Written Answers. - Action Against Racism.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:
167
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the approach which will be adopted by the Government at the UN world conference against racism in South Africa; his reaction to the campaign being conducted by Amnesty International on the issue; and his views on recommendations in relation to this conference.
[16774/01]
National preparations for the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which will take place in South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001, have been intensifying since a national preparatory conference took place in Dublin Castle in September 2000. Following the national preparatory conference, Ireland participated in the European preparatory conference in Strasbourg. The Irish delegation was led by my colleague, Deputy O'Donoghue, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
I have discussed preparations for the world conference with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, in her capacity as secretary-general of the conference, most recently at our meeting on 15 May. I have assured the High Commissioner of the Government's full support for a successful outcome to the conference. Our overall approach, which is closely co-ordinated with our EU partners, is to seek a successful outcome to the conference, an outcome which is forward looking and action oriented. On the difficult issues which have arisen, such as compensation for historical wrongs, we are adopting a flexible but realistic approach.
An interdepartmental group has been established, chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to consider the draft outcome documents for the conference. In addition, a number of Irish NGOs with direct experience in tackling racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in Ireland have been consulted. The outcome of NGO consultations organised by the national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism, NCCRI, has been particularly useful. It has contributed to the negotiating position of the Irish delegation on EU co-ordination on the substantive issues arising at the conference. Amnesty International has made a number of recommendations in relation to the world conference and these have also been considered in our preparations for the conference. A number of its specific proposals are reflected in the EU approach.
The Deputy will be aware that progress at the second session of the preparatory committee for the world conference against racism, which took place in Geneva from 21 May to 1 June 2001, was extremely slow. A cross-regional group of 21 states met last week and will continue meeting this week, and possibly beyond, in an attempt to make further progress on the key substantive issues. The EU Presidency is represented on the cross-regional group and Ireland has been actively engaged in inputting to the Presidency's negotiating position in that group. There will be a third preparatory committee from 30 July to 10 August to continue negotiations, at which Ireland will also be represented.
While it is clear from the preparatory negotiations that it will be difficult to reach agreement on the contentious issues, we will continue to do everything possible to achieve a successful and consensual outcome to the conference.
