E-NEWS 01/06/99-2 (UN World Conf vs Racism) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - united@united.non-profit.nl E-NEWS 01/06/99 UN WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM IN 2001 European preparations have started The Council of Europe will host a pan-European praparatory conference against racism in advance of the UN's World Conference on this topic. The European conference will be held in Strasbourg. Its date has yet to be fixed, although it is likely to take place in the second half of the year 2000. It will be immediately preceded by a one or two-day supplementary Forum for relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs) 32 NGO representatives met in Strasbourg on 25 january 1999 on the invitation of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance. Participants emphasised the need for increasing NGO participation at the various stages of preparations and for careful preparation of the NGO forum. A number of suggestions for specific issues to address at a European conference were made. To coordinate NGO input a "resource group" was established. Members of the "resource group" will consult with other NGOs with whom they cooperate regularly and will take responsibility to brief other NGOs on developments and stimulate preparations at national level. The following NGOs constitute the "resource group": - UNITED for Intercultural Action - European Union Network Against Racism (ENAR) - International Commission of Jurists - Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities - SOS Racismo Espana Two more national NGOs from Central and Eastern Europe will be added to this list. The first preparations at intergovernmental level took off with the convening of an ad hoc meeting of governmental experts, which took place in Strasbourg on 22 to 24 February 1999. A technical working group has been created to prepare the intergovernmental conference further. More information can be had at the ECRI secretariat and from UNITED. If you have any suggestions on topics, methods and strategies, please let us know! *********************************************************** 16 JUNE International Refugee Day! UNITED has documented 1365 refugee deaths resulting from 'Fortress Europe' Ask for the updated list of cases *********************************************************** UNITED for Intercultural Action European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees PB 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582 NEW! e-mail united@united.non-profit.nl NEW! website http://www.united.non-profit.nl *********************************************************** ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-06.09.99-22:37:48-17205