WASHINGTON (CNS): A few days after the World Conference Against Racism ended in early September, its agenda of battling racial discrimination and xenophobia took on new significance, believes UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson.
When terrorists attacked targets in the United States on September 11, investigators focused on Middle Eastern suspects with ties to Islamic extremists. At that point, the problems of refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants and minorities that had been a focus of the conference became newly important, Ms Robinson said at an October 17 program sponsored by the US Institute of Peace.
‘This is a very important time for all of us who believe in human rights,’ said Ms Robinson, who was president of Ireland from 1990-97. She has served as human rights commissioner ever since.
A first test of the value the world will place on documents approved at the racism conference will come on October 31 when the UN General Assembly will take up conference recommendations, she said.
