[WCAR] Brussels conference ends with condemnation of any form of racism, xenophobia and discrimination, calls on OSCE States to combat hate acts

***Learn more about the work of the OSCE in combating racism and
discrimination in HREA's study guide on the European human rights system:
http://www.hrea.org/learn/guides/europe.html#osce


BRUSSELS, 14 September 2004 - An international OSCE conference on
tolerance and the fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination
ended here today with a declaration condemning, in clear terms, all forms
of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, while urging OSCE participating
States to respond effectively to acts motivated by intolerance.

The two-day conference in the Belgian capital, attended by more than 700
government officials, non-governmental organizations and expert speakers,
was the third of three OSCE events on related topics held this year. The
first one in Berlin focussed on anti-Semitism while the second, in Paris,
was on hate propaganda on the Internet.

"We have come a long way from Vienna, last September, when racism,
xenophobia and discrimination were first discussed in this format,"
Solomon Passy, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Bulgarian Foreign Minister,
told the conference.

"We now have a clear route mapped out. As Prince Philip of Belgium said
yesterday, we need continued dialogue and education, and we need to add
tolerance to our agenda. Action is called for and the OSCE is determined
to provide a strong lead." Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht said:
"This conference has identified concrete measures to combat all forms of
racism and xenophobia and has allowed us to send a clear signal to the
entire international community. This should be our inspiration.

"Current events show us that condemnation alone is not enough, " he added.
"The key theme of this conference was dialogue; dialogue aimed at
developing mutual respect and understanding, as well as promoting a fairer
society."

In their declaration, participants condemned all organizations and
individuals promoting hatred or acts of racism, xenophobia, discrimination
or intolerance. They firmly rejected the identification of terrorism and
extremism with any religion, culture, ethnic group, nationality or race,
and declared unambiguously that international developments or political
issues never justify racism, xenophobia and discrimination.

The Brussels declaration also incorporated a decision taken by the OSCE
Permanent Council on 29 July, by which the Organization's 55 participating
States committed themselves to consider enacting or strengthening
legislation that prohibits discrimination; to promote educational
programmes to foster tolerance and combat racism, xenophobia and
discrimination; to promote and facilitate an open and transparent
interfaith and intercultural dialogue and partnership; and to take steps
to combat acts of discrimination and violence against Muslims in the OSCE
area.

The States also agreed to act against discrimination, intolerance and
xenophobia against migrants and migrant workers, to combat hate crimes and
to collect and maintain reliable information and statistics about hate
crimes motivated by racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance.

The Permanent Council decision also tasked the OSCE´s Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to systematically collect
and disseminate information throughout the OSCE area on best practices for
preventing and responding to racism, xenophobia and discrimination.

Key links and documents:

Brussels Declaration
http://www.osce.org/documents/cio/2004/09/3567_en.pdf

Latest news from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) - http://www.osce.org



========= World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) listserv =========
Send mail intended for the list to <wcar@hrea.org>. Archives of the list
can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/wcar/markup/maillist.php
To subscribe to the list, send a message to <majordomo@hrea.org>, with the
following text in the message: subscribe wcar
To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to <majordomo@hrea.org>, with
the following text in the message: unsubscribe wcar
If you have problems (un)subscribing, contact <owner-wcar@hrea.org>.