Editorial
There's a frantic mood here to finish lots and lots of work, having a 100 meetings in 24 hours, typing reports, papers, interventions, notes…yes, only two more days to go now. We have a new draft declaration and it is another strange one. All submissions from caucuses and NGOs are in there but what we had feared happened, it is a compilation document. No amendments were processed so not much was changed or deleted. Well, some things were changed, but not from any amendments far as I can see. In my opinion it still has a lot of inappropriate (euphemism) language but it looks like a more 'workable' document now.
The draft was handed out by Laurie Wiseberg this morning, she had only 50 copies. Since she had not been able to get an electronic copy on disc she was forced to take the only paper copy she received and run as much copies as possible before the machine broke down. A pretty annoying situation, since this is our draft, our language is in there, it is an NGO document that needs to be disseminated as soon as it is ready. It is not the private property of one NGO or a drafter!
Since nobody was able to get the draft on disc (the drafter disappeared with the only electronic version, nobody can find him), ICARE decided to scan the paper version. So from 3 p.m. until 23:00 p.m. we were scanning and spellchecking and it is now up on the website. Suzette has taken 10 discs for the caucuses and will hand them out during the NGO briefing. Enjoy.
Ronald Eissens
Videobites of the day:
We are not states. Video Interview with Delia Grigore
click here to play the RealVideo file.
If you don´t have RealPlayer: 
Today´s happenings
NGO Briefing
The latest draft is handed out by Laurie Wiseberg, 50 copies only since she hasn't got the electronic version, she had to copy it from one copy she got from Sangoco.
Delia Grigore gives a short impression of the Governmental process up till now. A representative of the Indigenous Caucus added to this that things are not going well for them in the governmental drafting process. Vera told that the ISC had a short meeting only yesterday (2 hours). The drafting committee for Durban is not yet finalised. Several caucuses asked questions of the ISC and they had a short discussion on intersectionality, some people feel that workshops in Durban should reflect on that. Later during the ISC meeting work was done on rules and procedures for drafters and workshop leaders.
Myrna gives a short report on her visit to Durban where she met with Sangoco and `the whole staff of the secretariat. She got updates on all things, funding, programme, security, layout etc. There are problems with the facilities for workshops, there are 250 workshops booked now but most of the facilities are to far away from the main venues, some 30 - 50 kilometres from there. Sangoco is working on getting facilities closer by, but most of them are already booked by governments. Questions/remarks from the floor: Alberto stressed that we have talked about intersectionality for some time now. He thinks it is very important that during the opening ceremony of the NGO forum something is said about it, a speaker should guide us on that. On a question about room for caucus meetings in Durban, Laurie told that there is 1 room for caucuses in the Durban Exhibition Centre (this facility is part of the ICC)
And also another 4 rooms for caucus meetings. Suzette asked if, since the latest draft is in, we are going to discuss it in a plenary meeting. Vera told on behalf of the ISC that she had no answer on that for now, the ISC will discuss how to proceed with it. Somebody asked about a follow-up after Durban and Vera told (on behalf of ENAR) that the European caucus is working on the national action plans, and on approaching governments directly to ensure there is a follow-up. Laurie told the office of the HC will cerate a small unit to work with/on a follow up but this of course depends on what will be in the Plan of Action. Her opinion is that NGOs will have to start thinking about a follow up, if they didn't already, to think about what kind of mechanisms they want to see.
Historical Intervention
This morning there was a statement read in the governemental drafting plenary session, on behalf of the European caucus Leyala Hamidi read the first part and on behalf of the Africans and African descendants caucus Nzinga read the second part.
Full text:
(click here for a videobite)
Common Declaration of the three NGO Caucuses of Pan Europeans, Africans and African Descendants addressed to the European Union
We, European, African and African descendant NGO Caucuses present at the 3rd PrepCom, moved by the spirit of dialogue and constructive exchange amongst ourselves and by our wish to bring together our civil societies in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Wishing to contribute to the success of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and sharing the desire of the European Union "...to build the future on solid foundations and to prevent the recurrence of the grave errors of the past." (EU Council Conclusions on the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, 16 July 2001)
Wishing to express our concern with the Council Conclusions on the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of 16 July 2001 which include the following:
- With regard to the historical aspects, the European Union profoundly deplores the human suffering, both individual and collective, caused by slavery and the slave trade. They are amongst the most dishonorable and abhorrent chapters in the history of humanity. The European Union condemns these practices, in the past and present, and regrets the suffering they have caused.
- Some effects of colonialism have caused immense suffering which still persist today. Any act causing such suffering must be condemned, wherever and whenever it occurred.
- Through these acts of acknowledgement, regret and condemnation, the European Union, aware of the moral obligation incumbent on the entire international community vis-à-vis the victims of these tragedies, shows its firm determination to honor this obligation and to accept its responsibility. It considers that it is the obligation of each individual to remember the suffering caused by events occurring at different points in history, so that they will never be forgotten. The obligation to remember will make it possible to build the future on solid foundations and to prevent the recurrence of the grave errors of the past.
