jeudi 8 mars 2007

WG on DDPA - March 8th - AB

Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action – Fifth session – Part I - March 8th, 2007 (3pm-6pm)

As an introduction to the afternoon meeting, the five experts made general remarks:
- Mr. Villalpando gives a speech about the evolution of international law
- Mrs. Goldschmidt said that §2 of DDPA should be made clearer. What is exactly implied by « multiple of aggravated forms of discrimination » ? Is sexual orientation included in the « other status » that can be subjected to discrimination ?
- Mr. Anwar insists on the importance of religion, how it is perceived and how groups can manipulate it in order to serve their political, economic or power interests. As we are in a period of Islamophobia and christianophobia since 09/11, it is very important that media promote messages of peace.
- Mrs. Petrova reminds the assembly of the basic principle of Human rights law : «Don’t do harm », which means that we should not undermine existing standards.
- Mr. Maluwa underlines the need to recognize and emphasize common grounds.

Then, delegations take the floor, expressing their points of view on the following subjects :
- Inclusion of sexual orientation and disabilities in the list of grounds subjected to discrimination in §2 DDPA. Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and others are against it, while Belgium, UK and Switzerland support this proposition, explaining that any discrimination that leads to violence should be included.
- Importance of focussing on the victim (so called collective right are less important) is stressed by Belgium : When fighting discrimination based on religion, the purpose is not to protect the religion itself but the individual who believes in this religion.
- The delegate of Nigeria adds that the standards used to interpret the DDPA should include not only UN law but also regional law instruments. He also suggests that experts highlight good practises.

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