National Congress of American Indians November 2000

National Congress of American Indians
November 2000

United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance

On August 31^st through September 7, 2001 in South Africa, the United Nations will hold the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR)⁽¹⁾. The purpose of this conference is for participating nations to focus on practical steps to eradicate racism which will include measures of prevention, education, and protection. The WCAR will also endeavor to provide remedies for the victims of racism and racial discrimination.

At the same time the WCAR is being held, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) which are limited in their participation at the WCAR, will hold a parallel conference in South Africa. NCAI and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) have both received NGO status and have been working with the United Nations and other NGO's in securing indigenous participation in the upcoming two conferences.

Assistance was provided to NCAI and NARF by the Ford Foundation to participate in these conferences. Juana Majel, NCAI Recording Secretary represented NCAI at the initial World Conference Preparatory Committee meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland on May 1-5, 2000. At the Preparatory Committee meeting, NCAI and NARF realized that there was no indigenous representation on any of the regional NGO Coordinating Committees. Through the urging of NCAI, NARF, and the Indian Law Resource Center, two indigenous representatives out of a twelve member committee have been subsequently secured on each the regional NGO Coordinating Committees.

At the WCAR, five broad themes will be addressed, and it is the intent of the WCAR to be action oriented and to focus on practical steps to eradicate racism when considering these themes, which are:

a) To review progress made in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance;

b) To consider ways and means to better ensure the application of existing standards and implementation of the existing instruments to combat racism;

c) To increase the level of awareness about the scourges of racism;

d) To formulate concrete recommendations on ways to increase the effectiveness of the activities and mechanisms of the U.N. through programs aimed at combating racism;

e) To review the political, historical, economic, social, cultural, and other factors leading to racism;

f) To formulate concrete recommendations to further actions-oriented national, regional, and international measures to combat all forms of racism; and,

g) To draw up concrete recommendations for ensuring that the United Nations has the financial and other necessary resources for its actions to combat racism.

On Tuesday afternoon, November 14, 2000, at the NCAI 57^th Annual Session in St. Paul, Minnesota, there will be an International breakout session where tribal leaders will be asked what are Indian Country's most important issues in regards to racism. This is a significant opportunity for Indian Country to voice their concerns regarding racism in both the federal and state criminal justice system, in obtaining adequate housing, employment and health care, and in obtaining equal education. Moreover, it will provide tribal leaders the opportunity to discuss the failure of the United States to recognize the right of self-determination and the racist legal doctrines this country relies upon to deny tribes this right. The issues identified at this breakout session will serve as NCAI's platform to be advocated for at both the WCAR and the NGO conferences.

The breakout session will also discuss issues surrounding the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Interamerican Indian Institute. NCAI encourages anyone interested in these issues to attend this meeting and voice their opinion. To learn more about the WCAR or the NGO conference visit www.ngoworldconference.org or contact NCAI at (202) 466-7767.

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1. The first two World Conferences were held in 1978 and 1983 in Geneva and focused mainly on ending apartheid.