PANAFRICAN GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE ON DURBAN PLUS 5 IN ADDIS ABABA(19-22 APRIL,2007) ACCRA, (10-11 MAY 2007)
Forwarded by Chinweizu
We, participants in the Pan African Global Roundtables in Addis Ababa and Accra, that discussed the "Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance" held in Durban in 2001, after days of deliberations agreed as understated.
BACKGROUND AND OBSERVATIONS
In her foreword to the Declaration and Programme of Action by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held from 31 August to 8 September 2001 in Durban, South Africa, Mrs. Mary Robinson, the former High Commissioner of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights now the UN Human Rights Council, wrote that the Declaration with the programme of Action is a roadmap that indicates the steps to be taken to put an end to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to prevent future occurrence. She went on to say that if pursued with energy and goodwill by all state-actors, the UN National institutions, intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organisations this anti-discrimination agenda can bring hope and changes to the lives of millions of human beings in the world who are victims of racial discrimination and intolerance. Since 2001, there appears to be shortage of energy and scarcity of goodwill on the part of the actors especially the states, the intergovernmental organisations and national institutions. Before 2001, Africans and Peoples of African Diaspora have through a Reparation Conference in 1990 in Lagos, followed the then OAU Reparations Conference in 1993 held in Abuja-Nigeria, agreed on the Abuja Declaration which caused the OAU to establish an OAU Commission on Reparations. The Commission was short lived. With the transformation of OAU into African Union (AU), a window of opportunity was reopened when AU created six regions with 5 in continental Africa while the 6th Region brings together the Diaspora global Africans. This long awaited initiative has created a sense of cultural pride and homeland sentiments among the global Africans. 0ne of the priority areas for the strengthening this renewed close relationship between the AU and the Diaspora is Reparations and double citizenship. The result is the visit of Professor Ali Mazrui, a key member of the Commission, to the AU Commission Chairman in Addis Ababa in April 2006.
In addition to the above, many Africans within the continent and the Diaspora left Durban in 2001 with a sense of loss in that some issues of direct concern and directly related to their own historic and contemporary experiences were subsumed under wider global crises and politics.
Many were waiting for the usual United Nations Review Conference which is normally done after the first 5-years to air these issues. As at now, it has been confirmed that the Review Conference will take place on or before 2009. The preparatory committee meetings have started with the first taking place in Geneva in January, 2007.
In preparation for the above, the Global African Civil Society Organisations have decided to take the initiative and organise a PANAFRICAN GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE in ADDIS ABABA and ACCRA respectively on the dates mentioned above. The meetings provided mark analyses that appraised our collective concerns in health, human rights and governance, education, technology, economic development and other issues.
It must be remembered that Durban provided a platform for discussing and agreeing with the rest of the world on key issues of importance to global Africans from Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North, Central, and South America. It is the first time, the citizens of the world through their voices in Durban collectively accepted that slave trade, slavery and the various atrocities committed during that period were "crimes against humanity".
METHODOLOGY
The report of the Roundtables on Global Africa agenda on Durban Declaration and Programme of Action are sent to the Forum of NGOs of the 41st session of ACHPA
Submission by the Forum to the African Commission for Human and Peoples Rights, then to the Council of Ministers and the Summit. Submission of the Report to the OHCHRC Prep Comms. for Review of the WCAR and Programme of Action on or before 2009.
JUSTIFICATIONS
Having said the above and 5 years after, history now begs some questions of us i.e., have governments concerned shown any signs of commitment since Durban to
a. Eradicate institutional racism, discrimination and xenophobia. b. Compensate the Global African for slavery and colonialism period. c. The total abolition of any form of slavery and neo-colonialism. d. To strengthen the Africa Union-Diaspora synergy and initiative for implementing the programme of Action of the World conference Against Racism, Racial Discriminations, Xenophobia and related intolerances. e. To reactivate and transform the OAU Commission on Reparation into AU Commission in order to follow-up on the 1993 Abuja Declaration on Reparation and Repatriation
THE OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Roundtable are:
a. Review issues related to the 2001 Durban WCAR Programme of action and the slow pace of activation of the Programme of Action. b. Agree on a Global African Declaration and Action Plan after appraising the follow-up strategies, actions and activities employed by Global African CSOs since 2001. c. Create a common platform for renewed bonding between Global Africans to reaffirm their commitment to ensure the implementation of the key areas of Programme of Action through the Global African Action Plan. d. Strengthen the collaboration between the Global African CSOs, the AU-ECOSOCC, ACPHR and the UN Human Rights Council. e. Re-energise the Global African Movement for Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Reparations for all forms of slavery by past and present actors from the West and Arab land, and for colonialism. f. Sensitise all Africans to the dangers of xenophobia and related intolerances to free movement of persons in Africa. g. Strengthen the African Union-Diaspora initiative for implementing the Programme of Action of the UN Convention on Racism and other issues. h. Reactivate and transform the OAU Commission on Reparation into AU Commission in order to follow-up on the 1993 Abuja Declaration on Reparations.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ROUNDTABLE WCAR/Programme of Action
That Global Africans should work towards focusing the deliberations of the Review Conference of the "Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances" on discriminations suffered by and perpetuated against people of Africa decent, indigenous peoples and minorities. Global Africans need to urgently organise preparatory meetings in different African regions to properly articulate African positions that will produce a global African position before the review conference in 2009. We have to work toward converting the Declaration and Programme of Action of the Durban conference into a legally binding convention within the nearest possible time. We urge all African governments to urgently establish national research committees on racism, racial discriminations, xenophobia and related intolerance as provided in the Declaration and Programme of Action. The national committees would work towards providing afro centric solutions to the problems based on studies and consultations.
Slavery (Kidnapping), Colonialism, Reparation and Repatriation
We enjoin African countries to issue citizenship to any person of African descent that expresses interest in acquiring such citizenship with minimal restriction. The black slavery in Arab lands must end before we embark on the "United States of Africa" project. We urge Blacks in Africa to explore the chances of opening dialogue with blacks in Diaspora in Arab world We denounce and demand the repudiation of the WTO’s “compassionate slavery" doctrine and resist the implementation of this doctrine in any way. We restate that all black peoples in Africa are indigenous peoples
Xenophobia and Free Movement of People
We urge the African Union to adopt the "ECOWAS model of free movement of people and goods" within the continent, to reduce the negative impact of existing artificial boundaries in Africa. We urge African governments and other stakeholders to encourage the development and use of community orientated education programmes that could be disseminated through faith based organisations and the media, to continuously educate Africans on their common history, struggle and aspirations. Africa needs to establish structures that would encourage direct Africa direct investment in Africa and cross- border investments to promote cross-border economic transactions and cooperation. We need a Global African mechanism for proper coordination of various global African movements against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerances.
