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NGOs respond to UK Government's boycott of UN racism event
16 September 2011
A group of race equality organisations including Runnymede have released a statement responding to the UK Government’s recent decision to boycott the UN event on racism due to take place on 22 September.
UK NGOs Against Racism are disappointed that the UK has withdrawn from this important opportunity to bring Heads of State together to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which was an important international agreement to fight racism in all its forms.
The Government have cited the anti-Semitic rhetoric expressed at previous UN events on racism as the reason they will not be attending. Whilst we strongly condemn anti-Semitism and believe every effort should be made to eradicate it as a very serious form of racism, we believe the Government is fully able to make clear that by attending this event it does not support in any way previous displays of anti-Semitism.
Through its decision, the UK Government is failing to take leadership on race equality and demonstrate its commitment to eradicating racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance.
Read the press release
Read more information on the Government’s decision to withdraw from the anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
Read more on the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
