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The Durban Review Conference is the official name of the 2009 United Nations World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), also known as Durban II. The conference is being held from April 20-24, 2009 at the Geneva, Switzerland United Nations headquarters.

The conference is called under the mandate of United Nations General Assembly resolution 61/149 (passed in 1996) with a mandate to review the implementation of the The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action from the 2001 World Conference Against Racism which took place in Durban, South Africa.

The conference was boycotted by Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the United States; Sweden boycotted at the governmental level, and the Czech Republic broke off its attendance on the conference's first day. Other nations, such as Denmark, participated after stating that they might not attend. The western countries expressed concerns that the conference would be used to promote anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, and laws against blasphemy perceived as contrary to the principles of free speech; and that the conference would not deal with discrimination against homosexuals. European countries also have criticized the meeting for focusing heavily on the West and ignoring problems of racism and intolerance in the developing world.

Concern has also been expressed regarding the attendance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the conference due to his past statements on Israel and the Holocaust. On the first day of the conference, Ahmadinejad, who was the only head of state in attendance, made a speech condemning Zionism as racist. At the mention of Israel in Ahmadinejad's speech, dozens of delegates left the conference room. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed dismay at the boycotts and the speech.

Objectives

The Review Conference has the following objectives:

1. To review progress and implementation by all stakeholders of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Through an inclusive, transparent and collaborative process the Review Conference will assess contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, while identifying concrete counter measures to eliminate these manifestations of intolerance.
2. To assess the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms and their effectiveness, as well as other relevant United Nations mechanisms dealing with the issue of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
3. To promote the universal ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and proper consideration of the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;
4. To identify and share good practices in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Committee

The Durban Review Conference is run by the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee, which is chaired by Ms. Najat Al-Hajjaji (Libya) and has vice-chairs from Cameroon, South Africa, Senegal, India, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Armenia, Croatia, Estonia, Russia, Belgium, Greece, Norway and Turkey. The bureau has a rapporteur, Mr. Resfel Pino Álvarez from Cuba.

Themes

The list of themes for the conference includes:

• Transatlantic slave trade, slavery
• Africans and African descendants / Anti-black racism
• Roma/Gypsies/Sinti/Travellers
• Antisemitism
• Hate against Muslims
• Indigenous peoples
• Migrants and refugees
• Hate crimes
• Sexual orientation
• Intersectional issues
• Information, communication and the media, including new technologies

Government boycotts

On 23 January 2008, Canada stated it would not participate in the Durban Review Conference. A joint statement by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier and the Minister of Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity Jason Kenney said the 2001 conference "degenerated into open and divisive expressions of intolerance and anti-Semitism that undermined the principles of the United Nations and the very goals the conference sought to achieve.” Canada said it "had hoped that the preparatory process for the 2009 Durban Review Conference would remedy the mistakes of the past" but Canada had concluded the process was too flawed to make the conference worthwhile.

In early November 2008, Per Stig Møller, Denmark's Foreign Minister, announced that Denmark will not attend the conference if a proposal to equate criticism of religion with racism is included on the agenda. However, Denmark did send a low-level delegation to the conference.

On 19 November 2008, Israel announced it would boycott the Durban Review Conference. Israel's Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, stated, "The documents prepared for the conference indicate that it is turning once again into an anti-Israeli tribunal, singling out and delegitimizing the State of Israel." She said, "The conference has nothing to do with fighting racism. In view of this situation, I decided that Israel will not participate and will not legitimize the Durban II conference." On 19 April 2009, Avigdor Lieberman, Livni's successor as Foreign Minister, called the conference "a hypocrisy summit," saying the fact that Iranian President and Holocaust denier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been invited to speak at the conference proved its true character. "An international convention that invites a racist such as Ahmadinejad, - who preaches the extermination of the State of Israel day and night - and which allows him to make a central speech, demonstrates both its goal and its character," Lieberman said, adding that Israel could not ignore that a Holocaust-denier had been invited to take part in a convention taking place on the very same day that the Jewish people commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day to remember the six million Jews murdered in Europe by Nazi Germany and its accomplices.

