedure at the United Nations. Several hours later, they returned. We knew then, what we could expect during the remaining days of the conference. Fortunately, nothing of this magnitude reoccurred.
During the remainder of the conference, many “side events” were conducted. These I found to be most relevant.
· “Transatlantic slave trade, challenges for the Durban review: Remembrance, legacies, apologies, remedies”
Organized by International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations, Afro-Swedish National Association, Centre for Housing Rights and Evictions, Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center and African Canadian Legal Clinic
· “The role of local Governments in fighting racism and racial discrimination: Experiences from the International Coalition of Cities against Racism Project”
Organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
· “Reparations for African people and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”
Organized by International Association Against Torture and December Twelfth Movement International Secretariat
· “Combating racism through sport and youth empowerment”
Organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
· “Durban commitments and minorities: Policing in diverse societies”
Organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
On the last day, the “Adoption of the Final Documents and The Report of The Durban Review Conference was distributed. The exact language from the Durban Conference had been modified. It reads as-
#62 ….. Recalls that slavery and the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide must never be forgotten and in this regard welcomes actions undertaken to honour the memory of victims;
#63….Notes actions of those countries that have, in the context of these past tragedies, expressed remorse, offered apologies, initiated institutionalized mechanisms such as truth and reconciliation commissions and/or restituted cultural artifacts since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and calls on those who have not yet contributed to restoring the dignity of the victims and find appropriate ways to do so;
#64….Urges all States to implement General Assembly resolutions 61/19, 62/122 and 63/5 on the transatlantic slave trade;
#65….Urges States to combat impunity for crimes of genocide in accordance with international law, in particular the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and in this context urges States t cooperate with international criminal tribunals as stipulated in paragraph 82 of the DDPA;
#71….Urges States to adopt a social and human rights perspective when tackling the violence experienced by indigenous youth and youth of African descent, particularly in the peri-urban areas of major cities, and to focus on strengthening social capital, granting assistance to, and building the capacity of indigenous youth and youth of African descent;
#72….Urges States to direct their special measures, including affirmative or positive measures, and strategies or actions, as well as new investments in health care, public health, education, employment, electricity, drinking water and environmental control, to communities of African descent and indigenous peoples.
What is truly important for all people of African descent to understand is that the past and destiny of peoples of African descent residing in the United States and the Diaspora is completely interwoven-linked to that of our brothers and sisters who continue to inhabit the continent of Africa. The world views us that way and we should view ourselves in that manner as well.

Submitted by,
Patricia L. Hill, Executive Director-African American Police League