Geneva to host UN racism summit
A United Nations conference to review progress against racism and xenophobia is to be held in Geneva in 2009.
The Durban Review Conference will be a follow-up to a global summit held in South Africa in 2001, the UN said on Tuesday.
The conference in Durban produced a blueprint for addressing racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance and next year’s event will look at what has happened since then.
Diplomats agreed during closed door talks on Monday to hold the summit in Geneva from April 20-24.
The European Union and other countries had asked that the conference be held at one of the UN bases and over a limited number of days to cut costs.
The Durban conference was marked by attempts by Islamic countries to brand Israel a racist state. Israel and the United States walked out in protest at draft conference texts and the language was later changed.
A final document for the conference is being drafted and more preparatory talks are planned for October ahead of regional meetings.
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