UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to fight racism at the Durban Review Conference

The United Nations will be holding the Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, from 20 to 24 April 2009. The main purpose is to evaluate the progress made so far in achieving the goals set by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.

Organized by the United Nations, with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) serving as the Secretariat, the Review Conference will act as a catalyst in fulfilling the promises of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action agreed at the 2001 World Conference. Participants are expected to push forward initiatives and practical solutions to pave the way toward equality and justice everywhere around the world. They will review the progress and assess the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA).

UNESCO has attached great importance to the whole process from the beginning, since the Durban Conference in 2001. It has participated actively in discussion groups leading to numerous amendments to the final declaration draft, with the aim to include its vision and action, especially those related to the International Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination, the Dialogue among Civilizations and Culture of Peace More

• 20-04-2009