These conclusions do not effectively reflect the responsibilities of European countries in the TransAtlantic Slave Trade, Slavery and the Colonization of Africa.
Taking into account that several member states of the European Union have played an important role in the TransAtlantic Slave Trade and Slavery and that they have been colonial powers and they have benefited from exploiting the labor and the wealth of African countries.
Furthermore, taking into account the tendency within the European Union towards the recognition of Slave Trade and Slavery as crimes against humanity (see French law of 21 May 2001, especially Article 3 in which France agrees to request that the Council of Europe, the UN and International organizations to recognize Slave Trade and Slavery as crimes against humanity.)
While recognizing the EU Council Conclusions that state "Some effects of colonialism have caused immense suffering which still persist today", we feel the strong need to expand and go beyond this current EU position.
Urging the European Union to take an important historical step by recognizing the responsibility of European countries in the TransAtlantic Slave Trade, Slavery and the Colonization of Africa.
Urging the European Union to apologize to the descendants of victims of the Slave Trade, Slavery and Colonialism, including those who are residing in the Americas, who are still suffering today of the consequences of those tragedies on psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, economic and political levels.
Urging the European Union to follow the example of France and to recognize that the Slave Trade and Slavery constitute crimes against humanity.
Urging the European Union to take into account the multiple suffering inflicted on African peoples by Colonialism and therefore to recognize Colonialism as a crime against humanity.
Urging the European Union to recognize their obligations and to take appropriate compensatory measures, including reparations, for the damages caused by those tragedies and for the consequences that still continue today.
Urging all states outside of the European Union that were involved in Slave Trade and Slavery to take responsibility for their actions and to act upon the above mentioned paragraphs.
We offer our collaboration in drafting provisions for the Declaration and the Program of Action of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
Geneva, 8 August 2OO1
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Interview with Delia Grigore.
Delia Grigore represents the Rroma Center for Public Policies "Aven Amentza" and has been following the Governemental procedures closely during this (and also the previous) PrepCom. In the 'normal' world she is a full-time teacher of Rroma language and Culture.
What do you think of the developments during this PrepCom so far?
On the governmental side, I don't think that they are going to finish it. Controversial issues are set aside for the moment while they go on with other issues. There is some progress but I don't think they will finish before Durban. Some states are talking about going to the WCAR on a lower level, these are not only the rumours, but certainties by now. Some will send vice-presidents or vice-ministers, some will only come with civil servants in their delegation. This is bad, for that means they will make it less important than we want it to be. They want to talk, only not right now and only on a lower level. Also they want to keep the documents (Draft and PoA) as general as possible, they even wanted to erase the names of the victims. The victims, that is why we are here, so that is unacceptable. Alternatively, they want to make a hierarchy of victims, to prioritise victims and have only one group or some groups in the spotlight but not the others. Our statement (Roma /Sinti/ Travellers caucus) was that we should name ALL victims by name, and not say 'and other victims'. This is outrageous, it is an insult and unacceptable. Even the word 'victim' we don't like, that word is like we are a target, a subject, not an object. That is diminishing to me and all others. We are not in their hands but in our own! We should make them understand this. The states see us as enemies, but we as people are part of the state, so we should be involved in decision making too. They say 'it is for us to negotiate, not for the NGOs'. By this they actually mean that NGOs can talk to the moon and the stars.
You have been in the governmental meetings all day...how about the Paragraphs on Roma, Sinti etc?
We are not pleased. We made 3 interventions, and I have to say, I have to mention this specifically, that my statements were endorsed and supported systematically by Switzerland. The product that is now on the table looks very good, our things are in there, but not all of them. We asked for 3 things: The establishment of a permanent UN Rroma Forum, a consultative body, nobody endorsed it, except for Switzerland. We asked for recognition of the Rroma non-territorial nation. this was not endorsed. Well, at least they did not erase the paragraph, they only softened the wording. We asked for Institutional development, that is, capacity building and equal participation for Rroma communities. This was also endorsed and supported only by Switzerland. Other important points are education in the mother tongue and self-esteem building for Rroma children. The former is of course closely related to the latter. They say that learning the Rroma language is no problem but they don't want all the other lessons to be given in the Rroma language.
And how about the NGO Programme of action and the NGO draft Declaration? Did you read the latest one which came out today?
The Programme of Action is very bad. No mention of Rroma and the Rroma issue or much about others. The Rroma issue is in the newest draft declaration, in our language, as we submitted it, BUT this draft declaration is politicised, focussing on the middle-east mainly. Many NGOs are not gonna like it and some NGOs are going to denounce it ultimately, so this language should be changed. The draft talks about states. We should not point at states. I could have said 'Romania held us as slaves', but I didn't because we should address the phenomena. If this draft stays as it is, my cause will be in the shadow and all other causes will be in the shadow. This will distract us from the main issue of the conference and that is very bad for us and all victims.