On 27 February 2009, the United States announced it would boycott the conference. The American delegation in attendance at the conference's preparatory talks concluded that "the anti-Israel and anti-Western tendencies were too deeply entrenched to excise." The US State Department said the planned outcome document being drafted for the meeting had "gone from bad to worse, and the current text... is not salvageable... A conference based on this text would be a missed opportunity to speak clearly about the persistent problem of racism." However, in an interview on 4 April, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice expressed her feeling that the content of the latest draft had improved and that a decision on the United States' involvement in the conference had not been made. Deliberation inside the Obama administration ended on 18 April: "With regret, the United States will not join the review conference," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood. Wood said the conference document reaffirmed a declaration that emerged from the original Durban conference which the United States had opposed, and that the United States was concerned over new additions to the text regarding "incitement," that run counter to the U.S. commitment to unfettered free speech. The following day, President Barack Obama said "I would love to be involved in a useful conference that addressed continuing issues of racism and discrimination around the globe," but stressed that the language of the U.N.'s draft declaration "raised a whole set of objectionable provisions" and risked a reprise Durban, "which became a session through which folks expressed antagonism toward Israel in ways that were often times completely hypocritical and counterproductive."

On 5 March 2009, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini announced at a NATO summit that Italy was pulling out of the conference because of "aggressive and anti-Semitic statements in the draft of the event's final document." Ministry Spokesman Maurizio Massari confirmed Frattini's statements, and charged that the final draft document of the Durban Review Conference contained "expressions of anti-Semitism." Massari said Rome would not participate in the conference unless the document was changed.

On 12 March 2009, Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, said in the federal parliament that Australia would be withdrawing from the United Nations-sponsored conference if the draft documents were not revised. “If we form the view that the text is going to lead to nothing more than an anti-Jewish, anti-Semitic harangue and an anti-Jewish propaganda exercise, Australia will not be in attendance,” Smith said. On 19 April, Smith announced that Australia would be boycotting the conference. "Regrettably, we cannot be confident that the Review Conference will not again be used as a platform to air offensive views, including anti-Semitic views," Smith said on 19 April.

It was reported on 14 March that the German federal government was considering a boycott of the conference. The German federal government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Günter Nooke, said "In the first instance we should try everything to improve the text of the final document," but also that "Germany should not lend itself to a conference that tries to one-sidedly incriminate Israel." On 16 April Nooke stated at this point it was very unlikely that Germany would attend the Durban conference. On 19 April, U.N. spokesman Rupert Colville said Germany informed the global body that it would boycott the conference out of concern that it could be "abused as a platform for other interests."

On 16 March 2009, the European Union stated it would boycott the conference unless major changes were made to its declaration. Britain said it would not attend unless the draft showed a "change in direction."

On 17 March 2009, Yuri Boychenko, chairman of the group responsible for drafting the conference's declaration, issued a draft that omitted any reference to the Palestinian territories or to defamation of religion.

On 18 April, Swedish Integration Minister Nyamko Sabuni announced that her government would boycott the conference, sending no ministerial officials to the event, due to worry that it would be a repeat of the last conference on racism. She said that a ministerial presence would "legitimize undemocratic forces," adding that the country might send a lower level delegation.

On 19 April, the Netherlands joined the boycott. "The conference against racism is too important to allow it to be abused for political purposes and attacks against the West," Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said in a statement. Verhagen said the draft for the conference represents a "wasted opportunity" to address human rights violations by countries and organizations involved in discrimination on sexual, religious and racial biases. "The conference places Israel as the only defendant," he stated.

On 19 April, the United Kingdom announced that it will attend the conference. The delegation will be led by Peter Gooderham who is the British ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. However, Britain's Foreign Minister also stated that Britain will "walk out" of the conference if "red lines" on language such relating to anti-Semitism, the Holocaust and Blasphemy are crossed.

On 19 April, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully announced that New Zealand will boycott the conference. McCully stated that his government is not satisfied the wording emerging from discussions held ahead of the conference will prevent it from becoming a repeat of the 2001 conference.

On 19 April, a source close to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office told the Agence France-Presse that France will attend the conference. The source stated that "France will go to Geneva... in order to articulate its standpoint on human rights issues." However, Rama Yade, the Junior Minister for Human Rights warned that France would "not tolerate any verbal slander" and that "Our position must be backed up by a verbal political offensive. So that people understand that this conference is not only a diplomatic victory but the continuation of a fierce battle for the victims of racism and discriminations. This message must be absolutely clear."

Summary

• Nine countries are boycotting the conference entirely:
  Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, United States.
• The conference's Bureau of the Preparatory Committee included 19 members:
  Argentina, Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Estonia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Turkey.
• Confirmed attendance (non-preparatory committee members):
  Czech Republic, East Timor, France, Ireland, Lesotho, Montenegro, Nigeria, Switzerland, Togo, United Kingdom, Vatican, Zambia..
• Members of the Human Rights Council that voted in favor of the conference, that has yet to make a statement:
  Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, Djibouti, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Jordan, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay.
• Members of the Human Rights Council that voted against/abstained of the conference, that has yet to make a statement:
  Finland, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine.
• Members of countries that walked out during of the conference during a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:
  Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic (has left the conference for good), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, St. Kitts and Nevis and United Kingdom.

