Mercy Global Concern - 1999 to 2001

World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia & Related Intolerance (WCAR)

Information Note and Process For Accrediting Mercy Representatives

Introduction

As the Third UN Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination nears its end, the third World Conference on this theme is scheduled to be held in Durban, South Africa, 31 August - 7 September 2001. To help focus attention on the Conference, the year 2001 is also designated for UN observance as the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The title reflects the broadened view of racism that has developed during the Third Decade, including the recognition that all societies in the world are affected and hindered by discrimination, and that new manifestations of racism and xenophobia are emerging in the process of globalisation.

Organised under the auspices and within the framework of the UN Commission on Human Rights with the High Commissioner, Mary Robinson, as its Secretary-General, the Conference is envisaged as 'a unique opportunity to create a new world vision for the fight against racism in the twenty-first century'. It will provide an opportunity to review the political, historical, economic, social, cultural and other factors which have contributed to racism. At the same time, the UN General Assembly has urged that the conference be 'action oriented and focus on practical measures to eradicate racism'. It will seek to identify measures to combat, in a comprehensive way, contemporary forms of racism, bias and intolerance, including measures of prevention, education and protection. It will also endeavour to provide effective redress for the victims of racism and racial discrimination.

At the international level and within the UN system itself, one area of focus will be encouraging the universal ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families.

During the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee, this general framework was translated into a provisional agenda, grouped under the following themes:

Theme 1: Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance;
Theme 2: Victims of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance;
Theme 3: Measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels;
Theme 4: Provision for effective remedies, recourses, redress, [compensatory] and other measures at the national, regional and international levels;
Theme 5: Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international co-operation and enhancement of the United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia.

The bracket in Theme 4 indicates that this is an area of strong disagreement among UN member States, and likely to be a very contentious issue in the conference.

Emerging areas of focus

From the many formal preparatory meetings in the lead-up to the conference, including four regional inter-governmental meetings and parallel NGO forums, and expert working groups convened by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, some key areas of focus have begun to emerge. Some of the most significant of these include:

• discrimination and xenophobia in relation to migrants, migrant workers, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced peoples; the urgency for States to combat the international traffic in persons and the smuggling of migrants;
• recognition of and redress for the impact of slavery and its legacy on peoples of African descent worldwide, especially in the Americas;
• some form of 'reparation' for the historical phenomena of colonialism, especially in relation to peoples and countries which continue to suffer its effects;
• call for recognition of all the rights of indigenous peoples within national contexts, and for UN member States to support and resource the creation of the Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples within the UN system;
• the need to acknowledge and uphold the rights of minority ethnic and ethno-religious groups within dominant cultures, such as the Roma people in Europe;
• the phenomenon of 'multiple discrimination' or 'intersectionality', where factors such as gender, religion, social status and ethnicity combine to aggravate experiences of discrimination;
• the use of the internet to promote racial hatred and xenophobia;
• identifying and promoting 'best practice' with regard to public campaigns to eliminate racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, especially targeting children and youth.

Parallel to the Conference will be an NGO Forum. This is being co-ordinated through a grouping of South African NGOs known as SANGOCO. Also in place as of a few weeks ago is an International Co-ordinating Committee made up of representatives of regional and international NGOs. This Committee will work with SANGOCO to plan the Forum and to develop some form of NGO declaration which interested NGOs and individuals can endorse.

Accessing information

There are a number of official sources for accessing information about the preparations for the Conference so far - including documents from the regional meetings and the outcome document which the government representatives will be negotiating - and for keeping up-to-date with on-going developments. These include:

The website of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.unhchr.ch  Click on World Conference Against Racism on the left side of the home page

An NGO website for a large amount of additional information for NGOs, including links to other information sources, provided by the home organisation of the official NGO Liaison in Geneva: http://www.hri.ca/racism

The website of the NGO Forum organisers in South Africa: http://www.racism.org.za This includes information about registration, other practical details, and events being planned.

