NEWS RELEASES
CANADA UNABLE TO JOIN WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM CONSENSUS
September 8, 2001 (7:50 p.m. EDT) No. 129
CANADA UNABLE TO JOIN WORLD CONFERENCE
AGAINST RACISM CONSENSUS
John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)
(Status of Women), today declared that Canada felt it necessary to issue a strong statement of
reservation on the Declaration and Program of Action at the closing of the World Conference
Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), held in
Durban, South Africa.
Canadian concerns centred on removing unacceptable language on the Middle East and
including a broader definition of all forms of racism.
"It was a shame that a Conference convened once a decade to combat racism would choose to
use this rare opportunity to aggravate the Palestinian-Israeli conflict rather than evolving
strategies to help people around the world who face racism and racial discrimination on a daily
basis," said Mr. Manley. "Canada remains committed to fighting discrimination in all of its forms
and will continue to channel its international efforts through the United Nations until a global
consensus is reached in which Canada could join."
"We were saddened that acrimony and divisiveness detracted from the purpose of the
Conference," said Dr. Fry. "However, it should not overshadow the positive elements of the final
documents or the strong role Canada played in influencing progressive strategies for Indigenous
peoples, and in encouraging the role of civil society, especially youth, in combatting racism, in
particular, hate on the Internet."
Canada went to the WCAR to promote values of equality, respect and fairness for all, and to
represent the voices of those who experience the multiple burdens of racism and other forms of
exclusion.
Canada stayed at the Conference in an attempt to ensure that the Declaration and Program of
Action contained text worthy of global support, and to speak out against the elements of text in
the final documents that were inappropriate and unacceptable.
Mr. Manley and Dr. Fry also thanked the Government of South Africa for hosting the event and
for the leadership it provided at the Conference.
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Canada's statement of reservation is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jennifer Sloan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Pascal Charron
Communications Assistant
Office of the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
011-27-82-858-0351 (Durban)
(819) 997-9900
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
STATEMENT OF RESERVATION
by the Canadian delegation to the
World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR)
Durban, South Africa
September 8, 2001
Madam Chair:
Given its struggle against apartheid, South Africa was a logical place to host the Conference.
The world continues to draw strength from the courage and determination of its people to
reconcile their differences and build a more inclusive society. We thank the Government of
South Africa for its leadership and hospitality, and we pledge to keep working with it to promote
and protect all human rights and freedoms. As well, we will continue to look to the United
Nations as the primary venue for discussion and action on these important issues.
A World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance is not just another act in the ongoing itinerant, multilateral, diplomatic theatre. It is
much more than that. Or should be.
That is why Canada persevered here and remained at the table.
We faced the challenges of contention and divisiveness because of our strong sense of duty to
the United Nations, the world community, Canadians who depended on us to give them voice
here, and the millions of people around the globe who live in poverty and hopelessness
because of racism.
We are not satisfied with this Conference. Not enough time has been dedicated to advancing its
objectives, that is, developing forward-looking, action-oriented strategies to eradicate the many
forms of discrimination that exist today. Instead, too much time has been spent on an issue that
does not belong here.
Madam Chair, Canada is still here today only because we wanted to have our voice decry the
attempts at this Conference to de-legitimize the State of Israel, and to dishonour the history and
suffering of the Jewish people. We believe, and we have said in the clearest possible terms, that
it was inappropriate -- wrong -- to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this forum. We
have said, and will continue to say, that anything -- any process; any declaration; any language
presented in any forum that does not serve to advance a negotiated peace that will bring
security, dignity and respect to the people of the region is -- and will be -- unacceptable to
Canada.
That is why the Canadian delegation registers its strongest objections and disassociates itself
integrally from all text in this document directly or indirectly relating to the situation in the Middle
East. We state emphatically that this text is ultra vires; it is outside the jurisdiction and mandate
of this Conference.
For example, paragraph 7 goes to the heart of the legitimacy of the state of Israel. When read in
the context of the Middle East, which we believe to be the intent, the word "Israel" is implicit.
Therefore, the formulation with respect to the right of return of refugees is not consistent with
UN General Assembly resolution 194.
This paragraph is tantamount to a call for a unilateral violation of the agreed peace accords. Its
implementation would be inconsistent with the agreement between the parties that the return of
refugees would be pursuant to a negotiated final settlement.
As such, it is an unhelpful and irresponsible intrusion by this Conference into one of the world's
most dangerous conflicts. Further, as was proposed in the draft document, Canada believed,
and continues to believe, that it is entirely appropriate that the Declaration contain an
independent and unlinked reference to the need for all of us to counter anti-Semitism. Canada
came to this Conference with very clear positions on what is important to us. We will not
sacrifice our principles or distort our long-standing, fair-minded policy with regard to the Middle
East conflict.
Madam Chair, Canada regrets that the World Conference has not been able to acknowledge
that there is a close, sometimes inseparable relationship between discrimination based on
religion and language, and that which is based on racism and xenophobia.
This is particularly regrettable given that in 1994 the United Nations General Assembly, in its
resolution establishing the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination,
expressed deep concern about the evolution of racism into discriminatory practices based on
religion, language, nationality or culture. In this regard we consider the World Conference has
taken a significant step backwards. At this point, we would like to underline that for Canada,
multiple discrimination on the basis of "other grounds" includes sexual orientation, disability and
barriers based on culture.
Madam Chair, on the issue of past injustices, let there be no doubt -- Canada believes that the
transatlantic slave trade was morally repugnant and is a stain on the fabric of history.
With regard to the text related to this issue, Canada would like to register clearly its
understanding that paragraph 10 of the Declaration means that widespread and systematic
enslavement directed against a civilian population today constitutes a crime against humanity,
and if the transatlantic slave trade occurred today it would constitute a crime against humanity.
Furthermore, it is Canada's understanding with regard to paragraphs 117, 118, and 119 of the
Declaration that under international law there is no right to a remedy for historical acts that were
not illegal at the time at which they occurred.
It is for these reasons, Madam Chair, that Canada requests that this statement be entered into
the Conference records, and that our reservations be explicitly reflected in the final report of the
Conference.
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