NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESS CONFERENCE

AGAINST RACISM FOR FIRST TIME

4 September 2001

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES COUNTRIES AT RACISM CONFERENCE

TO ‘STAY THE COURSE’ FOLLOWING ISRAEL, US WITHDRAWAL

DURBAN, 3 September -- The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General:

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

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

Round Tableof Heads

of State/Government

HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT DEBATE ACTION AGAINST RACISM

Secretary-General Urges Participants

To Use Their Power to Enhance National Dialogue

WORKPLACE ONE OF FRONTLINES IN FIGHT AGAINST DISCRIMINATION,

SECRETARY-GENERAL TELL GLOBAL COMPACT EVENT

DURBAN, 31 August -- Following is the text of remarks made today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the Global Compact Event held in conjunction with the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa:

ACTION TAKEN BY WORKING GROUPS ON DRAFT DECLARATION

AND DRAFT ACTION PROGRAMME, 3 SEPTEMBER

DURBAN -- On Monday, 3 September, Working Group I on the Draft Declaration and Working Group II on the Draft Programme of Action each held three 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.

Texts Adopted -- Working Group I, Draft Declaration

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.

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.