|
Ministers' Deputies Notes on the Agenda  686 Meeting, 27 [-28] October 1999 4 Human Rights
4.2 United Nations World Conference on Racism, European preparations
Notes(99)846 15 October 1999
Reference documents CM(99)142 CM/Del/Dec(99)668/4.1
Action
The Deputies are invited to take note that the European Conference entitled All different all equal: from principle to practice - European contribution to the World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance will take place in Strasbourg between 11 and 13 October 2000 and to request the technical working group to proceed with its future work as proposed during its first meeting (Appendix III to CM(99)142).
1. At their 668th meeting (20-21 April 1999), the Ministers’ Deputies considered the report of the ad hoc meeting of governmental experts to exchange views on European preparations for the World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance which took place in Strasbourg between 22 and 24 February 1999 (CM(99)41). The ad hoc meeting of experts drew up, inter alia, terms of reference for the technical working group entrusted with the detailed preparation of the European contribution to the World Conference (Appendix VII to CM(99)41). 2. Following the decision of the Ministers’ Deputies at their 671st
meeting 3. In accordance with its terms of reference, the technical working group agreed on the organisation of its work in preparing the European Conference (CM(99)142 Appendix III). It agreed on the title and the date of the European Conference, respectively All different all equal: from principle to practice – European contribution to the World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking place between 11 and 13 October 2000. 4. The technical working group welcomed the voluntary contributions pledged by 17 member States and one non-governmental organisation (the Union of European Football Associations, UEFA) towards the costs of organising the European Conference. It should be noted that, at their 676th meeting (1-2 July 1999), the Deputies agreed to resume consideration of the financing of the European Conference at a forthcoming meeting, after the first meeting of the technical working group. Further information will thus be provided orally to the Deputies on this point. 5. In discussing the level of representation at the European Conference, the majority of participants in the technical working group spoke in favour of holding part of the conference at ministerial level, also providing for the adoption of a Political Declaration. It was considered that this would give weight to the outcome of the conference and provide a message to other regions about the seriousness with which Europe approaches racism and related discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance. At the same time, it was felt that delegations should be mixed, to include also senior officials and experts. With these considerations in mind, the technical working group adopted an outline programme of the European Conference (CM(99)142 Appendix IV). It also discussed further the issues to be addressed at the European Conference, based on the identification of themes proposed at the ad hoc meeting of experts (CM(99)41 Appendix V), and adopted an explanatory note describing these. The explanatory note will be circulated to all invitees to the conference and otherwise used when providing information about the conference (CM(99)142 Appendix V). 6. It should be noted that the outcome of the European Conference will comprise three documents. - Firstly, the General Conclusions of the conference, approximately 10 to 15 pages, which will be forwarded to the Preparatory Committee of the World Conference meeting in May 2001. A framework in the form of a draft text for the General Conclusions will be prepared by the technical working group at its second and third meetings (December 1999 and May 2000), to be amended as necessary following the working group discussions at the European Conference. A summary of the General Conclusions will be presented to the ministers at the concluding session of the European Conference. - Secondly, a Political Declaration which the technical working group envisaged will be adopted at the concluding ministerial session of the European Conference. The technical working group will exchange views at its second meeting (14-16 December 1999) on elements to include in the Political Declaration and forward these to the Ministers’ Deputies, who will be responsible for elaborating and finalising the text in advance of the European Conference. - Thirdly, the General Report or proceedings of the European Conference, which will be available in time for the World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
DRAFT DECISIONS Item 4.2 United Nations World Conference on Racism, (CM(99)41, CM(99)142, CM/Del/Dec(99)668/4.1)
Decisions 1. took note that the European Conference entitled All different all equal: from principle to practice - European contribution to the World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance will take place in Strasbourg between 11 and 13 October 2000; 2. took note also that the concluding session of the European Conference will be held at ministerial level, at which a Political Declaration will be adopted; 3. further noted that the technical working group, at its second meeting (14-16 December 1999), will identify, in a preliminary manner, elements to include in a Political Declaration, on the basis of which the Ministers’ Deputies will prepare and finalise a text; 4. requested the technical working group to proceed with its future work as proposed during its first meeting (Appendix III to CM(99)142); 5. took note as a whole of the report of the first meeting of the technical working group (CM(99)142). |