March 21st is the International Day
for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
2001 is the INTERNATIONAL YEAR AGAINST RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND OTHER FORMS
OF INTOLERANCE
The World Conference will be action-oriented, and will focus on
practical measures to assist victims of racial discrimination. The
reason is clear. As long as people are denied opportunities for
employment, education and health because of their race or ethnic
background, we have work to do. As long as people of particular races or
ethnic backgrounds find themselves disproportionately represented in the
prison population, in the ranks of the socially and culturally excluded,
and in the slums and favelas of the world's great conurbations, we have
work to do. As long as they are disproportionately victims of health
problems such as AIDS, and do not have equal access to medical care and
treatment, we have work to do. And as long as ethnic conflict and
genocide continues, we cannot rest.
Our age, like previous ages, has brought with it new forms of racial
discrimination, no less odious than the old ones. Many of today's
conflicts have an ethnic dimension.
Increasingly, civilian populations are targeted, purely because of their
ethnic identity. And with the increase in global migration comes a
corresponding increase in discrimination against immigrants, migrant
workers, refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons.
As we recognize the enormous challenges before us, let us also note the
advantages we have. The international community is committed as never
before to ending racism. International and regional texts ban racial
discrimination. Many States have anti discrimination laws, with national
human rights institutions to implement those laws and provide assistance
to victims. Tolerance and multiculturalism are flourishing in many
societies. New technologies offer opportunities and services at a lower
cost than before, and can, if applied fairly, be tools of ending and not
aggravating inequality.
Eliminating racism and overcoming obstacles to equality will not be
easy, but with perseverance, faith and commitment, it can be done.
[This] year's World Conference should mark a big step forward. Let us
seize this opportunity and make the most of it.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan
MEMO
TO: The Delegates
FR: UNITE (Unified Nations' Inquiry inTo Equity)
DT: March 21, 2001 (International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination
RE: The 2001 Global Race and Class Policy Initiative
Welcome to UNITE's 2001 Global Race and Class Policy Initiative. We will
convene April 19-22, 2001 at Tufts University, a locus for intellectual
thought and civic activity, to develop global and national policy
recommendations on race and class. These recommendations will be
forwarded to the upcoming World Conference Against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance, to be held in South
Africa in late summer.
In preparing for the World Conference, the Foreign Minister of Iran
Kamal Kharazi recently urged participants to consider normative linkages
between the dialogue of civilizations and the elimination of racial
discrimination in order to promote what he referred to as "creative
diversity".
In her opening statement at one of the preparatory meetings, Mary
Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and
Secretary-General of the World Conference, emphasized that no country or
region can claim to be free from racism. She said that racism,
xenophobia and intolerance are pervasive problems that must be
recognized and addressed. She also added, "Morally, it cannot be right
that millions go hungry, live without clean water or even basic
medicines, and die of AIDS, at a time when people in the developed
countries enjoy unparalleled prosperity and access to the most
sophisticated technology."
Now is a crucial time to address issues of difference and equity. Given
increasing globalization and the growing disparity in wealth
distribution, it is critical that these realities be brought to the
forefront in our global inquiry. Each of the seven committees you will
attend this weekend represent the most universally salient policy areas
related to race and class--points at which real change can be effected
domestically and internationally. And, consider in all of these issues,
the role of youth; examples from your own countries of good practices
toward addressing these concerns; and the strategic prioritizing and
resourcing of institutions for combating racism and inequity.
We know that these problems cannot be solved in one weekend, but UNITE
hopes to take initial steps towards creating a more equitable and just
global community and is looking forward to presenting your
recommendations at the World Conference.
Though these are difficult issues to discuss, we encourage the delegates
to keep an open mind and strive for innovation and boldness. Dare to
step beyond the box and create new frameworks. We look forward to
hearing your productive and respectful deliberations and
recommendations.
Committee on Immigration and Citizenship
Committee on Education
Committee on the Media
Committee on Economic Development
Committee on Politics, Protest, and Resistance
Committee on Reconciliation and Reparations
Committee on Law
ISSUES
Committee on Immigration and Citizenship
Most countries conduct a census to understand the growth and changes
within their populations. Please recommend an effective way of
accounting for racial and class differences in states. How should
categories be determined and organized for the most accurate
representation of a population? Is it important to examine racial and
class breakdowns of a society, why or why not? The committee is asked to
prepare a draft of a global census form.
Should there be a worldwide, universal immigration policy or regime?
What would be the criteria for entry into countries and for deciding
quotas? Does an immigrant's class matter? Should it? Please consider the
pros and cons of such a system and present your findings. Also, more
and more, large scale migrations (from natural disasters or civil
conflicts) are leading to increased racism and xenophobia within
receiving countries. What international policies might help to
alleviate this continuing dilemma?
