When delegates last gathered for a world conference against racism, in Geneva in 1983, South Africa was still in the grip of apartheid and Nelson Mandela was still in prison. It is particularly appropriate then that representatives of all the member states of the United Nations and its specialised agencies will gather in Durban at the end of this month, for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance: Confronting Racism
Legalised racism in South Africa is long dead and the international community can reasonably claim some credit for its burial. But around the world racial discrimination lives in more subtle ways and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, points to the danger of denial.
