Statement on the Durban Review Conference

IMADR considers that the Durban Review Conference of the United Nations constitutes an important milestone in the fight of the international community against racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance. In spite of various limitations in drafting the outcome document, the proposed draft text raises, at least, a few key issues which are crucial in combating racism and racial discrimination.

IMADR has considered it crucial to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) at all levels in particular at national level, and welcomes the concrete proposals to enhance DDPA to combat racism made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in March 2009. IMADR expresses it’s deep concern of the boycott of the preparatory process and the Durban Review Conference by some member states for political reasons. It is unfortunate to observe such an attitude and lack of responsibility on the part of states which have historically failed to protect the rights of minorities, indigenous peoples, Sinti and Roma, African or Asian descendants, migrants or victims of trafficking, including women and children.

IMADR also expresses its disappointment that the draft outcome document ignores some significant issues in the post Durban context of the so-called War on Terror and the recent global financial crisis. IMADR wishes to point out that both these recent developments have resulted in human rights violations that jeopardize the right to live in peace and right to life of most vulnerable groups, especially those belonging to the minority communities and indigenous peoples and impede progress in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.

IMADR also notes with grave concern that the consensus draft document does not unambiguously identify the crucial issues of racism involving the Jewish people and the Islamic community. IMADR urges the international community to direct its attention and efforts to fight against anti-Semitism as well as Islamophobia, especially in the Middle East where the right to live in peace of both the Jewish and the Palestinian people is violated.

IMADR seriously regrets that for political reasons the Durban and post-Durban processes make no explicit reference to the key issue involving 260 million people discriminated based on “work and descent”. It was eliminated from the text of the DDPA by a questionable political procedure. Discrimination based on work and descent affecting a vast number of people not only in South and East Asia but also in Africa has been officially recognized as a serious violation by the ICERD, and has received special attention from the former Commission on Human Rights which appointed two Special Rapporteurs to prepare the report on the issue and to develop principles and guidelines for its effective elimination. In this context, IMADR urges the DRC to consider the above report, adopted as an UN document by the Human Rights Council in March 2009.

Considering the above, IMADR emphasizes the need to see that the DDPA and the current outcome document reach persons and groups who over the years have been the victims of discrimination, marginalization and exclusion, notably minority communities and indigenous peoples as well as Sinti and Roma, persons of African and Asian descent, migrants – both documented and undocumented –, and trafficked persons, especially women and children.

Therefore, IMADR urges state parties to implement the DDPA and the current outcome document and urge the international community to establish effective follow-up mechanisms enabling the monitoring of the implementation of these documents. In order to enhance Durban follow-up mechanisms, it is also essential, among others, to strengthen and make maximum use of existing international human rights mechanisms, in particular; 1) the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, 2) the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and 3) the Universal Periodic Review process.

IMADR also reiterates its conviction that the participation of affected communities and groups at all levels of decision-making, development and implementation of international human rights standards and human rights protection mechanisms is of utmost importance in order to be able to effectively prevent, combat and eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. In this regard we wish to express our displeasure regarding the procedure followed by the UN in relation to the accreditation of some NGOs and using the 14 days rule to stop their participation. In particular we regret that one of our members, the Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED), in India did not receive accreditation as a result of this ruling.

IMADR is committed to the total elimination of all forms of discrimination and racism, and is willing to engage and work with all concerned stakeholders to achieve that end.


April 21, 2009

Nimalka Fernando, President
Kinhide Mushakoji, Vice President
Yuriko Hara, Secretary-General

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