Are there limits to citizenship? Should citizenship be universally
based on either jus solis or jus sanguinis? How else should it be
determined? Will/Should passports become passe in the near future or
will/should the order of sovereign borders continue? On what criteria
should suffrage, or the right to vote, be granted? On a local level?
national level? International level? Is citizenship necessary for
eligibility in none, some, or all elections?
As policies currently stand, non-citizens have little recourse when
faced with issues of racism, racial discrimination, lack of access to
basic needs services, detention, and imprisonment (both of which are
increasing in industrialized countries). Please recommend a set of
recourse procedures for non-nationals, migrants, asylum seekers,
refugees, minorities, and indigenous groups. Does the International
Court of Justice have a role to play?
Start of Memo
Committee on Education
What emphasis does the committee place on education as a means of
redress for issues of institutional racism, discrimination, and economic
inequality? Access and quality of education have often been defined by
race and class. What should be done to break down educational barriers
and improve quality? The committee is asked to construct a Covenant on
the Rights to Education.
Distance learning and advancements in educational technology have the
possibility of dramatically affecting the balance of education
globally. Civil engineering or urban planning courses offered on line
from a university in the US and taken by a student in Bolivia, in
Thailand or anywhere where access to education is limited, have the
power to effect direct change in those societies. Without students
leaving their countries and potentially reversing the "brain drain" that
concerns many developing countries. Where does the responsibility lie in
making education accessible? The committee is asked to make
recommendations on distance learning.
Youth can be the most vulnerable to both messages promoting racial and
economic equity and to messages of hate, separation, and racism
(especially those who feel disenfranchised from society). How can the
youth of the participating countries be mobilized to think about these
issues and to be involved? To consider changing attitudes and changing
the structures of society, where should new education and training
efforts be focused?
Considering that almost every country is multiracial and multiethnic
to some degree, should the curriculum taught in each country account for
various cultures and histories? If not, what should be done to make
education more inclusive? Also considering immigration patterns, should
bilingual education be offered in public schools?
Start of Memo
Committee on the Media
What responsibility does the international media have in covering
issues of race and class? Given the pace of globalization, the
international media's role has significantly changed and acquired much
more importance globally. What are the dominant forms of media that
reach the most people? Who controls them? How do most people get their
information? Is there an effort, on behalf of the media, to reach and
cover countries that were once overlooked? The committee is asked to
make recommendations to both international and national media about the
coverage of racial and social inequalities.
The Internet has become an increasingly popular form of communication
and outreach, yet it may also be the least regulated. There are
increasing concerns about the role that it plays in allowing the
interaction of hate groups and the promulgation of hate speech.
Different countries have varying laws on hate speech. Should countries
have the right to control what information is available within its
borders? Should there be international regulation of racism or hate
speech on the Internet? Please consult with the Committee on Law.
Another important issue concerning the Internet is what is being
called the Digital Divide. While many believed that the Internet would
help to shrink the gap between the haves and the have-nots, it is
instead believed to be increasing it. What recommendations would the
committee make for contending with this issue on an international level?
Advertising and marketing are influential parts of media outreach,
reaching a wide range of people globally. Often advertisements can
serve as an entryway into a society's norms and ideals. How are race
and class depicted in media advertisements? Are certain stereotypes
reinforced? Do many people have access to the industry or is
concentrated? Does this affect the general public in your country, as
well as in other countries receiving this information? What
recommendations would the committee make to the advertising industry?
Start of Memo
Committee on Economic Development
As nations develop and major industries grow, certain groups are more
likely to bear the costs of development whether this means being removed
from land or having to face various types of environmental hazards,
including those resulting from energy production. What roles do race
and class play in determining who bears these costs? Who has the power
to make decisions about these development projects and strategies? How
should the policies of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
take these issues into consideration? How is environmental racism
linked to institutional racism? What measures should be taken to
prevent environmental racism, both internationally and domestically?
Does this require a focus on institutional racism?
Many believe that globalization has exacerbated existing inequalities,
especially with regard to the distribution of wealth, both
internationally and domestically within countries. Often, oppressed
racial groups hold the least amount of wealth. Should measures be taken
to achieve a redistribution of wealth that alleviates this unequal
distribution, especially among racial groups? Does technology have a
role to play? What are the benefits and limitations of such strategies?
In many developing countries, international investment may be an
important factor leading to the success of an economy. However,
international investment can also lead to perceived problems such as
child labor and extremely low wages for domestic laborers. How can
international investment help developing countries in the long term?
What measures should be taken to maximize the benefits and minimize the
costs of international investment for members of the developing
economies?
Labor competition is an area historically plagued with racism and race
and class competition. The impact of globalization has heightened these
tensions in many countries and across borders as industries seek their
best advantage in pay rates. This has often pitted a country's
traditional labor force against minority workers and migrants workers,
and is increasingly creating negative reactions as jobs are moved to
other countries. There is often a backlash against those of the same
nationality living within the countries and an increase in xenophobia.
To address these practices, what would the committee recommend?
