WCAR HOT ISSUES

Final Language

TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE

“ [We} further acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade as a crime against

humanity and should always have been so, especially the transatlantic slave trade

and ...that Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian

descent and indigenous peoples were victims of these acts and continue to be

victims of their consequences.” (WCAR Declaration, Paragraph 13)THE PALESTI NIAN ISSUE

“We recognize the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

and to the establishment of an independent State and we recognize the right to

security for all States in the Region, including Israel, and call upon all States to

support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion.” (WCAR Declaration,

Paragraph 63)

REPARATIONS

“We acknowledge and profoundly regret the untold suffering and evils inflicted on

millions of men, women and children as a result of slavery...genocide and past

tragedies. We further note that some States have taken the initiative to apologize

and have paid reparation, where appropriate, for grave and massive violations

committed....we invite the international community and its members to honour the

memory of the victims of these tragedies. We further note that some have taken

the initiative of regretting or expressing remorse or presenting apologies, and call

on all those who have not yet contributed to restoring the dignity of the victims to

find appropriate ways to do so,, .” (WCAR Declaration, Paragraphs 100 & 101).

OEMA Communiqué February 2002

Update: 2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism,

Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

WCAR Declaration and Program of Action – A Breakthrough Agreement against Racism, Racial Discrimination,Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Condensed by Gita Morris, Senior Intern, OEMA

University of District of Columbia

The framework of the United Nations’ continuous efforts against

racism was set forth in its 1963 ‘Declaration on the Elimination of All

Forms of Racial Discrimination’. Since then, the UN has formally

declared three separate ‘Decades to Combat Racism and Racial

Discrimination’, with the first beginning in 1973. Each Decade has

been marked by a World Conference Against Racism at which a

plan of action has been set forth for the future Decade. Thus the

recent UN World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,

Xenophobia and Related Intolerance was the third such

conference.

The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) took place fromAugust 31 to September 8, 2001, in Durban, South Africa. Participating in the WCAR were over 2,500 representatives from170 countries, including 16 heads of State, 58 foreign ministers, and 44 ministers. Nearly 4,000 Non-GovernmentalOrganization (NGO) representatives and over 1,300 media representatives were accredited to attend the Durbanconference. It was preceded by a non-government organization (NGO) WCAR Forum.

Among the NGOs was also the delegation of the American Psychological Association led by main APA UN/NGOrepresentative Corann Okorodudu, EdD. Other members of the delegation were Thema Bryant, PhD, (an APArepresentative to the U.N.) A. J. Franklin, PhD (Division 45 President), Bertha Holliday, PhD (OEMA Director), JamesJackson, PhD (representing the APA Committeeon International Relations in Psychology), andWilliam Parham, PhD (representing the APACommittee on Ethnic Minority Affairs. The APAdelegation brought to Durban an APA

Resolution on Racism and Racial Discrimination

that emphasized psychological consequencesof racism, xenophobia, and related intoleranceas they affect both the victim and theperpetrator.

In addition, the APA delegates held a two-hourround-table symposium on psychologicalaspects of racism, and entered into the officialconference record an intervention paper basedon APA’s declaration urging the integration ofpsychological and mental health concerns intothe framework of the WCAR to ensure effectiveimplementation of remedies as well ascorrective and preventive measures andstrategies. They also suggested concretemental-health related language some of whichgot included in three paragraphs of theProgramme.

1/ A consensus could not be reached on the work “compensatory”.

EXEMPLARY MENTAL HEALTH PROVISIONS IN THE FINAL WCAR

PROGRAMME OF ACTION

Advocated by the APA WCAR Delegation

• Paragraph 92 in regard to data collection and disaggregation,

research and study:

“The [national] information should take into account

economic and social indicators, including, where

appropriate, health and health status, infant and maternal

mortality, life expectancy, literacy, education , employment,

housing, land ownership, mental and physical health

care... in order to elaborate social and economic

development policies with a view to clostin the existing

gaps...”

• Paragraph 109 in regard to health, environment...

“...Urges States...to enhance measures to fulfil the right of

everyone to the enjoyment of the highest at tainable

standard of physical and mental health, with a view to

eliminating dsparities in health status...which might result

from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance.”

• Paragraph 154 regarding policies and practices on the

international level:

“...Encourages the World Health Organization and other

relevant international organizations to promote and

develop activities for the recognition of the impact of

racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance as significant social determinants of physical

and mental health status...and to prepare specific

proje cts, including research, to ensure equitable health

systems for the victims.”

The final version of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the WCAR was published on the 3rd of January, 2002.Minor outstanding issues, mainly regarding the placement of several paragraphs of text, delayed the publication of thedocument, which now clears the way for the implementation of measures adopted by the World Conference againstRacism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

The Declaration and Programme of Action expounds on the five themes of the original Agenda of the Conference:I. Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance.II. Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.III. Measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination,

xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels.IV. Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, [compensatory] 1and other measures at the national, regional

and international levels.V. Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation and enhancement of United

Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and relatedintolerance, and follow-up.

