Noble
principles seem to stem from such an initiative, although reality
showed us a completely different picture. The event in 2001 resulted in
a “hate fest” of Anti Semitism where the only country blamed for
racism, racial discrimination, apartheid and related crimes was Israel.
Attendees at that time remember how libels like “protocols of savvy
elders of Zion”, a notorious anti-Semitic book, or “Mein Kampf “ were
circulating freely in the conference, and how offensive slogans were
shouted against whoever seemed to be Jewish.
This year things do not look too much different, as the preparatory
meetings were held under the same spirit. Notably major promoters of
the Conference have been Arab countries together with Sudan, Iran and
Venezuela, places where minorities and diversities (religious, sexual,
political, ethnical) do not seem to be very much respected. After long
rounds of negotiations Canada USA and Australia decided to withdraw
their official delegation, together with some European countries led by
Italy and The Netherlands, who regarded the final declaration draft as
unacceptable.
Few days ago, Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadinejad announced his
presence at the Conference, a sublime act which, among other things,
consecrates the persecution of Baha’i religion affiliates in his
country, with the blessing of the United Nations. Moreover the most
cruel world dictatorships representatives are expected to hold the
floor, in a triumph of hypocrisy where the other is the enemy and any
occasion is legitimate to spit on the Universal declaration of Human
Rights, on which the United Nations were founded.
It is sad to see how an important occasion for making the world a
slightly better place is missed. International conferences should be an
occasion of debate, mutual understanding, and progress; instead we will
see pure propaganda aimed at distorting the idea of struggle against
discrimination made by countries which discriminate on a daily basis.
I believe that European countries should agree on common positions on
those matters, principles like defense of Human rights were conquered
after ages of fights, it would be a political suicide for Europe giving
up on them.
Michele Rimini