Sri Lanka plays role in preparation
for the UN Anti-Racism Review Conference
The Permanent Mission of
Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
15th October 2008
Sri Lanka has been playing a significant role in the preparatory process
of the Durban Review Conference, which the United Nations Human Rights
Council will hold between 20 and 24 April 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Following the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
at the World Conference against Racism in 2001 in Durban, South Africa,
the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 61/149 of 2006,
decided to convene this review conference in 2009 on the implementation
of the Durban Programme of Action.
In view of the upcoming review conference and upon recommendation made
by the Asian Group Co-ordinator, the Ambassador/Permanent Representative
of China, the Asian Group of the United Nations Human Rights Council
appointed Sri Lanka's Ambassador H.E. Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka as the facilitator
to negotiate an outcome document of the Asian Region.
Subsequent to this appointment, Counsellor O.L. Ameer Ajwad of the
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka chaired the Human Rights Expert Level
Meetings of the Asian Group and led the negotiations at the expert level
to produce a draft outcome document on behalf of the Asian Region.
Following intense negotiations at Ambassadorial level, this draft document
entitled "Contribution of the Asian region to the Durban review
conference" was endorsed by consensus by the Ambassadors/Permanent
Representatives of the Asian Group, at a meeting chaired by Ambassador
Dayan Jayatilleka on 8th September 2008 in the Palais de Nations in
Geneva.
Ambassador Jayatilleka was thanked and congratulated by the Asian Ambassadors
for his leadership and Counsellor Ameer Ajwad for his tireless efforts
in achieving this consensual and successful outcome within a short span
of time, bringing together all diverse views of the Asian Region on
this issue. On behalf of the facilitator, the Permanent Mission of Sri
Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva then transmitted the Asian Regional
Outcome document to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In order to facilitate the process of negotiations on the five Chapters
of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, the Preparatory
Committee of Durban Review Conference decided to appoint five Facilitators
from five regional groups.
Following the success in facilitating the regional outcome document,
the Asian Group unanimously nominated Ambassador Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
to represent Asian Region as Facilitator for what is expected to be
among the most difficult and contentious negotiations of the Durban
Review Conference, Chapter V which deals with "Identification of
further concrete measures and initiatives at all levels for combating
and eliminating all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to foster the implementation
of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action".
Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka and Counsellor O.L. Ameer Ajwad are presently
chairing the negotiations on Chapter V of the second Substantive session
of the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference.
Nigeria, Argentina, Turkey and Russia, are facilitating Chapters I,
II, III & IV of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference
respectively.
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