The following are some highlights of the World Conference against Racism Declaration and Programme of Action.

In regards to sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and

related intolerance, the Declaration unequivocally acknowledges that slavery and the slave trade and apartheid andgenocide are major sources and manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance thatmust be condemned and their recurrence prevented; that colonialism has led to racism, and that Africans and peopleof African descent, and people of Asian descent andindigenous peoples were victims of colonialism andcontinue to be victims of its consequences (¶13, 14,15).

The Declaration also recognizes that xenophobiaagainst non-nationals, particularly migrants,refugees and asylum-seekers, constitutes one of themain sources of contemporary racism; that racism,racial discrimination, xenophobia and relatedintolerance in themselves are the among the rootcauses of armed conflict and very often one of itsconsequences.

In addition, the WCAR Declaration emphasizes thatpoverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, socialexclusion and economic disparities are closelyassociated with racism and contribute to thepersistence of racist attitudes and practices which inturn generate more poverty(¶16, 18, 20).

In regards to victims of racism, racial discrimination,

xenophobia and related intolerance, the Declarationrecognizes that people of African descent have forcenturies been victims of racism, racialdiscrimination and enslavement and of the denial byhistory of many of their rights (¶34); that indigenouspeoples should be free from all forms ofdiscrimination to maintain their own economic structures, to develop their educational systems, to manage their lands and

natural resources (¶42). The Declaration expresses concern regarding the vulnerabil ity of migrants, owing, inter alia, totheir departure from their countries of origin and to the difficulties they encounter because of differences in language,customs and culture, as well as economic and social difficulties (¶50). The Declaration recognizes the presence in manycountries of a Mestizo population of mixed ethnic and racial origins and its valuable contribution to the promotion oftolerance and respect in these societies (¶56). The WCAR document recalls that the Holocaust must never be forgottenwhile it expresses concern about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation (¶58 & 63).

In regards to measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination,

xenophobia and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels, the Declaration expresses firm beliefthat education, development and the faithful implementation of all international human rights norms and obligations,including enactment of laws and political, social and economic policies, are crucial to combat racism, racial discrimination,xenophobia and related intolerance (¶80). The document affirms that the Dialogue among Civilizations constitutes aprocess to attain identification and promotion of common grounds among civilizations, thus dispell ing notions of culturalsuperiority based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (¶82). The WCAR final documentnotes that the media should represent the diversity of a multicultural society and play a role in fighting racism, racialdiscrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and draws attention to the power of advertising (¶88). And theDeclaration recognizes that education at all levels and all ages, including within the family, in particular human rightseducation, is a key to changing attitudes and behaviour based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and relatedintolerance (¶95).

In regards to provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and compensatory and other measures at the national,

regional and international levels, the Declaration invites the international community to honour the memory of the victimsof the tragedies inflicted on millions of men, women, and children as a result of slavery, the slave trade, the transatlanticslave trade, apartheid, genocide, colonialism and other past tragedies (¶100 & 101). The Declaration emphasizes thatremembering the crimes of the past and telling the truth about history are essential for international reconciliation and thecreation of societies based on justice, equality and solidarity (¶106).

In regards to strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international cooperation and enhancement of the

United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance, the WCAR Declaration recognizes that promoting greater respect and trust among different groups withinsociety must be a shared but differentiated responsibility of government institutions, political leaders, grass-rootsorganizations and citizens (¶117). And the Declaration encourages the full participation of non-governmental organizationsin the follow-up to the World Conference (¶119).

The objectives of the Declaration are translated into a practical and workable Programme of Action that urges States,international and national financial and development institutions, non-governmental organizations/legislative,judicial/regulatory/administrative mechanisms, private sector, politicians and political parties, educators, health-careprofessionals, scientific researchers, media, youth, and civil society to not only condemn the scourges of racism, racialdiscrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, but, more importantly, work together to eradicate them wherever theymay be found.

Among the measures of prevention, education and protection, the Programme of Action emphasizes such awareness-raising measures as the Slave Route Project of the UNESCO and its theme of “Breaking the silence”; it encourages all Statesto participate within the framework of the United Nations Decade for Human rights Education (1995-2004) by introducingand/or continuing human rights education particularly for children and youth; public officials and professionals; and themedia. The WCAR Programme of Action also recommends that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,in cooperation with States, international, regional and NGOs and national human rights institutions, create a databasecontaining information on practical means to address racism as well as legal means to combat racial discrimination;remedies to victims of racial discrimination; educational and preventive programs; best practices to address racism;opportunities for technical cooperation; and academic studies and specialized documents; and ensure that such adatabase is accessible to those in authority and the public at large.

Above all, the World Conference in its Program of Action invites the UN and the UNESCO to continue to organize meetingson the Dialogue among Civilizations and, for this purpose, to mobilize funds and promote partnerships.

For more information, go to the following Web sites:www.un.org/wcar www.racism.org.za/index.htmlwww.apa.org/pi/oema/wcarplenary.htmlwww.apa.org/pi/oema/racismdeclaration.pdf