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South Africa 2001

World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

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The meeting of NGOs from Eastern and Central Europe
Warsaw, 15 –18 November 2000

RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  THE  NGOs  FORUM
which will be held parallel to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in South Africa 2001

We, representatives of 115 non-governmental organizations from the countries of Eastern and Central Europe, including all the countries of the former Soviet Union, gathered in Warsaw on November 15-18, 2000, as participants in the preparatory process for WCAR, recommend the NGOs Forum organize the following activities:

GENERAL

Region specific situations to be highlighted during the NGO Forum:
Responsibility of the international community with regard to state sponsored gross violations of human rights shall be defined.
The NGO Forum shall ensure for full access (and accessibility) for the organizations of the disabled.
Involvement of young people (volunteers).

PLENARY

ROOTS OF RACISM IN CEEC
Plenary discussion on the roots of racism in Central and Eastern Europe, on specific forms of aggressive nationalism, ethnocentrism and discrimination. Influence of nationalist and communist ideology.
ROLE OF NGOs IN DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Examples of good practice, development of strategies and plans.
REFORM OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Reform of international instruments to reflect changed situation and to strengthen them.
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION / INTERCULTURAL LEARNING
Plenary discussion on multicultural education and/or intercultural learning: methodology, resource materials and training courses for teachers or students, curricula (history, culture).

PANEL DISCUSSION

ROMA IN CEEC
Panel discussion on Roma - issues of slavery in Romania, Roma holocaust, non-territorial nation, Roma language and identity.
MASS MEDIA AND EDUCATION
Strategies and plans for public awareness campaigns and other activities.
RACISM IN SPEECH
Speech as an instrument of racism, e.g. need of using gender-neutral expressions.
MISUSE OF INTERNET
Panel discussion on misuse of INTERNET for racist propaganda.
TARGETED GROUPS ABUSE
Panel discussion on targeted groups abuse – e.g. minority children.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY  
Use of natural resources in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine.
DISABLED
Panel discussion on discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance against the disabled.

WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING SESSIONS

ROLE OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS IN COMBATING RASISM
Meeting negative stereotypes and prejudice with positive ideas. Discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance against “visible” minorities (Roma, Afro-Slovaks, Chinese).
LOBBYING  STRATEGIES
Sharing and developing lobbying strategies with the aim of combating racism.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
 Effective usage, organization of information on the web, subject specific resources on the web, subject specific web portals, creation of digital libraries;
 Disproportional distribution of the Internet accessibility: information exclusion, strategies for bringing communities “on-line”, creation of alternative networks: “hybrid information delivery.”

ROUND TABLES

RACISM ORGANISED BY A STATE
(Meskhetian Turks, Roma, Jews)
THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN COMBATING RACISM
DOUBLE/MULTIPLE DISCRIMINITATION
Women and children from minority groups (e.g. Roma, Turkish); asylum seekers and migrants (women asylum seekers and women migrants); the disabled; mixed marriages; sexual orientation. Specific issues of rape during an armed conflict. New forms of slavery (usury, labor migrants).
ROLE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN COMBATING RACISM
Inclusion of mayors, local governments: examples of good practice, international cooperation.
DISCRIMINATION OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS
Ways to monitor discrimination of religious groups and ways to combat double discrimination of this sort.
REFUGEES AND INTERNAL MIGRANTS
GLOBALISATION
Globalization and its influence on the growth of racism.
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
Formerly deported peoples: problems of rehabilitation, repatriation and compensation.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Festivals
Theatrical Performances
Concerts:
Exhibitions
Silence March