A newsletter entitled 'Durban 2001: United Against Racism' being published by the High Commissioner in hard copy as well as on the Internet; to be added to the mailing list contact Gloria Nwabuogu: email gnwabuogu.hchr@unog.ch    fax +41-22-917-9050.

Briefing Notes and other information provided by the NGO Liaison in Geneva, Laurie Wiseberg through a listserve. To be added to this listserve send a request to lwiseberg.hchr@unog.ch

The United Nations Information Centres in various countries have being used to distribute information and other resources (posters, brochures, etc) prepared by the UN Department of Public Information. These include copies of a Personal Pledge Against Racism which young people in particular are being encourage to sign. (MGC can provide information for contacting UNIC's in country capitals.) Other United Nations offices in capital cities and/or United Nations Associations will also have information available.

Slogan of the Conference:

'United to combat racism: Equality, Justice, Dignity'

Mercy participation in the WCAR and the NGO Forum

The two events are scheduled to take place with some overlap as follows:

NGO Forum: 28 August - 2 September

World Conference: 31 August - 7 September

The Forum is being organised to include a wide range of activities, including information sharing, workshops, public events and entertainment. Anyone at all can register to participate in the Forum.

For the purpose of engagement in official UN processes on behalf of the Mercy International Association, Mercy Global Concern (MGC) currently uses the so-called 'ECOSOC status' held by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Through this status, MGC is in a position to accredit Mercy representatives to the intergovernmental Conference itself. Since it is likely that all NGOs accredited to the conference will be allocated a limited number of representatives, MGC is inviting five nominations, one from each of the five regions of the Mercy International Justice Network. The Focal Points of each of the regions has been asked to assist with this process. Ideally, those participating the Conference will attend the NGO Forum in advance.

The next international Mercy justice conference, organised by the Mercy International Justice Network, is scheduled to take place in Pretoria, South Africa, shortly after the WCAR. Many of those who are participating in this conference will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to attend the WCAR NGO Forum in advance.

Registration details

Note: The deadline for registration for the NGO Forum is 30 May.

The registration form can be found on the website of the South African organisers mentioned above: http://www.racsim.org.za There is a conference fee of S. African rand R750 or US$100, which must be paid by bank transfer. All the details are included at the end of the registration form.

On the registration form, applicants are asked to list their organisation. I recommend that you list your organisation as just'sisters of Mercy, ................... (your country), and add: 'a partner organisation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas' (do not use 'Institute'). Then in item 2.12, in response to the question, 'Does your organisation have consultative status with ECOSOC', answer 'Yes'. If anyone would like a sample completed registration form, please contact me.

MGC is not in a position to organise any workshops, forums or displays. Mercy groups in particular countries may wish to do this themselves.

Regarding accommodation, Turner's Travel has been appointed as the official agent for managing the logistics of the conference. It is advisable that accommodation be booked through them. An accommodation form with all the relevant details of choices and costs can be found on the website http://www.racism.org.za A deposit is required with the application. It is strongly recommended that you make accommodation bookings as soon as possible.

Invitation to share 'best practice'

From the earliest preparatory stages of the conference, personnel connected with the Office of the High Commissioner have spoken of the importance of using the event as an opportunity for those with practical experience of successful programs to eliminate racism to share this. MGC would like to invite contributions along these lines from interested persons in Mercy circles, with the idea of compiling these into a resource for sharing with the High Commissioner's Office and with others. The following is the suggested framework for contributions:

• the contributions should refer to specific projects/programs, not individual experiences
• the name of the program and the organisation sponsoring it
• a profile of the participants
• the key focus of the program
• the major insights and learnings - the 'replication' potential
• no longer than one page per program
• Contributions to reach Mercy Global Concern no later than 30 June, 2001

Prepared by Wendy Flannery 21 April, 2001

Mercy Global Concern, 777 UN Plaza 6-H, New York NY 10017, USA Tel: +1 (646) 227-1878 Fax: +1 (227-1879) email: mercyun@aol.com