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Can the UN Combat Racism? A preview of the Durban Review Conference - Clayton

Published: 18 February 2009

In April, the UN’s Durban Review Conference will assess the progress made since the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in South Africa, and determine new strategies for the future.  At the conclusion of the 2001 conference, a range of measures were proposed, including stopping the slave trade, preventing genocide and combating the continuing effects of colonialism and colonialist ideas perpetuating racial discrimination. The review process has proved controversial, however, with some states boycotting the conference, and certain commentators advocating a boycott.  The Review Conference will be discussed by the following three experts:

• Richard Clarke, Human Rights Officer in the Anti Discrimination Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, will outline the conference and its process.

• Andrea Durbach, the Director of the Australian Human Rights Centre, will discuss the most important racism issues likely to be raised at the conference.

• Tom Calma, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner from the Australian Human Rights Commission, will discuss specific indigenous issues likely to be raised at the conference.

Time: 6 pm to 7.30 pm
Date: Friday 20 February 2009
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers

For more information visit the Castan Centre website.