Reactions to boycotts

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said all disputed points such as references to Israel, Zionism and the Middle East had been deleted from the declaration. She added that she was confident that all parties would approve the reworked statement and decide to attend the upcoming meeting in Geneva.

Pope Benedict XVI on 19 April 2009 hailed the U.N. anti-racism conference and urged countries to join forces to eliminate intolerance, but he made no reference to the boycotts of the meeting. He said he sincerely hoped that delegates who attend the conference work together, "with a spirit of dialogue and reciprocal acceptance, to put an end to every form of racism, discrimination and intolerance." He added that it would be "a fundamental step toward the affirmation of the universal value of the dignity of man and his rights."

Also on 19 April, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad commented on the controversy surrounding the summit in a televised speech, implying that it was due to a Zionist plot. "It is clear that the Zionists and their backers will undertake everything possible so that the voices of those people suppressed will be silenced… Zionists control an important part of the politics in the U.S. and Europe and used this influence, especially in the media, to force their demands, which are nothing more than the plundering of nations, onto the world," he said.

On the same day, Arab parliamentarians in the Israeli Knesset expressed support for the conference at the NGO Civil Society Forum March in Geneva. Balad chairman MK Jamal Zahalka, an attendee, addressed the crowd by presenting himself as a Palestinian victim of "Israeli racist apartheid" and concluding his speech by proclaiming: "No peace without justice."

Most members of the European Union, most notably the nations of France and the United Kingdom, ultimately decided to attend the conference, although they sent low-level delegations (no cabinet ministers attended) and walked out of the conference during a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.

On the opening day of the conference, Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, of the conservative People's Party, criticized European Union countries who boycotted the conference as representing "not a sign of strength" for the EU.

NGO participation

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The following NGOs are accredited in participating in the conference (however, this is not a complete list):

• Blue Diamond Society
• Board of Deputies of British Jews
• Church of the Brethren
• Confederation des Syndicats Nationaux
• Global Afrikan Congress
• Indiana University School of Law
• Jewish Leadership Council
• Independent Jewish Voices
• Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute
• Moscow Bureau for Human Rights
• NGO Monitor
• TransAfrica Forum
• Union des Etudiants Juifs de France
• Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union

Ahmadinejad speech

On 20 April, during his opening speech at the conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that the Zionist creation of Israel in the British Mandate of Palestine involved "military aggressions to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering,"". He said that migrants had descended on Palestine from across the world and set up "a totally racist government", and that "in compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive racist regime in Palestine."

The response was mixed, with few participants applauding. Within minutes of the speech's opening, dozens of delegates from at least thirty countries exited the room to return when he had completed his speech. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was dismayed at the incident, describing the words chosen by the President as being those that are used "to accuse, divide and even incite". Delegates from some countries, including France, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, expressed their dissatisfaction with Ahmadinejad. Peter Gooderham, a British ambassador, described the President's speech as "offensive and inflammatory", insisting such comments had no place at this type of meeting. France described it as a "hate speech". Andrej Logar, a Slovenian ambassador, said Ahmadinejad's remarks were "detrimental to the dignity of this conference". Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store, who addressed the conference after Ahmadinejad's statements, said "Norway will not accept that the odd man out hijacks the collective efforts of many," adding the statements "run counter to the very spirit of dignity of the conference."

The speech was also disrupted by two protesters, attired in colourful wigs, with one hurling a red clown's nose at the President amidst cries of "racist, racist" as he was taken from the room. The BBC described the exit as a "public relations disaster" for the United Nations.

The Czech Republic, which held the European Union's rotating presidency at the time, announced shortly after the speech that it was breaking off its attendance at the conference in protest. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry described as unacceptable Ahmadinejad's description of the Israeli government as racist, stating that Prague therefore did not wish to lend weight to his "anti-Israeli attacks" by remaining present at the conference.

At a later press conference, the President condemned the boycotts and walkout, asking "Why is it that the so-called advocates of freedom of information fear hearing other people's opinions?"

