SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON NGOS TO CREATE WORLDWIDE ANTI-RACISM MOVEMENT

Following is the text of a speech given by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Durban today, at the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Forum running parallel to the Racism Conference:

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AND HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

TO HOST GLOBAL COMPACT DIALOGUE

Theme is ‘Discrimination is Everybody’s Business’

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 29 August (UN Information Service) -- Business and trade union leaders will meet in Durban on 31 August to discuss the impact of racism and discrimination in the workplace and wider community.

Background Release

WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM TO OPEN IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA ON 31 AUGUST

DURBAN, 27 August -- The World Conference against Racism will take place in Durban, South Africa from 31 August to 7 September, with progress having been made on some of the key issues before it, including questions related to slavery, identification of the victims of racism and the Middle East.

Round-up

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

CONCLUDES FIFTY-NINTH SESSION

Issues Concluding Recommendations on Reports of Italy, China,

Trinidad and Tobago, Cyprus, United States, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, Ukraine, Egypt

(Reissued as received)

LEADING INTERNATIONAL FIGURES MEET IN GENEVA

IN SUPPORT OF WORLD CONFERENCE ON RACISM

Nine leading international figures will gather in Geneva on Friday

3 August to give their moral and intellectual backing to efforts to forge an international consensus in the struggle for racial harmony and tolerance.

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE OF WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM TO MEET IN GENEVA

GENEVA, 27 July (UN Information Service) -- The Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against Racism will meet from 30 July to 10 August in Geneva, to finalize its work on the draft declaration and programme of action to be considered by the World Conference in Durban from 31 August to 7 September of this year.

Round-up of Session

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

CONCLUDES FIFTY-EIGHTH SESSION

(Reissued as received.)

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION DISCUSSES PREPARATIONS

FOR WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 12 March (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning discussed organizational matters, including an update on recent preparatory work for the upcoming World Conference against Racism.

                                                            RD/910*

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INTRODUCES LOGO

FOR WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

GENEVA, 23 February (UN Information Service) -- Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, today introduced the official logo of the World Conference, which will be held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September.