Tidbits from the outside world
(with thanks to Brieuc-Yves Cadat)
No Progress on UN Racism Text, U.S. Deadline Looms
By Karen Iley
GENEVA (Reuters) - Last-ditch talks to secure U.S. participation in this
month's U.N. racism conference are making little progress, dimming hopes of
a solution within the next 48 hours, sources close to the talks said on
Wednesday. The preparatory committee has until the end of Friday to agree on whether
language equating Zionism with racism should stay on the draft agenda for
the conference, set to start on August 31 in Durban, South Africa.
Arab states want to raise the question of the Israeli occupation of Arab
lands. But the United States has said it will not attend the conference
unless a passage stating that Israeli government policies are racist and
constitute a new form of apartheid is removed.
``It's still too early to say, but if the United States had to make a
decision today, it would not be going to Durban,'' one source close to the
U.S. mission told Reuters. Israel said on Tuesday that it too would evaluate its stance once the
negotiations on the draft text end on Friday.
People attending the committee meeting said absolutely no progress had been
made. But Jose Luis Diaz, a U.N. human rights spokesman, said there was a
sense of urgency behind the continuing talks. ``Discussions are ongoing at a number of levels and people are conscious of
a need to reach some understanding,'' he said.
Aside from the committee itself, intense behind-the-scenes negotiations are
continuing between missions and countries eager to reach agreement.
The United States has sent top congressman Tom Lantos, a California
Democrat, to Geneva to garner support from other states and persuade the
committee to remove the passage.
So far he has met U.N. human rights chief Mary Robinson and representatives
from South Africa, Israel, Turkey, Pakistan and India. He is due to brief
the media on Thursday.
HEAT OFF SLAVERY REPARATIONS ISSUE
The other contentious issue, slavery reparations to African countries, is
unlikely to be as big a stumbling block as the Middle East problem, thanks
to the ``open-mindedness and understanding'' of African states, sources
said. The United States has objected to the inclusion of the reparation issue,
saying the conference should look forward and focus on combating racism in
the future.
``We are pleased with the progress made on reparations, but all that may
well be for nought,'' the source said.
Some countries have raised the possibility of making changes to the text
after Friday's deadline, but sources said the United States would insist on
the anti-Israeli language being cut out this week.
U.S. anti-racism organizations, in Geneva to observe the presentation of the
first U.S. report to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, agreed with the United States' view but said it was taking
the wrong tack in expressing its displeasure and urged it to attend.
Israel Faults Racism Talks Wording
By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, Associated Press Writer
GENEVA (AP) - A key Israeli official expressed ``deep concern'' Tuesday over
the failure of negotiators to remove anti-Israeli language from a
declaration being prepared for the World Conference Against Racism.
``We maybe had some hopes there would be some coming to the senses during
the past week,'' said Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Melchior.
``Unfortunately we have not seen any serious movement.''
The document is meant to be ready for the Aug. 31 opening of the conference
in Durban, South Africa.
The United States has threatened to boycott the conference over the
condemnations. Melchior said the draft language remains in the text, despite
commitments to delete some of it.
Still, Israel has found ``an awakening'' among other governments about
``what would be the disastrous outcome if the present language is kept for
Durban,'' he said.
Melchior, who arrived in Geneva on Monday evening to press the Israeli point
of view during what is supposed to be the final week of negotiations on the
draft declaration, told reporters he wanted to stress ``the deep concern''
of his government.
Israeli concerns go beyond an attempt to revive an 1975 U.N. resolution
equating Zionism with racism to anti-Israel language appearing in many
places in the draft document, Melchior said.
One of the unacceptable paragraphs for Israel refers to a ``foreign
occupation founded on settlements, its laws based on racial discrimination,
with the aim of continuing domination on 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.''
This represents a ``new kind of apartheid, a crime against humanity and a
serious threat to international peace and security,'' says the draft text.
Although Israel is not mentioned by name in that passage, it is clearly the
target of the words, and Melchior said it was unacceptable for Israel to be
the only country singled out for criticism.
``This will be a major blow against Israel and not only Israel but the
Jewish people, its past, its suffering, its hope for the future,'' Melchior
said.
Arab countries argue that the level of violence committed by Israel against
Palestinians is such that the conference can not possibly ignore it.
But Melchior said the Middle East conflict was a political, not a racism
issue, and that citing the competition of two peoples for the same territory
would undermine the aims of the Durban conference.
``This was supposed to be a conference which would be rejoicing the victory
over apartheid and creating some kind of universal language and agreement on
the issue of racism and xenophobia and how to fight these phenomena.''
Organizations that represent Israel's Arab citizens were in Geneva to lobby
for their points of view.
``We are saying that Israel is racist,'' Amer Makhoul, director of Ittijah,
a network of Palestinian organizations in Israel.
Mohammed Abn-Elhija, representing 40 unrecognized Arab villages in Israel,
said 100,000 Palestinians live in such communities, which are unmarked on
any maps and lack all basic services, including water and electricity.
``We want to be equal citizens in Israel,'' Abn-Elhija told reporters. ``We
want our rights as a minority. I want to drink a cup of water not as a favor
from a Jewish neighbor but as a right.''
``I don't need to prove the racism of the Israeli government,'' Abn-Elhija
said. ``I live with it.''
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