Dr. Ruth Contreras, Vienna, SPME’s Secretary and SPME Austria Chapter Co-Chair as well as European Chapter Coordinator, attended the UNWatch Conference on Durban in May. This is her report.
The Keynote Address by Ambassador Alfred H. Moses (Chair UN Watch) is available at http://blog.unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/durban-ii-keynote-adress.pdf
The situation after Durban I, perspectives and future strategies concerning the Durban Review Conference were discussed at three panels.
Several participants expressed their concerns that the Durban Review Conference will take place April 20- 24 (Yom Hashoah 2009)
Panel I
Durban II in Context: Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism in the International Arena
Moderator: Hillel Neuer
David Hirsh (Engage, UK) reported on the situation in the UK concerning the academic boycott. He stated that it was important to work against the boycott within the organizations (UCU).
Charles A. Small highlighted the danger of the Iranian threat against Israel and reported about two parallel Conferences on Iran that have been held in Berlin and Vienna (both conferences were co-sponsored by the local SPME Chapters: Germany and Austria). According to Charles Small a new movement of young people, mostly intellectuals, is arising in the struggle for Israel. Many of these people come from the political left.
Gerald Steinberg stated that the NGO Forum 2001 supported sanctions against Israel, divestment and academic boycott. It is important to ask who is responsible for the violation of human rights and to know who is financially supporting the NGOs that voted for sanctions against Israel, for divestment and academic boycott. The Ford Foundation will not give money to NGOs who call for the destruction of Israel. Steinberg stated that Canada will not participate in the Durban review Conference and does not support any more NGOs. The question is: what will the EU do to stop the financial support for NGOs who are against Israel: Several NGOs have signed a joint statement declaring their moral opposition to a repetition of the antisemitic hatred that dominated the NGO Forum of the 2001 Durban conference (see http://www.magenta.nl/durban-review-principles-final.pdf )
Updates on the Durban Review conference can be found at: http://blog.ngo-monitor.org/ a
Panel II: Global Survey:
Harold Tanner reaffirmed that the Ford Foundation will not support any organization that participates in the Durban Review Conference. Such a conference will not be abused again.. There are various countries that will not participate if this happens again. Farber reiterated that Canada decided not to participate in the Durban II conference. He stated that the left in Canada also agrees with this decision of the conservative government..
Wendy Kahn: The Israel-apartheid analogy has its roots in the Durban I Conference. The SA Jewish Board of Deputies, lobbied the SA government successfully against hosting Durban II. South Africa will play a leading role to make sure that Durban II is not directed against Israel.
Richard Prasquier expressed his concerns that the conference will have nothing to do with Human Rights. The conference has been hijacked by certain countries for their agenda:
- Delegimization of Israel
- The main point will be Islamophobia (this has nothing to do with human rights; human rights are to protect individuals, not religions. The prohibition to criticize religions means restriction of freedom of opinion).
Israel has been condemned 22 times for violation of human rights (mainly by Arab and African Countries). The condemnation was very subjective and depends on the alliances. But there are also alliances that are very humanistic e.g. religions (Bahais, Christians in Islamic countries), homosexuals and women. France will pull out if the conference is again Israel-bashing.
He stated also that France and the Czech Republic will have an important role, as these countries will have the EU presidency ( in the second half of 2008 Czech Republic and the first half of 2009 France
View from the United Nations:
Doru Costea (President UN HR Council) The Organization is as good as their members. It was formed in a hurry based on a UN Resolution. (ECOSOC 6251 ) Forming the organization took less than half a year., when the world outside the UN had to expect new challenges and the countries had to expect new challenges. The same diplomats worked in ECOSOC and the UNHCR. The opinions remained the same. There is a list of recommendations from the countries. The role of NGOs is very important.
NGOs are included in all debates and discussions. Costea admitted that Durban I condemned Israel one-sidedly. Costea has no answer on how to prevent a repetition of this. The council has failed in Middle East issues; not one of the resolutions was adopted
Ibrahim Wani, (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (Uganda)) stated that the Durban Review Conference will take place 20- 24 April 2009 in Geneva. The preparatory committee is headed by Libya. It is open to all member states. (20 States). The Ambassador of Armenia is preparing an final document of the results of the questionnaire on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
There have been regional meetings in Latin America (Brazil) and Africa (Nigeria). Europe had joint regional meetings.
An outcome document has been prepared. The role of the High Commissioner is to have a successful conference.The wishes of the member states will be discussed.
Final discussion to develop strategies to avoid abuse of the Durban Review Conference against Israel.
A steering committee will be established to coordinate the various international Jewish groups in response to the UN gathering.
The steering committee will give itself an infrastructure; there might be another meeting of the same group in the fall.
A counterconference was discussed. Jewish students shall be urged to come to Geneva,
For updates see: http://blog.unwatch.org/?p=168
