BRIEFING NOTE 2 ON THE WORLD CONFERENCE

July 28, 2000

by the NGO Liaison for the World Conference Against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR)

I. Dates and Venue for the World Conference and NGO Forum.
As noted earlier, the WCAR will take place in South Africa from 31 August
to 7 September 2001. There is still no decision on the city. The NGO Forum is
likely to be from 29 August-2 September 2001 (dates still to be confirmed).

II. Organizing Committee for the NGO Forum
The Organizing Committee for the NGO Forum will be led by the South African
National NGO Coalition, SANGOCO. Contact Mr. Moshe More at the following e-mail
for further information: .

III. Preparatory Process
The report of the first session of the PrepCom, which took place in Geneva
from 1-5 May 2000, is now available as A/CONF.189/PC.1/21 (in English, French,
Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Chinese). It is available on the website of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights .

The second session of the PrepCom will take place in Geneva from 30 May - 8
June 2001.

In addition, there will be an Open-Ended Inter-Sessional Working Group
Meeting in Geneva, 15-19 January 2001. The Inter-Sessional Working Group will
have before it a document prepared by the Secretariat of the World Conference
(i.e., a draft Declaration and Programme of Action).

There will also be an Informal Meeting, 19-20 October 2000, to plan for
the Inter-Sessional Working Group and to begin discussion on the sub-themes of
the five major conference themes.

NGOs with Consultative Status with ECOSOC or which are accredited to the
World, Conference, can attend these meetings as observers.

IV. Regional Preparatory Meetings
There have been changes in the dates of some of the Regional Preparatory
meetings since the first Briefing Note was prepared. The Regional Preparatory
meetings and the associated NGO meetings will now take place as follows.
Regional Preparatory Meeting for Europe (in Strasbourg, France), organized
by the Council of Europe, 11-13 October 2000. On 10 October, there will be a
European NGO Forum. For further information about these meetings, see the
website of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).

Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa (in Dakar, Senegal), November 2000
(specific date still to be determined). An African NGO Forum will be held one
day prior to the meeting. For details about that NGO Forum, contact Mr. Alioune
Tine at Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l'homme (RADDHO).

Regional Preparatory Meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean (in
Santiago, Chile), 4-6 December 2000. No decision has as yet been taken about
whether Canada and the USA will be invited as participants of this meeting. An
NGO Forum will be held just prior to this meeting. For details, contact Ms.
Cristina Zeledon at the Instituto Inter-Americano de Derechos Humanos (IIDH).

Regional Preparatory Meeting for Asia (in Teheran, Iran). New date! 19-21
February 2001. An NGO Forum will be held 18 February. For details, contact Ms.
Nimalka Fernando at the International Movement Against All Forms of
Discrimination and Racism (IMADR).

Note: NGOs wishing to participate in the preparatory meetings (whether in
Geneva or in the regions) must either have Consultative Status with ECOSOC or be
accredited to the World Conference. The procedure for getting accreditation to
the WCAR is noted below.

There are funds available to assist NGO participation at these Regional
Preparatory meetings. If your NGO wishes to participate and needs financial
assistance, it is important to contact the relevant organizing NGO noted
above, and to submit an application as rapidly as possible.

V. Regional Expert Seminars

Two expert seminars have already taken place.

The first was on Remedies Available to Victims of Acts of Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and Good National Practices
in this Field, which took place in Geneva, 16-18 February 2000. The second was
an Expert Seminar for Europe, which took place in Warsaw from 5-7 July 2000 on
the theme: Protection of Minorities and Other Vulnerable Groups and
Strengthening Human Rights Capacity at the National Level. Three others are
scheduled as follows.

Expert Seminar for Asia (Bangkok), 5-7 September 2000. Theme: Migrant
Workers and Trafficking of Persons, with Particular Reference to Women and
Children (Point Person: . Tel. 41-22 917-9394.)

Expert Seminar for Africa (Addis Ababa), 4-6 October 2000. Theme:
Preventing Ethnic and Racial Conflict (Point Person: Aziz Ndiaye. Tel. 41-22 917-9826.)

Expert Seminar for Latin America (Santiago de Chile), 25-27 October 2000.
Theme: Economic, Social and Legal Measures to Combat Racial Discrimination,
with Particular Reference to Vulnerable Groups (Point Person: Robert
Husbands. Tel. 41-22 917-9290.)

