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Durban and beyond

The World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance was held from 31 August to 7 September 2001, in Durban, South Africa. Mary Robinson, the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights then, served as the Secretary General in this conference, which hosted active discussions between Government delegations, experts, UN bodies, international organizations and NGOs, discussing the situation of racism and racial discrimination, and the elimination of such discrimination.

During the preparatory process, IMADR carried out its campaign for WCAR. It was launched within its Third International Conference Against Racial Discrimination and Racism - Towards a World Conference on Racism in 2001 on November 22, 1998 in Tokyo, Japan.

The goal of the campaign was:
(a) To bring to the attention of the international community the plights of minorities and indigenous peoples who have been exposed to persistent and perennial discrimination;
(b) To build and develop, particularly through the above-mentioned efforts, national and regional networks of NGOs as well as national and regional focal points for the world conference;
(c) To undertake research on issues which are considered to enrich the discussion of a world conference; and
(d) To influence, through the above-mentioned activities, the planning process of the preparation of the world conference.

IMADR's Geneva Office played a leading role in the planning committee of NGOs for the world conference. It also provided training and internship programs for the community leaders of minority groups and indigenous peoples.