The Durban Review Conference, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, 20-24 April 2009, will evaluate progress towards the goals set by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.
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Contact for Information &
Registration:
Genevieve Jourdan genejour@gmail.com
FREE SEMINAR ON TRAINING
AND ORIENTATION
FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS,
ASSOCIATIONS AND
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR EFFECTIVE
PARTICIPATION IN THE
DURBAN PROGRAMME OF ACTION
International Conference
Centre, Geneva
15, 16, 17 April, 2009
The United Nations will be hosting an
important conference in Geneva from April 20-24, 2009 on the struggle against
racism, xenophobia and related forms of discrimination, such as minorities and
exclusion. This is basically a review of
the principles set out at a UN conference in Durban, South Africa in 2001. But the Geneva Conference will also be
looking at new issues such as the impact of the current economic turndown on
discrimination in employment, its impact on migration, on rural-urban balance
and other important issues.
Such
UN conferences attract a large number of persons interested in these issues,
often those who are active at the local level in grassroot associations,
non-governmental organizations and universities.
Some
are members of international NGO’s with consultative status with the UN who
provide access to the meetings as well as guidelines for appropriate action at
such UN meetings. Many others, however,
are attracted by the themes of the conference but have little understanding of
how UN conferences function, how much of the work is done during the
preparatory phases with no possibility for NGO representatives to modify the
final document during the conference itself, or on the power relations between
geographic groupings.
From
Wednesday, 15th to Friday, 17th of April, 2009, human rights
experts from the UN and the Universities as well as experienced NGO and
grassroots representatives, are organizing an interactive seminar and series of
conference sessions to help explain the UN system and the history of its
engagement against racism and racial discrimination and to develop cooperation
among those coming to Geneva.
The real work is an ongoing one well after the
final speech of the conference.
With proper preparation and active networking, we believe that the April UN conference can be a positive step in the crucial effort to turn back a wave of xenophobia and help create a world of dignity and equality for all.
We thank you for your support.
For further information
and registration contact:
Genevieve Jourdan genejour@gmail.com +41 78 753 2281
WILPF & Chief
Representative at UN Geneva for Association of World Citizens
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