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World Conference Against Racism Opens in S. Africa
The third World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) was officially opened Friday morning at the International Convention Center in Durban by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
About 14,000 delegates worldwide were present at the opening ceremony, including presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Jozo Krizanovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires of Cape Verde, Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
During the conference, which will end on September 7, the participants are expected to produce a declaration that recognizes the damage caused by past expressions of racism and reflects a new global awareness of modern forms of racism and xenophobia.
A strong practical program of action will also be adopted at the end of the conference.
The first and second WCAR were held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1978 and 1983 respectively.
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