MINELRES: Information Note: International Day for the Elimination Racial Discrimination

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Sandra Aragon <OHCHR-NGO@LIST.UNOG.CH>


Dear Colleagues,

Each year on 21 March the Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights organizes, in cooperation with the Department of Public
Information, an event to commemorate the  International Day for the
Elimination of  Racial Discrimination. In 1966, the United Nations
General Assembly designated 21 March as the International Day for the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination. That day was selected in
commemoration of 21 March 1960,  when police in Sharpeville, South
Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people who were peacefully protesting
against the "pass laws" of the apartheid regime.

This year the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights wants to
seize the opportunity of the International Day for the Elimination of
Racial  Discrimination to highlight important steps that have been taken
by  the international community to implement the commitments made at the
World  Conference  against  Racism  and  to  move forward on the road to
eliminating racial discrimination. A number of organizations, mechanisms
and  States  have  put  particular  effort  into  promoting the struggle
against  racism  and alleviating the suffering of victims. The Office of
the  High Commissioner for Human Rights would like to focus attention on
these efforts by organizing a panel discussion.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has invited five
panelists  to  the  panel.  The  High Commissioner for Human Rights will
chair  the event. Although from very different backgrounds and different
regions  of  the  world,  the panelists share a common concern about the
threat  posed  by  racism  and  xenophobia. They have spoken out against
racism  and  made  it,  each  one  in  her or his field of competence, a
priority in their work. We have invited them to share with us
information about the activities  they  have undertaken to eliminate
racial discrimination.

Annual or temporary representatives of NGOs in possession of a valid
identity  badge issued by the UNOG Security and Safety Section will have
access  to  the  conference  room.  Representatives  of non-governmental
organizations  in  consultative  status  with  the  Economic  and Social
Council  without  a UNOG identity badge as well as those which have been
accredited   for   the   World  Conference  against  Racism  willing  to
participate  in the event, should announce themselves to the secretariat
through  a  letter  addressed  to  Ms. Birgit Van Hout. Please note that
letters  should  be  send  only  by  fax  on  letterhead,  signed by the
appropriate official of your organization to (41-22) 917-9050.

Date, time and location

On 21 March 2003, 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm, Room XXI, Palais des Nations,
Geneva

Participants

Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello
High Commissioner for Human Rights

H.E. Ambassador Juan Enrique Vega
Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective
Implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World
Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance

H.E. Ambassador Peter Lesa Kasanda
Chairperson of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

H.E. Ambassador Ion Diaconu
Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Mr. Jean-Daniel Vigny
Minister, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office
and other international organizations at Geneva

Ms. Genevi�ve Gencianos
International Coordinator, Migrants Rights International

You can find the programme of the event at:
http://www.unhchr.ch/Racism2003_files/slide0001.htm

Yours sincerely,

Sandra Arag�n-Parriaux
NGO liaison officer
Anti-Discrimination Unit
OHCHR
Tel: 00 41 22 917 93 93
Fax: 00 41 22 917 90 50