Day I–Durban Review Conference, UN World Conference Against Racism

Upon arrival in Geneva my gracious host, Helene Yinda (who was introduced to me by the fabulous Pauline Muchina, WOCU member, inspirational speaker, and women’s rights activist extraordinaire) arranged for me to be picked up by her friend Daniel. I love the power of the collective, as this trip to this critical meeting might not have happened without the power of the network!

Anyway, Daniel is from Angola and has spent many years brokering peace in post conflict situations.  So we had a robust conversation about various political matters.  One question he asked is what the people of the US think about the administration’s boycotting of this conference. My reply was, ‘First off I would say between 85-90% of Americans likely have no idea that this conference is happening at all!’  He was initially shocked, and then upon further contemplation, not as surprised. He went on to remark that this time, if no other, would seem like it begs for US engagement in a discussion on racism. Of course, I agreed.

Then today I saw on CNN their first coverage (beyond the ticker)  of the conference where they were profiling President of Iran, Ahmadinejad and worrying over what he was going to say in his remarks. They spoke of how the US, the Netherlands, and israel were all boycotting and how the content and tenor of Ahmadinejad’s comments would determine who remains at the conference for the rest of the week.

Today, on the way to the United Nations, my struggles with the tram (public transportation) ticket purchasing machine resulted in meeting a group of English speakers. With the revelation of my intended destination, it sparked a whole slew of questions and commentary. One remark was made about how the US’s boycotting was based on politically based fears of losing votes of Jewish people who would be offended by perceived anti-Israel slant of the conference.   Another person argued that the conference isn’t anti-Israel, it’s anti-Zionism and anti-human rights oppression of Palestinians.

Yet another person commented that if the black people had mobilized and put pressure for the US to participate, Obama would be here. To which I added my refrain from yesterday.  Unfortunately, probably 90% of black people didn’t even know this conference was happening, such is the extent of our disengagement as a country on a whole, and most definitely as commuities of color, in the international human rights dialogue and the UN processes specifically.

This leads me back to my previous post.  As WOCU, we are trying hard to make sure the communities of color know how to use the UN space as a place to seek justice for the disparities that we face daily and also see the value in engaging with our global sisters who face so many similar challenges and oppressed by similar US policies that are replicated globally.

Stay tuned to this site for a report on our first meeting “Engaging Women of Color in International Spaces” and upcoming guidance documents on easy ways that we as communities of color can engage internationally, and specifically with the United Nations human rights instruments and advocacy mechanisms.