Israel recalled its ambassador to Switzerland in protest over a meeting between Ahmadinejad and Swiss President Hans-Rudolph Merz before the conference. An Israeli Foreign Ministry official said, "We understand the Swiss are obliged to host the conference as part of their UN commitments, we understand that the Iranian President has to be given a visa. What we don't understand is why the Swiss President greeted Ahmadinejad on arrival." Speaking at a state ceremony marking the beginning of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed a question at the Swiss president, saying "I turn to you, the Swiss president, and ask you: How can you meet someone who denies the Holocaust and wishes for a new holocaust to occur?" Israeli President Simon Peres commented on Ahmadinejad's speech, saying "Nazism has been crushed, but anti-Semitism is still alive. The gas has evaporated, but the poison remains."

See also

• World Conference against Racism
• World Conference against Racism 2001
• Israel and the UN
• UN Watch
• Anti-racism
• New antisemitism

References

1. ^ Durban Review Conference 2009, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
2. ^ Ravid, Barak. "Italy pulls out of Durban II over 'anti-Semitic' draft statement" Haaretz, 5 March 2009.
3. Growing Western boycott threatens U.N. racism forum by Laura MacInnis, Reuters, 19 April 2009.
4. racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, tml Boycotts hit U.N. racism conference, CNN.com, 19 April 2009.
5. ^ Bradley S. Klapper, US boycotting, Iran starring, at UN racism meeting, Associated Press 19-04-2009
6. Western nations boycott UN anti-racism conference] by Peter Capella, France 24, AFP News Briefs List, 19 April 2009.
7. Ahmadinejad to address racism summit by Laura MacInnis, Reuters, 20 April 2009.
8. 17 Mar 2009 (2009-03-17). "AFP: Text on Israel cut from UN racism draft". Google.com. Retrieved 2009-04-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
9. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8008572.stm
10. Durban Review Conference 2009 - Bureau of the Preparatory Committee.
11. Durban Review Issues, Icare.
12. Canada's position on Durban Review.. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
13. Denmark threatens boycott of Durban II by Paul Lungen, Canadian Jewish News, 5 November 2008 (reprinted by EuropeNews) (retrieved on 19 April 2009).
14. Ravid, Barak. "Israel to boycott 'Durban II' anti-racism conference" Haaretz, 21 November 2008.
15. Lieberman: Durban II conference is 'a hypocrisy summit', Jerusalem Post 19-04-2009
16. ^ Cnaan Liphshiz and news agencies, Lieberman: Ahmadinejad invite to Durban II shows true character of summit, Haaretz 19-04-2009
17. "The US to boycott Durban II summit" Haaretz, 27 February 2009.
18. Kampeas, Ron. "U.S. pulling out of ‘Durban II’ conference". Retrieved 2009-02-27.
19. Kay, Jonathan. "Jonathan Kay on the U.S. backing out of Durban II: So much for the idea that Obama is soft on the Israeli file" National Post, 27 February 2009.
20. US Department of State, Press Release: February 2009 - U.S. Posture Toward the Durban Review Conference and Participation in the UN Human Rights Council, 27 February 2009.
21. Smith, Ben (4 April 2009). "Obama-era goodwill for Rice at U.N." The Politico. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
22. U.S. will boycott U.N. conference on racism, 18-04-2009
23. http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/17/1003772/australia-ready-to-boycott-durban-ii Retrieved 2009-03-27.
24. "Australia to boycott UN anti-racism conference" News.com.au, 19 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
25. Australia to boycott racism conference, UPI 19-04-2009
26. "Federal Government considers UN Boycott", 14 March 2009 (in German).
27. "UN-Conference against Racism / Boycott by Federal Government?", 15 March 2009 (in German).
28. "UN Racism Conference under Pressure", 14 March 2009 (in German).
29. The Earthtimes. "Germany expected to boycott UN anti-racism meeting : Europe World". Earthtimes.org. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
30. Analysis: Berlin Boycotts Durban At 11th Hour, Turkish Weekly, 20 April 2009.
31. Germany joins boycotters of UN racism meeting, Associated Press (retrieved 21-04-2009)
32. "EU threatens to boycott Durban II if used as anti-Israel forum" Haaretz, 16 March 2009.
33. Nebehay, Stephanie. "Diplomats amend U.N. racism text to draw in West" NewsDaily, 17 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
34. "Sverige boykotter racismekonference", politiken.dk, 18. april 2009
35. Sweden to boycott UN racism conference, The Local 18-04-2009
36. Cnaan Liphshiz, Netherlands joins U.S., Australia in boycott of Durban II, Haaretz 19-04-2009
37. Britain isolated amid UN racism summit boycott by Bruno Waterfield, The Telegraph, 19 April 2009.