Start of Memo
Committee on Politics, Protest, and Resistance
Some protest/resistance movements are violently against the
government, while others seek to work with the government to effect
change. Under what conditions is it beneficial to work with the
government? In which cases is it useless? What are the possible costs
and benefits to working within the political system rather than outside
of it?
Within protest/resistance organizations, there are often issues of
exclusion and inclusion. For example, if a protest movement is formed to
combat racial discrimination (like the anti-apartheid movement in South
Africa), coalitions are often formed along racial lines. Sometimes such
divisions can be a source of strength (like the Black Power movement in
the U.S.), but yet they can sometimes be exclusive along racial or class
lines. How exclusive or inclusive should resistance groups be? What are
the costs and benefits to both approaches? What should be the role of
international actors -- either states, groups within other states,
non-governmental organizations
The committee is asked to address one specific issue that in many
countries is a continuing legacy of colonialism: land distribution,
where a minority of the population has control over vast amounts of
land, especially arable land. Over the last year in Zimbabwe, with the
support of the President, members of the black population began to use
force to take land away from white landowners, some of who were killed
in the process. The current land owners do not want to relinquish the
land. South Africa has just begun to implement its land redistribution
policy, one that is being put into effect by the government. There has
been some violence an resistance from the current land owners. Many
other countries face similar issues. The committee is asked to make
recommendations about the best way to achieve equitable land
distribution and equitable resource distribution.
What should be the role of political leaders and citizens when faced
with acts of racism and racial and economic discrimination within
societies? While political leaders often bear the responsibility to
effect change in the face of increasing acts of racism, there are many
who do and would enflame the situation rather than addressing it. What
is the role of the international community in holding leaders
accountable for their actions within states, as well as the populations
of those states who might have elected them (e.g. Austria and Joerg
Haider)?
Start of Memo
Committee on Reconciliation and Reparations
Are justice and reconciliation compatible? Many countries must
contend with historical or recent past injustices directed at a
particular population within its borders. There are often calls for
both justice and reconciliation, although individuals often have
differing opinions on what these terms mean. Is acknowledgment of past
injustices or crimes enough? Do the perpetrators need to be punished?
All of the perpetrators? Or just the leaders, if the injustices are
society-wide? Should the consequences of pursuing one strategy or the
other be taken into consideration, such as the stability of the
government, the long-term impact on the whole society?
Given the precedence of different attempts at reconciliation and
reparations in varying countries, does the committee feel that these
attempts have been effective models for future reconciliations? If not,
what modifications should be made? Another consideration is the issue
of reparations. Can there be reconciliation without reparations? What
forms can reparations take? Should there be a statute of limitations
for reparations? The committee is asked to recommend approaches to
reconciliation and reparations, keeping in mind the difficulties of have
a state or society completely back any one form.
Should claims for reparations be resolved within states or should
groups be allowed to take their claims to the International Court of
Justice? Should individuals be allowed to take their claims to the
court? Should the states recognize the findings of the international
court on these issues? should the international community recognize the
findings and support their implementation? Should there be limits set
on the international court in terms of the scope of its findings? The
committee is asked to make recommendations on the role of the
International Court.
Some argue that indigenous peoples have special claims to reparations
given their circumstances. How should countries contend with the rights
and claims of indigenous peoples? Should indigenous peoples receive
specific reparations?
Start of Memo
Committee on Law
With the new International Court of Justice, what should its role be
with regards to issues of global inequalities, specifically considering
issues of race and class? Should it be a recourse for non nationals --
immigrants, asylum-seekers, migrant workers, indigenous groups, etc. --
who suffer racism and racial discrimination in their new countries?
Should it be a forum to consider reparation claims on behalf of a group
or people? Should it address issues of discrimination among citizens of
a country? Should it address the practices of corporations
internationally? Should individuals be allowed to bring claims or only
groups? Can states bring claims on behalf of their nationals suffering
in another country?
National inequities are also of great concern to this gathering.
Policies and laws that discriminate in the social realm -- in the areas
of housing, health care, employment, law and education -- continue to
affect the lives and opportunities of generations. Victims of racial
discrimination are frequently the most underprivileged; they lack
education, are ignorant of the law and they mistrust the courts. Is
affirmative action an effective means of contending with these
problems? The committee is asked to make recommendations for the global
community to address these issues.
In dramatic numbers, race and class often play a role in imprisonment,
detention, and incarceration in many countries. Given this dilemma,
what are the reasons for this seeming imbalance? How is information
about individuals' rights disseminated to the citizens? What access do
people have to the protection of their rights and fair representation?
Is everything usually written and conducted in the dominant language of
the country? What recommendations would the committee make to address
this issue on both a global and a national scale?
Consulting with the Committee on Media, would the Committee on Law
recommend that countries curtail access to the Internet for those
engaged in racist activities or discrimination or for those promoting
hate speech? How would the committee define "hate speech"? If the
committee does recommend curtailing access, what would be the framework?
Start of Memo
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