November 23, 2005

Voting Record on the Draft Resolution on the Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Decl. and Program of Action

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Lauding the outcome of the UN Durban racism conference is no problem for almost all UN member states. The vote in the UN General Assembly's Third Committee was 172 for, 3 against (U.S., Israel, Marshall Islands,) and 2 abstentions (Australia and Canada.) Just before the vote oral amendments were introduced that put "anti-semitism" firmly back in the text, and deleted the mandatory call for a Durban 2. Taking its place was a phrase "takes note of...appeal for convening a five-year review of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and in this context urges Member States and the relevant stakeholders to give due consideration to this appeal with a view to its examination at the 61st session." Said the U.S. explaining their negative vote simply: "The World Conference in Durban was deeply flawed and divisive and this resolution endorses the outcome of that conference and for this reason is also deeply flawed."