Note: NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status or which are accredited to the WCAR
may participate in these experts seminars as observers: i.e., they may ask
questions, make comments, or suggest recommendations. Others who wish to
participate may do so as a member of the public gallery, but with no rights to
speak or submit documentation. All NGOs wishing to attend an expert seminar,
both those which have and those which do not have consultative status or
accreditation to the World Conference, should write a letter to the member of
the WCAR Secretariat responsible for the meeting (as noted above), indicating
the name of the NGO representative(s) who will attend. The point person will
provide details about time and venue.

VI. Other Regional NGO Meetings

The Secretariat of the OHCHR is also planning to support four regional NGO
meetings intended to feed into the NGO Forum. While the dates and venues have
not yet been confirmed, the plans at present are for meetings:
for Africa, in Botswana: contact Ms. Chantal Kisoon at the Centre for
Human Rights, University of Pretoria for Asia, in Amman, Jordan: contact Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR), Mr. Nizam Assaf, for the Americas, in Quito, Ecuador: contact Ms. Irene Leon at Agencia
Latinoamerican de Informacion (ALAI) or contact Mr. Mark Hecht at Human Rights Internet (HRI) for Eastern and Central Europe, in Warsaw: contact, Mr. Marek Nowicki,
Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. Further information will be provided as soon as it is available.

VII. Decisions of the First Session of the PrepCom regarding the structure of
the conference

The First Session of the PrepCom elected Ambassador (Mme) Absa Claude
Diallo of Senegal as its Chairperson. Ambassador Diallo chaired the
sessional working group of the 55th Session of the Commission on Human
Rights (1999) on the preparation of the World Conference.

Other members of the Bureau are the following: Tunisia, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Malaysia, FYR of Macedonia, Georgia, Brazil, Mexico (Rapporteur),
France, USA and South Africa as ex-officio.

In the Rules of Procedures adopted at the First Session of the PrepCom, it
was decided that the Conference would establish one Main Committee and one
Drafting Committee, and these Committees may set up their own subcommittees
or working groups. NGOs will be permitted to participate in the work of
both of these Committees (and any subcommittees or working groups they
establish) on questions within the scope of their activities.

This means that NGOs will be able to make oral statements as well as to
submit written statements to the Conference. (See details about written
statement below.)

VIII. Slogan and Themes of the Conference

The First Session of the PrepCom adopted the following World Conference
Slogan:
United to combat racism: Equality, Justice, Dignity

It also adopted the following 5 broad themes of the Provisional Agenda.
(1) Sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
(2) Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance;
(3) Measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the
eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance, at the national, regional and international levels;
(4) Provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, [compensatory] and
other measures at the national, regional and international levels;
(5) Strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including
international cooperation and enhancement of the United Nations and other
international mechanisms in combatting racism, racial discrimination,
xenbophobia and related intolerance, and follow-up.

Note that the word compensatory in theme 4 is in square brackets because
there was no general agreement for including this term.

IX. Accreditation of NGOs

1. NGOs which have Consultative Status with ECOSOC may participate in the
World Conference and its Preparatory processes. As well, representatives of
Indigenous Peoples or Indigenous Organizations which have been accredited
to participate in the Working Group of the Commission on Human Rights on
the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, under ECOSOC
Resolution 1995/32, may participate in the World Conference.
NGOs/Indigenous Peoples or Indigenous Organizations wishing to accredit
representatives to any of the meetings are invited to send their request
(s) (one letter of accreditation per meeting) to the secretariat of the
Preparatory Committee, for the attention of:

Ms. Catherine Brémont,
OHCHR, Room PW 1-051,
Palais des Nations, 8-14
Avenue de la Paix,
CH - 1211 Geneva 10
Tel: : 00 41 22 917 92 62,
Fax: 00 41 22 917 90 11,
e-mail: cbremont.hchr@unog.ch

2. NGOs which do not have Consultative Status can be accredited to the
World Conference under Resolution 1996/31, and Decision PC 1/5 of the First
Session of the PrepCom as follows:

(a) An NGO applies to the Conference Secretariat with required
documentation (see information note for NGOs not having Consultative
Status, on the website of the OHCHR and/or questionnaire on the web).
(b) This documentation is reviewed by the Secretariat to ensure that it is
complete and that the NGO meets the criteria for accreditation.
(c) When 10 applications have been received, the Secretariat sends a note
verbale to all governments with a list of the NGOs applying and its
recommendation. Governments have 14 days to raise any concerns they
have.
(d) Where no concerns have been raised, the Secretariat will forward the
name of the applying NGOs to the Bureau of the PrepCom for
accreditation.
(e) If concerns are raised about an NGO, the Secretariat will inform the
NGO about the governments comments and give the NGO the opportunity
to reply. It will then forward the governments concerns, the NGOs
comments and its own recommendation to the Bureau for action. The
Bureau, in consultation with the regions, will decide whether or not
to accredit the NGO.
(f) If the Bureau decides not to accredit, the matter will go to the
Second Session of the PrepCom (in May 2000) for final decision.
3. Additionally, representative of Indigenous peoples or organizations
may apply for accreditation under ECOSOC Resolution 1995/32, in which case
the decision is taken by ECOSOCs Committee on NGOs, not the Bureau of the
PrepCom.

