[WCAR] AIUSA Daily Update

The Positive Results of the NGO Conference

author = Gerald Lemelle

The fallout from Saturday was fairly swift. Amnesty International led
several organizations in discussions on how to emphasize the myriad
positive developments that came out of the NGO conference before they were
overshadowed.

A lot of hard work went into the conference. Several of the outstanding
successes from AI's perspective include the first major international
document raising human rights concerns of the dalits and the Roma, the
first call for the end of the caste system and the call to abolish the
death penalty. Several new coalitions developed, and activists agreed to
plans of action to continue the strategies that were discussed and agreed upon.

Clearly, there was a lot of frustration and tension at the conference, but
that is typical of any NGO forum where there is an attempt is to gain
consensus. Additionally, the frustration is symptomatic of the issue of
racism by governments around the world. This includes the US government,
which set the tone early by emphasizing the divisive issues instead of
providing leadership. When racist or anti-human rights behavior is ignored
or improperly addressed, victims and their advocates search for venues to
seek help. These are the voices of victims who are seeking a stage, because
no one has been listening. As human rights activists, we know this, and we
expected tension and passion, as the issues on the table are often life or
death. That's what NGO conferences are all about.

Amnesty International plans to lead the Human Rights Caucus in a press
conference Monday to state our position on the NGO forum. Simply put, we do
not feel that the NGO Draft Declaration was a document we could vote on.
However, we do endorse several positive positions. We encourage governments
to learn from the anger and frustration that was expressed and to seek ways
of resolving issues such as racism in the administration of justice as a
step toward healing wounds and bringing people together.

The Governmental Draft Declaration and Programme of Action discussion have
heated up. Governments are angling to limit or expand the definition of
racism and this theme seems to dominate the debate. AI's major concern
remains trying to insert language supporting abolition of the death penalty
into the draft, as well as warding off new threats on refugee protection.

The AIUSA delegation was honored at a dinner hosted by Nomcobo Sangwene,
the former AI prisoner of conscience from South Africa who later served on
the AIUSA Board of Directors. The dinner also served to honor the KwaZulu
Natal Women's Rights League, an organization on whose Board Nomcobo now
serves. The event came complete with singing and storytelling and a most
delicious South African meal. Nomcobo was very gracious and appreciative of
the efforts on her behalf by AI volunteers and staff, and she gave a
genuinely moving tribute to the organization.