A response to U.S. boycott

Following are excerpts from a letter and petition initiated by Nord Sud XXI (nordsud21.ch) and the International Action Center to demand that the Obama administration fully participate in the U.N. Durban Review Conference Against Racism in Geneva, Switzerland, April 20-24, and for the Preparatory Committee to take all necessary steps for full governmental and nongovernmental organization (NGO) participation in the conference. Tens of thousands have responded to this petition. Go to http://www.iacenter.org/racism/durbanreviewpetition.

The 2001 U.N. Conference on Racism held eight years ago in Durban, South Africa, had the overwhelming support of people of the world—both through their governments and through thousands of delegates representing many hundreds of NGOs and organs of civil society.

Midway through that historic gathering the U.S. and Israel walked out because the latter was criticized for its apartheid practices against Palestinians. The Bush administration also opposed concrete action to redress the history of hundreds of years of slavery and racism. How can we ever resolve these issues without participative dialogue?

In preparing for the April Conference against Racism, the majority of countries from Latin America, Asia and Africa have shown an extraordinary willingness to operate on principles of open-minded compromise and dialogue with the United States. Rejection of this offer by refusing to even come to the table will be seen as an arrogant assault on the processes of diplomacy and will encourage the international community to brand the United States administration as one obstructing the struggle against racism.

I urge the Obama administration to participate in this international gathering without threats or preconditions and in a spirit of mutual respect for all other nations, especially those whose people have suffered so grievously from racism.

I am shocked that the U.S. has also supported the marginalization of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the Durban Review Conference, seeking to ensure that they are not able to participate or that their freedom of speech is strictly limited, for example, by failing to support an NGO forum.

NGO participation, often through NGO forums, has been an indispensable part of every major U.N. human rights conference. It is therefore essential that the Preparatory Committee and the High Commissioner for Human Rights make every effort possible to provide the resources and logistics for a vigorous public mobilization for the U.N. Durban Review Conference.

I urge the Preparatory Committee to take immediate steps to carry out their responsibility to facilitate NGO participation, especially the participation of NGOs from developing countries that have suffered the most from racism and other similar forms of discrimination.

Partial list of signers:
Ramsey Clark, Winner of United Nations Human Rights Award 2008
Curtis Doebbler, Nord-Sud XXI
General Federation of Iraqi Women
International Action Center