On April 19, the Latin American and Caribbean Community Center (LACCC) and Cidadao Global (CG) hosted its first in a series of US-based Durban Process meetings as part of the World Conference Against Racism Review (WCAR 2009). The World Conference against Racism (WCAR) are international events organized by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in order to struggle against racism ideologies and behaviors. Three conferences have been held so far, in 1978, 1983 and 2001. The next conference is planned for 2009. The meeting brought together more than 35 individuals representing a number of US-based organizations that participated in regional WCAR Preparatory Committees and/or in the World Conference Against Racism in 2001, as well as groups, students and activists with a demonstrated interest in the Durban 2009 process. The meeting was a side event organized during the National Human Rights Conference 2008 that took place in Chicago, Illinois.

One of the objectives of this meeting was to establish a joint plan of action as we move towards the Durban Review in 2009. Despite the fact that the United States government is not part of Durban II, this past February the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) examined the United States and expressed concern about racial disparities among racial minorities, including African descendents and Indigenous people. According to article 39 in the CERD Concluding, “The Committee is aware of the position of the State party (US Government) with regard to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and its follow up, but in view of the importance that such process has for the achievement of the goals of the Convention, it calls on the State party to consider participating in the preparatory process as well as in the Review Conference itself.”

“It is clear that there is a direct connection between the Concluding Observations of the committee, the lack of the participation of the U.S. in the Durban process, and the failure of U.S. authorities to address the continuation of racially discriminatory practices in this country,” says Janvieve Williams Comrie, Executive Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Community Center.

Some of the participating organizations included Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Afro-Colombian Movement CIMARRON, Global Rights, Benedict College and other member organizations of the US Human Rights Network. “Here is an opportunity for the U.S. to show some good faith and to be proactive about discrimination by considering policies and practices laid out in the Program of Action,” says Ramona Ortega, Executive Director of Cidadao Global, “especially considering an agreement the U.S. just signed with Brazil to deal with racial discrimination.”

The Latin American and Caribbean Community Center and Cidadao Global (LACCC/CG) will be attending the Regional Preparatory Meeting that will take place in Brasilia, Brazil from June 13-17, as well as organizing a series of consultative meetings and Durban process trainings. If you would like to join the national Durban Committee 2009 and/or keep up to date with the NGO and civil society process, please visit http://durban2009.wikispaces.com.

Cidadao Global and the Latin American and Caribbean Community Center are U.S.-based organizations committed to the application of the human rights framework in the United States while addressing issues such as racist and discriminatory practices and legislation, class and gender. For more information please visit www.cidadaoglobal.org and www.lacccenter.org