Editing World Conference against Racism (section)

== 2001 conference ==
{{Main|World Conference against Racism 2001}}

The 2001 conference was held in [[Durban]], South Africa, under UN auspices, from 31 August until 8 September 2001. Former Irish president [[Mary Robinson]], then the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, presided as secretary-general.

Entitled "World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance", the conference was discussing unfair treatment of one group against another.  Significant time was focused specifically on Israeli treatment of Palestinians,<ref>UN.org [https://www.un.org/WCAR/durban.pdf ''World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance'']. "General issues" 63 and 151(pages 13 and 48). Retrieved 8 October 2020.</ref> treating violations of human rights and genocide in other parts of the world secondarily.

The 2001 meeting was marked by clashes over the Middle East and the legacy of slavery, and coincided with attacks on Israel and anti-Israel demonstrations at a parallel conference of non-governmental organizations. The U.S. and Israel withdrew midway through the conference over a draft resolution that, in their opinion, singled out Israel for criticism and likened [[Zionism]] to racism.<ref>{{cite news |title=New racism declaration unveiled |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/09/04/racism.main/index.html |access-date=29 December 2023 |work=CNN |date=2001-09-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Racism Walkout: The Overview; U.S. And Israelis Quit Racism Talks Over Denunciation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/04/world/racism-walkout-overview-us-israelis-quit-racism-talks-over-denunciation.html |access-date=29 December 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=4 September 2001}}</ref> The European Union also refused to accept wording by Arab states criticizing Israel for "racist practices."<ref>{{cite news |title=UN rights chief backs anti-racism conference |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-un-un-racism-conference-030209-2009mar02-story.html |access-date=29 December 2023 |work=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]] |agency=[[PA Media]] |date=2 March 2009}}</ref>

Also in the conference, African countries, led by Nigeria and Zimbabwe, and African-American NGOs wanted individual apologies from each of the countries responsible for [[slavery]], recognition of it as a [[crime against humanity]], and reparations called as such. The Europeans pulled together behind the UK and the best the Africans could get was a call for support for the [[New African Initiative]], debt relief, funds to combat AIDS, the recovery of stolen government funds transferred to the West by former dictators and their cohorts, and an end to the [[human trafficking|trafficking in people]]. But the word 'reparations' did not survive.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/unracism/story/0,,548954,00.html |title=Africans back down at UN race talks: Special report: UN conference against racism|first= Chris|last= McGreal |newspaper=[[The Observer]]|date=9 September 2001}}</ref>