38. Obama: US boycotting due to 'hypocritical' attacks on Israel by Allison Hoffman and Hilary Leila Krieger, Jerusalem Post, 19 April 2009.
39. ^ Boycott-hit racism forum to open, BBC News. On 20 April, On April 20, It was stated that Poland will boycott the U.N.'s anti-racism conference opening Monday in Geneva over fears it could be used to make racist or anti-Semitic declarations, the Polish foreign ministry said. "We have reason to fear that the conference will be used again - as was the case in 2001 in Durban - as a forum for unacceptable declarations and actions contrary to the spirit of respect for other races and religions," said a ministry statement issued overnight regarding the Durban Review Conference. "Our specific opposition is raised by all announcements to introduce anti-Semitic statements during the conference," it said. Mark Mardell of the BBC news reported: On the Monday the Conference was to begin, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini (who was until last year the European commissioner for security and justice) had told the Italian newspaper Il Giornale that Europe's failure to agree on a common approach was "a very serious mistake, because it shows our inability, despite all the words uttered in this connection, to come up with at least a lowest common denominator on a basic problem: namely the struggle against discrimination, on behalf of which we in Brussels so often speak out". Frattini continued, "I should imagine that a compromise was preferred at any price. And this, despite the fact that in the documents prepared for the rendezvous in Geneva, apart from a few minor improvements, a basic approach has been maintained equating Israel with a racist country rather than a democracy. There are still unacceptable phrases which, if there had been a smidgen of consistency with what was said at the EU ministers' meeting, should have convinced people to forgo attending the conference - as we have decided to do, and as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and The Netherlands have decided to do." (Mark Mardell, BBC News) On 20 April 2009.
40. NZ pulls out of UN conference on racism, Radio New Zealand, 20 April 2009 (New Zealand time).
41. EU split on boycott of UN racism conference, Agence France-Presse, 20 April 2009.
42. Iran's president to attend UN racism meet, Agence France-Presse, 14 April 2009 (reprinted by Yahoo news.
43. Obama: US boycotting due to 'hypocritical' attacks on Israel by Allison Hoffman and Hilary Leila Krieger, Jerusalem Post, 19 April 2009.
44. UN anti-racism meet founders amid Western boycott, Agence France-Presse, 19 April 2009 (reprinted by Yahoo News).
45. Western boycott threatens U.N. racism forum by Laura MacInnis, Reuters (reprinted by Yahoo news), 19 April 2009.
46. Israeli outcry over Iran at UN racism meeting, Agence France-Presse, 19 April 2009 (reprinted by Yahoo News).
47. ^ Human Rights Council Resolution 3/2. Preparations for the Durban Review Conference
48. Who boycotted, who walked out of racism talks, Associated Press 20-04-2009
49. EU still undecided on whether to attend UN anti-racism talks
50. Pope: Upcoming UN racism conference 'important'
51. Rebecca Anna Stoil, Arab MKs vocal in support of Durban II, Jerusalem Post 20-04-2009
52. AFp article
53. Envoys walk out of U.N. anti-racism conference, CNN.com, April 20, 2009.
54. Benjamin Weinthal, Austrian Foreign Minister slams EU countries for boycotting Durban 2, Jerusalem Post 20-04-2009
55. ^ "Iran remarks on Israel sparks walk-out at U.N. meeting". Reuters. 2009-04-20. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
56. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/world/21geneva.html
57. Walkout at Iran leader's speech, BBC News, 20 April 2009
58. ^ "Walkout at Iran leader's speech". BBC. 2009-04-20. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
59. ^ Cnaan Liphshiz, Norway's foreign minister draws fire for following Ahmadinejad at Durban II, Haaretz 20-04-2009
60. Ahmadinejad: What befell freedom of speech?, Press TV 20-04-2009
61. Jason Koutsoukis, Israel recalls envoy over welcome to Iranian President, Canberra Times 1-04-2009
62. PM at Yad Vashem: We won't let Shoah deniers carry out another, Jerusalem Post 20-04-2009
63. Peres: Durban 2 a disgrace, Ynet News 20-04-2009

External links

• Durban Review Conference Geneva, 20-24 April, 2009
• Durban Review Conference - Preparatory Process
• Durban Review Resource Page at I Care
• Preparing for Durban II at UN Watch
• Durban Conference 2009 at NGO Monitor
• Durban Review at DurbanReview.org
• Iranian Farce and Israeli Grotesque

• Current events from April 2009
• 2009 in politics
• Anti-racism
• Antisemitism
• Boycotts
• Diplomatic conferences
• Human rights
• Racism
• United Nations conferences