Durban Review Conference on Racism

To go or not to go to the Durban Review Conference on Racism in Geneva next month is a contentious issue for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) just as it is for United Nations-member states, such as the United States.

The conference will provide a forum to review the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa. NGOs, such as the United Methodist Church’s General Boards of Church & Society and Global Ministries, need to attend.

If we are to rid our world of the menace and violence racism foments, nothing less than full engagement is required.

Even better, a forum needs to be organized in concert with the conference where NGOs can grapple together on the controversial, painful racism issues that are so urgent. If we are to rid our world of the menace and violence racism foments, nothing less than full engagement is required by all concerned: the United Nations, its member states and civil society, which includes faith-based communities.

I was in Durban in 2001. I will be in Geneva in April.

In Durban, a wonderful delegation of United Methodists worked with other faith-based delegates to form the Ecumenical Caucus. The caucus deliberated on ethical and moral imperatives of racism. In a 10-point statement presented by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the caucus declared: “Racism is a sin. … It is an affront to human dignity and a gross violation of human rights.”

Review progress since 2001

The Geneva conference in April is intended to review progress or lack thereof since Durban. It also will be a time to revisit the Ecumenical Caucus’ 10 points.

I will attend the Geneva conference as President of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO). Just as in many other U.N. gatherings, CoNGO will facilitate opportunities for NGOs to be heard. That is CoNGO’s basic role.

Racism is that [pressing] issue in Geneva.

U.N.-accredited NGOs bring to bear competencies consultative status requires. Through accreditation, NGOs can address the many pressing issues that come before the United Nations. Racism is that issue in Geneva. NGO input is crucial to any review of progress in eradicating racism.

NGO input must be based on honest, open dialogue, no matter how contentious. CoNGO must never abandon its avowed role to facilitate dialogue. Supporting, or even organizing, a civil society forum for the Durban Review Conference is in keeping with CoNGO’s tradition.

CoNGO and its many members worldwide hold values in common with the United Nations in pursuit of human rights, social justice, sustainable development, and a just, peaceable governance in communities and nations.

Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance are crucial issues that cannot be relegated to silence and inaction. Silence only postpones debate that will help usher in a just, peaceable world. Inaction only exacerbates the enduring violations of human rights.

Candid discourse on racism will no doubt stir rancor. Nonetheless, I would rather have rancorous debate than the violence already waged and yet to be waged because of divisions we are too timid to confront diplomatically at a negotiating table.

Yes, hurtful words may be hurled. But words don’t kill; bullets do. For far too long, people have been killed by racism in the guise of slavery, colonialism, genocide and world wars. Surely our historical juncture has raised the bar higher now. Surely we can expect to abandon racism, hatred and violence now. Surely we can focus on practicing tolerance, attaining equality and pursuing peace now.

Remember inhumanities

We only need remember the inhumanities people have inflicted on their own kind. Slavery was acceptable for many centuries. The transoceanic slave trade, for example, is ignominious in the intercourse of nations. To some measure slavery has been exorcised in hopes that it no longer will be visited upon us. As far as we have come in eliminating slavery, though, modern-day incarnations haunt us. Let us name them: apartheid, human trafficking, racial profiling and ethnic cleansing.

The colonial plundering of the past had religious and ideological undergirding. Colonialism continues to mar our efforts to decouple ourselves from its exploitative, oppressive, dehumanizing aspects.

Colonial plundering of the past had religious and ideological undergirding.

The struggles to overcome slavery and colonialism’s pernicious effect on vulnerable peoples frequently brought them the perils of wars and destruction. Slavery’s and colonialism’s incarnations today continue to divide peoples.

NGOs have risen to confront these affronts to humanity many times. NGOs have repeatedly taken the moral stance rather than the convenient. NGOs have not shirked at calling governments to adhere to U.N. ideals.

The Durban Review Conference offers a venue where NGOs can and must speak their minds on how to resolve issues stemming from racism. No acceptable excuse exists that allows racism to continue to rear its hideous head anywhere, under any situation.

It is crucial for NGOs to support the Durban review. In a Civil Society Forum, NGOs from around the world can present their stories about struggles against racism. By doing so we contribute valuable information to the U.N. Human Rights Council about progress, or lack thereof since Durban.

Perspectives must be raised

The perspectives that NGOs can present through a Civil Society Forum must be raised in the public square, no matter how unpalatable to some. CoNGO members must recognize the Durban Review as a singular opportunity to get a respectful, considerate hearing on racism’s many facets.

Such an opportunity is empowering. Narratives of peoples’ struggles for human rights and social justice could find much-needed illumination through the democratic, participatory exchange of views a forum allows.

The divisions our varied understandings of racism have brought to fore must not sidetrack us. Difference can be turned into blessing because we can identify ways we may yet address racism’s complexities. The honest dialogue will bring forth advocacies and bents. Let it be. Divisions are not resolved by avoiding such honest exchange of views.

The dross that envelopes our differing views of racism may add the gloss of collective resolve that should animate our relations. Our collective resolve must be to engage in civic action to rid our world of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance we are unwilling to name.

When public space is denied for truths to be laid bare, and denied the rigors of open inquiry, truth is the casualty. That would be unfortunate. It is something we cannot afford nor engender.

Editor's note: The Rev. Liberato Bautista is president of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO). As assistant general secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society, he leads the agency’s United Nations and International Affairs ministry. At the Durban conference in 2001, Bautista chaired the committee that drafted the 10-point ecumenical caucus statement on racism delivered to the media on Sept.5 by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The 10 points are available through the World Council of Churches website.

The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church, which has more than 11 million members worldwide. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education and Leadership Formation, United Nations and International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center at the United Nations in New York City.