NGOS AND ANTI-RACISM MOVEMENTS SIGN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE AND NGO PARTICIPATION

We are writing this letter to convey through you, to the Members of the Preparatory Committee, our strong desire as Non-Governmental Organisations and anti-racist movements to contribute to the successful preparations for the Durban Review Conference in 2009.

We believe that given the upsurge in racist practices in different parts of the world and the little attention given to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action since its adoption, this Review Conference is greatly needed and must be given maximum support.

In order for the Durban Review Conference to succeed, a dynamic partnership is needed between the UN, Governments and civil society in support of the Conference’s aims and objectives.

We wish to emphasize that strong mobilization of Non-Governmental Organisations and the holding of an NGO Forum have been an indispensable part of every major UN conference or special session since the landmark Stockholm Environment Conference in 1972.

Also at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, the NGO Forum was an important catalyst for many victim groups to come together, network, interact and build support for the work against racism and discrimination.

We are deeply concerned over the failure by the Conference Secretariat to provide timely information and invitations to NGOs to participate in the meetings of the Preparatory Committee despite the unequivocal decisions taken by the Preparatory Committee that NGOs accredited to the World Conference Against Racism shall be invited. We are equally concerned over recent remarks by representatives of the UN Secretariat which tend to discourage the holding of an NGO Forum at the Review Conference, contrary to UN tradition.

We strongly believe in the necessity of a vigorous public mobilization effort for the Durban Review Conference. This includes efforts by Non Governmental Organisations, victim groups and anti-racist movements who must receive the full support of both the Preparatory Committee and the United Nations Secretariat, in particular the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In the view of the undersigned it is necessary that a positive decision is taken to enable civil society to fully contribute to a successful Durban Review Process and that financial resources are allocated to support the holding of an NGO Forum in the immediate vicinity of the official Conference site.

NGOS AND ANTI-RACISM MOVEMENTS SIGN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE DURBAN REVIEW CONFERENCE AND NGO PARTICIPATION

Signed by:

NGO:s in consultative status with ECOSOC

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN)
Interfaith International
Comite International pour le Respect et l’Application de la Charrte
Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples (CIRAC)
Action Internationale Paix et Developpment Grands Lacs (AIPD-GL)
December 12th Movement
The Aldet Centre, Saint Lucia
African Canadian Legal Clinic
North-South XXI
IUS Primi Viri
Indian Movement Tupa Amaru
World Peace Council
International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination (EAFORD)
Mouvement Socio-cultural pour le development des Mbororo (MBOSCUDA)
Global Rights
Agence des cites pour la cooperation Nord-Sud
Comission Africaine des Promoteurs a le Sante des droits de l’Homme (CAPSDH)
Espace Afrique International

NGO:s without ECOSOC status:

Culture of Afroindigenous Solidarity
Swedish Centre Against Racism
Afro-Swedish National Association
National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA)
Guinee Development (GUIDE)
Mouvement de la Paix (France)
Chinese Canadian National Council
National Anti-Racism Council of Canada
Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
OCAPPROCE International
Coordination des ONG Africaines des droit de l’Homme (CONGAF)
Academie africaine pour la Paix (ACAP)
Urban Alliance on Race Relations (Canada)
South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
Espacio Afroamericano
Swedish-Somali Institute