4. NGOs must be also be accredited to the World Conference if they wish to
participate in the Regional Preparatory Meetings. However, once they have
been accredited to participate in a regional Preparatory Meeting, they will
automatically be accredited to participate in the World Conference itself
and any other preparatory meeting.

5. Since accreditation is a complicated/lengthy process please note and
respect the following deadlines. To be accredited, a complete application
must be received by:

20 August 2000 for, African Preparatory meeting in Dakar
4 October 2000 for South American/Caribbean Preparatory meeting in
Santiago
15 November 2000 for accreditation to Inter-Sessional Working Group
meeting in Geneva
19 December 2001 for Asian Preparatory meeting in Teheran
28 March 2001 for accreditation to Second Session of the PrepCom

As a precaution, if you want to participate, apply NOW or as early as
possible. You should send your applications to: Ms. Sandra Aragon-Parriaux,
OHCHR, Palais des Nations, Room PW-RS181, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. Tel.
(41-22) 917-9129. Fax. (41-22) 917-9050. Email:

X. Written Statements

If written statements of NGOs are to be circulated at the Inter-sessional
Working Group meeting or during the Second Session of the PrepCom, they
must be submitted 10 weeks prior to the respective meeting. It helps if the
statements are submitted electronically, and especially if text can be
provided in English, French and Spanish. Length is restricted to 1,500
words, except that NGOs which have general consultative status may
submitted up to 2,000 words.

XI. Substantive Contributions to the Declaration and Programme of Action

As the Secretariat of the WCAR is currently beginning to prepare the draft
Declaration and Programme of Action for the World Conference, which will
initially be considered during the Inter-Sessional Working Group Meeting
(January 15-19, 2000), NGOs in consultative status or those accredited to the
WCAR are invited to submit contributions (i.e., text and other suggestions).
Contributions should be post-marked by August 15 to ensure their inclusion and
should be sent to the Secretariat of the World Conference Against Racism, Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Rm RS 181 Palais Wilson, 52 rue des
Paquis, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland.

XII. Websites

Website of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for general information
on the WCR. Click on World Conference Against Racism at the top of the Home Page.

NGO Website for the World Conference (with links to many other sites dealing with racism)

NGO Website with a specific European focus

XIII. Guide to Participating in World Conference

The International Human Rights Law Group has produced an excellent Guide to
Participating in the UN World Conference Against Racism, which is available
in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, in hard copy. It will shortly
also be available on the web. The Law Group plans to periodically updated
this manual throughout the preparatory process. For copies, contact Ms.
Alison N. Stewart, Special Projects Coordinator, IHRLG, 1200 18th St.,
N.W., Suite 602, Washington, DC 20009, USA. Tel. (1-202) 822-4600; Fax.
(1-202) 822-4606. Email: .

XIV. Other Meetings to Note

A large number of other meetings are taking place as part of the
preparatory process for the World Conference. To the extent that we receive
information about these meetings, we will redisseminate that information through
this ListServ.

South African National Conference on Racism 2000 will be taking place in
Johannesburg from 30 August to 2 September. For further information, visit the
website of the South African Human Rights Commission or contact Ms. B. Tselapedi, SACHR, Private Bag 2700, Houghton 2041, South Africa.
Tel. (27-11) 484-8300. Fax. (27-11) 484-7146.

Minority Rights Group Roundtable on Strengthening the Implementation of
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, 5 August 2000, in Geneva. This 10th annual roundtable of the MRG
will focus on strengthening the implementation of the Convention. For details,
contact: : Minority Rights Group, 379 Brixton Rd. London SW9
7DE, UK. Tel: 44-20-7878-9498. Fax: 44-20-7738- 6265.

Conferencia Nacional de Honduras contra el Racismo, 15 August 2000, in
Hotel Honduras Maya, Tegacigalpa. For further information, contact: Mr. Celeo
Alvarez Casildo.

XV. For further information on how NGOs can participate in the WCAR, contact:

Laurie S. Wiseberg
NGO Liaison for the WCAR
Room 4-025 Palais Wilson
Tel. (41-22) 917-9393
Fax. (41-22) 917-9050

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