OSCE conference discusses racism, xenophobia and discrimination
(OSCE/Alex Nitzsche)Lord Nazir Ahmed, Member of the United Kingdom House of Lords, speaking at the OSCE Conference on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, 4 September 2003. (OSCE/Alex Nitzsche) Photo details
VIENNA, 4 September 2003 - Almost 400 representatives of participating States, partner States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are participating in a major conference addressing racism, xenophobia and discrimination, being held by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna, today and tomorrow.
The conference is focusing on the role of governments and civil society in promoting greater tolerance and support for the victims of prejudice and discrimination. It is being held at the request of the Foreign Ministers of the 55 participating States at their annual meeting in 2002.
After a welcoming speech by the Austrian Foreign Minster, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and a message of support by video from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, the conference heard strong messages from several key speakers in the morning.
In his videotaped message, Secretary of State Colin Powell invoked the terror attacks on America: "On 11 September 2001, we saw intolerance transformed into the most terrible hatred there is no place for such hatred in our world. We must cleanse our planet of the pollution of intolerance in all its forms."
Jean Augustine, the Canadian Minister for Multi-Culturalism, told delegates that her country, despite priding itself on being one of the world's most multicultural societies, still faced some tough challenges. "Our Aboriginal children continue to be disadvantaged by lower rates of education and higher rates of poverty. (while) immigrants face barriers to becoming fully integrated into our society," she said.
Ms Augustine, born in Grenada in the West Indies, became the first African-Canadian woman Member of Parliament when she was elected in 1993.
She suggested five essential elements for any national approach against racism: a strong legislative framework, an accessible judicial system, a healthy and active civil society, public education and awareness campaigns, and elimination of barriers to economic advancement.
The Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Mustafa Ceric, called for a spiritual approach to multi-culturalism that stressed humanity: "The real spirituality of a man is to be able to hold two opposing propositions in his mind without losing his identity."
Dramatically recalling ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, he said that as a Muslim in Europe, "I fear European history and Europe fears my Islamic identity. Whose fears are more legitimate: mine because of Srebrenica 11 July 1995 or theirs because of New York 11 September 2001?"
"I believe that neither the meek nor the aggressive will prevail in the world, but those who co-operate for the common good of humanity", he added.
Lord Nazir Ahmed, a leading British peer of Kashmiri origin, recalled since 9/11 the world had lived with the threat of international terrorism and the rise of the religious right. "Nobody has felt the brunt of the tragedy more than the Muslims and our faith Islam. One week after 9/11 over 700 incidents of attacks were reported in the USA on Muslims and thousands more in Europe. Even Sikh and Hindu communities have been victims of racist attacks", he added.
The demonization of Muslims and Islam in the media had become the norm, he said. For certain TV and print media Islam and terrorism became interchangeable.
"Muslim communities in Europe and in the United States became isolated and vulnerable. Islamophobia has become a contemporary form of racism and it must stop."
Lord Ahmed said he supported the recommendations of the 19 June OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism, but he urged participants to consider inserting Islamophobia along with anti-Semitism, racial, ethnic and religious discrimination.
Among the recommendations presented to the conference by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' representative was a call for OSCE States to improve education, information and awareness by providing strict guidelines and training to civil servants, particularly to law enforcement officials.
Major institutions at all levels of social life should also be targeted, including the family, schools, colleges and universities, the workplace, religious institutions and leaders. The media, too, needed to play an essential function as a tool for positive social change, as opposed to an instrument to propagate hatred and intolerance.
Other speakers included Dr Ioanna Kucuradi, Professor of Philosophy at Hacettepe University, Turkey, and the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Bruce George MP, as well as the United Nations goodwill ambassador, Sir Peter Ustinov.
More information and all available contributions of participants will be posted on a special OSCE website.
The conference is focusing on the role of governments and civil society in promoting greater tolerance and support for the victims of prejudice and discrimination. It is being held at the request of the Foreign Ministers of the 55 participating States at their annual meeting in 2002.
After a welcoming speech by the Austrian Foreign Minster, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and a message of support by video from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, the conference heard strong messages from several key speakers in the morning.
In his videotaped message, Secretary of State Colin Powell invoked the terror attacks on America: "On 11 September 2001, we saw intolerance transformed into the most terrible hatred there is no place for such hatred in our world. We must cleanse our planet of the pollution of intolerance in all its forms."
Jean Augustine, the Canadian Minister for Multi-Culturalism, told delegates that her country, despite priding itself on being one of the world's most multicultural societies, still faced some tough challenges. "Our Aboriginal children continue to be disadvantaged by lower rates of education and higher rates of poverty. (while) immigrants face barriers to becoming fully integrated into our society," she said.
Ms Augustine, born in Grenada in the West Indies, became the first African-Canadian woman Member of Parliament when she was elected in 1993.
She suggested five essential elements for any national approach against racism: a strong legislative framework, an accessible judicial system, a healthy and active civil society, public education and awareness campaigns, and elimination of barriers to economic advancement.
The Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Mustafa Ceric, called for a spiritual approach to multi-culturalism that stressed humanity: "The real spirituality of a man is to be able to hold two opposing propositions in his mind without losing his identity."
Dramatically recalling ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, he said that as a Muslim in Europe, "I fear European history and Europe fears my Islamic identity. Whose fears are more legitimate: mine because of Srebrenica 11 July 1995 or theirs because of New York 11 September 2001?"
"I believe that neither the meek nor the aggressive will prevail in the world, but those who co-operate for the common good of humanity", he added.
Lord Nazir Ahmed, a leading British peer of Kashmiri origin, recalled since 9/11 the world had lived with the threat of international terrorism and the rise of the religious right. "Nobody has felt the brunt of the tragedy more than the Muslims and our faith Islam. One week after 9/11 over 700 incidents of attacks were reported in the USA on Muslims and thousands more in Europe. Even Sikh and Hindu communities have been victims of racist attacks", he added.
The demonization of Muslims and Islam in the media had become the norm, he said. For certain TV and print media Islam and terrorism became interchangeable.
"Muslim communities in Europe and in the United States became isolated and vulnerable. Islamophobia has become a contemporary form of racism and it must stop."
Lord Ahmed said he supported the recommendations of the 19 June OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism, but he urged participants to consider inserting Islamophobia along with anti-Semitism, racial, ethnic and religious discrimination.
Among the recommendations presented to the conference by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' representative was a call for OSCE States to improve education, information and awareness by providing strict guidelines and training to civil servants, particularly to law enforcement officials.
Major institutions at all levels of social life should also be targeted, including the family, schools, colleges and universities, the workplace, religious institutions and leaders. The media, too, needed to play an essential function as a tool for positive social change, as opposed to an instrument to propagate hatred and intolerance.
Other speakers included Dr Ioanna Kucuradi, Professor of Philosophy at Hacettepe University, Turkey, and the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Bruce George MP, as well as the United Nations goodwill ambassador, Sir Peter Ustinov.
More information and all available contributions of participants will be posted on a special OSCE website.