topics
tools
Expatica countries
Index Last Var.(%)
BEL 20 2135.35 0.75
DAX 6386.58 0.74
IBEX 30 6516.3 -0.41
CAC 40 3077.17 0.96
FTSE 100 5402.24 0.95
AEX 295.54 0.95
DJIA 12454.83 -0.60
Nasdaq 2837.53 -0.07
FTSE MIB 13213.57 0.45
TSX Composite 11576.47 0.09
ASX 4120.2 0.96
Hang seng 18800.99 0.47
Straits Times 2787.22 0.52
ISEQ 20 503.36 0.48
You are here: Home News Spanish News UN tries to woo Western boycotters with anti-racism pledge

Spanish News

archive
Enlarge font Decrease font Text size


23/04/2009UN tries to woo Western boycotters with anti-racism pledge

Several countries, including Germany, have boycotted the conference for fear it would turn into an anti-Semitism platform when the Iranian PM addressed the delegates.

Geneva -- The United Nations Wednesday was seeking to convince 10 Western countries boycotting its anti-racism conference here to join in a declaration, countering the Iranian leader's verbal attack on Israel.

"Among the countries that boycotted the conference, a certain number took part in putting together the draft of the final declaration so there's nothing in the way of their signing it," a UN source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States boycotted the conference from the start for fear it would turn into an anti-Semitism platform when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the delegates on Monday.

And during that speech, Ahmadinejad launched a verbal onslaught on Israel leading several other European countries to walk out -- with the Czech Republic staying out.

However, the Europeans among the boycotting nations had already agreed last week on the text of the declaration that was adopted by consensus on Tuesday.

Technically it is endorsed by the UN's member states, minus those that stayed away, officials said.

The adoption of the declaration was advanced by several days as diplomats scrambled to find a way of countering the focus on Ahmadinejad, whose incendiary speech completely overshadowed the core issue of rising racism, discrimination and xenophobia outside the conference halls.

US-based rights campaign group Human Rights Watch on Wednesday publicly called on the 10 boycotting nations to endorse the meeting's anti-racism pledge.

"States that boycotted the conference for fear it would foster hatred should be reassured by this declaration and should join the global consensus against racism," HRW advocacy director in Geneva Juliette de Rivero said.

HRW said it affirms the right to freedom of expression while combating racism, and calls on governments to take action to eradicate multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination.

The declaration also says that the Holocaust must never be forgotten and leaves out references to specific countries.

The 16-page text enumerates a huge range of related issues that need to be tackled, such as discrimination against migrants, guarantees for HIV/AIDS patients, access to justice, social services, and racism in sports.

"The adoption of this document by consensus only a day after Ahmadinejad’s divisive speech is a clear message against intolerance," de Rivero added.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that she had received an explanation from the United States.

Pillay also welcomed US President Barack Obama's stance in being ready to support efforts to tackle racism despite Washington's absence.

But the UN rights chief had not received any explanation from the boycotting European nations.

"The countries that boycotted the conference, especially those that are members of the European Union, will have a lot of trouble explaining their position since the text has been adopted," Mexican ambassador Luis-Alfonso de Alba said.

However, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, a Jewish international human rights group, maintained its support for boycotting nations, saying Ahmadinejad's speech vindicated the stance of those who had stayed out from the start.

"You can win all the brownie points here because you have the maths behind you, but you're not going to win anything in the real world, on the ground," associate dean Abraham Cooper told AFP.

"Not just the average Israeli, but the average Jew is deeply disturbed by what has happened and worried about the future, because from their point of view Ahmadinejad got away like a bandit," Cooper said.

Samuel Gardaz/AFP/Expatica


0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment

General rating: Not rated yet

Rate article:    Add my rating



0 reactions to this article

Be the first person to add a comment
Discussion Forums

Technology in Spain

Sat phones/internet links

English in Spain

What is the best travel insurance cover to Spain?

American in Spain

U.S. citizens, plan to vote in 2012? Did you know...

Relocation to Spain

thinking of moving to madrid

Jobs in Spain

Job Agencies or how to find work.

participate in the forums

Inside Expatica
Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Editor's Guide: Getting Started in Spain

Expatica's Getting Started section will provide practical information on how you can open a bank account, exchange your driving licence, improve your Spanish, and more.

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Groups and Clubs in Madrid

Here's a guide to an extensive list of groups and clubs in Madrid for expats, from sports groups to social and family gatherings.

Groups and Clubs around Spain

Groups and Clubs around Spain

A brief introduction to our Tax section for Spain, from help with inheritance tax to accounting advice.

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Groups and Clubs in Barcelona

Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in Spain, from what to ask the experts to opening a Spanish bank account.