RD/948

ACTION TAKEN BY WORKING GROUPS ON DRAFT DECLARATION AND DRAFT ACTION

PROGRAMME, 31 AUGUST - 2 SEPTEMBER

DURBAN, 3 September -- As of 2 September, Working Group I on the draft declaration had so far held four meetings, while Working Group II on the draft programme of action had held six meetings.  Working Group I is being chaired by Marc Bossuyt of Belgium, and Working Group II is being chaired by Bonaventure M. Bowa of Zambia. 

DELEGATES CONTINUE TO DEBATE WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES

AT WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

United States, Israel Announce Withdrawal from Conference

DURBAN, 3 September -- Speakers in the general debate of the World Conference against Racism this afternoon and evening addressed a wide range of issues as the United States and Israel announced that they were withdrawing their delegations from the Conference.

WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM RISKS FAILURE WITHOUT SPIRIT

OF COMPROMISE, NORWAY WARNS

DURBAN, 3 September -- As the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance continued its general debate this morning, the gathering of government leaders and high ministers were warned that maintaining inflexible positions on issues of vital importance for all members of the global community would doom the Conference to failure.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PAST, COMPENSATION URGED BY MANY LEADERS

IN CONTINUING DEBATE AT RACISM CONFERENCE

IMPACT OF PAST ON GLOBALIZATION, MIDDLE EAST ARE MAJOR

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MINORITIES, MIDDLE EAST, REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY

AMONG ISSUES RAISED AT WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

OPENING SESSION OF CONFERENCE GENERAL DEBATE FOCUSES

ON ADDRESSING LEGACY OF SLAVERY, COLONIALISM

DURBAN, 1 September -- Several heads of State and other top government officials from countries around the world this morning spoke on the scourge of racial hatred and the need to broaden practices of tolerance, as the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance opened its general debate.

WORKING GROUP COMMENCES REVIEW OF DRAFT PROGRAMME OF ACTION

AFTER LENGTHY PROCEDURAL DISCUSSION

Approves Paragraphs on Development of Capacity–Building

Programmes and Access to Justice Systems for Those of African Descent

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION MESSAGE VITAL, ANNAN TELLS BUSINESS LEADERS

DURBAN, 31 August 2001 -- It is vital that company heads send a consistent message that they will not tolerate discrimination in hiring or promotion practices and make clear that their companies will uphold human rights in their operations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said this afternoon.