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UN Conf. on Racism [2]
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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. fax
From Wendy Patten re: Human Rights IWG meeting (partial) (1 page)
06/14/2000
P3/b(3)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Domestic Policy Council
Irene Bueno
OA/Box Number: 25023
FOLDER TITLE:
UN Conf. on Racism [2]
2017-1120-S
ry2231
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA|
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells |(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
FN
Debra A. Carr
07/27/2000 08:10:40 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Maria Echaveste/WHO/EOP@EOP, Reynaldo Valencia/WHO/EOP@EOP, Wendy L.
Patten/NSC/EOP@EOP
CC:
Subject: Press concerns at State and other information
I talked with Steve Wagenseil Thursday night and State is concerned about press inquiries from the
release of Gay's "Call for Action" and related press release. State will be preparing a Press "Q&A" in
anticipation of the release and Steve will be sending me a draft for review We should get the WH Press
and Communications offices in the loop just in case the WH receives an inquiry or two. Any objections?
Also, Gay called Thursday night. In addition to presenting the "Call for Action" Wade and Mary Frances
Berry will be presenting reports recently completed by their organizations on criminal justice issues. We
should get these if we don't have them already. Gay knows that the UN will not likely act on the 3 items in
the "Call for Action" but she sees the "Call" as a way of putting the spotlight on the US and pressuring for
more domestic movement on the issues, especially since the US will have a new administration. State
believes that once the US has been singled out, even without UN action, Cuba and other countries will
use this as a opportunity to beat up the US internationally by increasing the negative spotlight on US
practices, and moving the US into a defensive position throughout the World Conference process. This
while their countries try to avoid having their practices too closely scrutinized. The bottomline is that there
is not a thing we can do about this move by Wade and Gay except prepare for any resulting press
inquiries and respond as previously suggested when the "Call for Action" is presented in Geneva.
AGENDA ITEMS
July 7, 2000 at 4:30 p.m.
I.
Inclusion of Sexual orientation issues
From talking with Gay McDougall, Deborah Robinson and representatives from
the American Friends Services Committee, this issues does not have traction in
the NGO community.
ACTION NEEDED: None. I recommend not over emphasizing the issue by
attempting to do early outreach to the affected communities until we have an
indication that the community is organizing. I further recommend that we not
include these groups as participants in the discussion groups because it increase
their expectations that their specific issues will be a part of the UNWCAR.
Talk to Julian Poter
II.
PrepComs
Western:
Santiago, Chile
December 5-7, 2000
African:
Senegal
Dates are now Nov. 22-23
Asian:
Tehran
Jan.2001
III.
Comments on draft documents due by the US by August 15 but no later than August 22,
2000
John Arborgast, Chris Camponovo, Steve Wagenseil and Sharon Kotak working
outline or first draft on US thoughts and we should have something to work from
by next week.
IV.
Staff
Passes: EOB only
Carr: Top Secret Clearance for access to Classified information re UNWCAR
V.
July 24 Master List
invitation in with to privide perpr
VI.
July 24 Location poolr,
panelm have delate
report FOIA able
(ndia duty loon
VII. NGO Briefing set for July 31 -strig,
VIII. Deben Robrison Meeting with Gay and Wade next week -Hill, reporations,
American are Friends c/chicat
IX.
AFSC is holding a national NGO PrepCom in Chicago oin - Sept.
X.
Funding/Budget - for finding
XI. Hill - ask MB.
XII. indigent Right mtg - ME. ENTC S. meet week 7/17
- Indigenin Presons Permanat
we oppose.
forumat Hun.
Wendy - mtg. Pull together some background in prep. for a
XIII. Reparations -
Sylvia M - email - pully
weal anything is not the program public
up reporte.
First Draft of Invitees
Panelist
Professor Manning Marable
History and African-American Studies
Columbia University
Phone: 212-854-7002
Fax:
212-854-7060
Home:
212-666-4031 (NY)
212-854-1489 (Jen Jones-Assistant)
508-696-4698 (Martha's Vineyard June 29 to July 5th)
EMail:
[email protected]
Participant in South African conference "Beyond Racism" and author of paper
Construction of Race and Racism in 1998.
Diana Eck
Harvard U Pluralism Project
Studies growing religious diversity in US with a special view to its new immigrant
religious communities; has worked extensively with White House on religious
issues; recommended by Maureen Shea.
Jorge delPinal
Asst. Chief for Special Population
Statistics, Census Bureau
301//457-4875
Demographic changes:
Clyde Tucker
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Led federal interagency task force that recommended revisions in racial/ethnic
classifications
Participants
Arab
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (OK)
Participant TBD
Marvin Wingfield, Outreach Director
(202) 244-2990
Arab-American Institute
Jim Zogby
(202) 429-9210
Jack Shaheen (OK)
Author: Arab and Muslim Stereotyping in American Popular Culture
843/689-9214
843/689-9215 fax
e-mail: [email protected]
African
The Africa - America Institute
Mora McLean, President
New York, NY
212-949-6666
One of the leading Africa NGO's and scholars on community and economic
development initiatives with African country. Has hosted several technical and
community programs on racial reconciliation and democracy in African countries
especially with South Africa.
African-American
NAACP
Kweisi Mfume, President & CEO
Baltimore, MD
410-486-9226
Hilary Shelton, Director (Washington Bureau)
(202) 638-2269
Mfume has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
world. His organization has held programs on the topic and he is already involved in the
conference.
National Negro Women's League
National Council of Negro Women
Dr. Jane Smith
Washington, DC
(202) 737-0120
Dr. Height has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout
the world. Her organization has held programs on the topic and she is already involved
in the conference.
Afro-Latin/Caribbean
Organization of Africans in the Americas (OK)
Michael Franklin, Executive Director
Washington, D.C.
Tel:202.638.1645
Fax:202.638.1667
OAA has historically been involved in promoting racial reconcilation throughout the
Americas. His organization has held programs on the topic, worked with the OAS on
these issues, and already involved in the conference. OAA represents Afro - Latinos
and Caribbean Americans in the United States.
Asian
National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (OK)
Karen Narasaki, Executive Director
Aryani Ong
(202) 296-2300
(202) 296-2318 - fax
Asian Americans for Equality
Christopher Kui, Executive Director
108-110 Norfolk Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 979-1108 xt. 107
(212) 979-2219-fax
National Federation of Filipino American Association
Jonathan Melegrito
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Shamina Singh, Executive Director
301-443-2492 (ph) 301-443-7853 (fax)
Organization of Chinese Americans
Daphne Kwok, Executive Director
(202) 223-5500
(202) 223-0540- fax
Hispanic
Aspira Association
Organization that focuses on Latino youth issues
League of United Latin American Citizens
Brent Wilkes, Executive Director
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 833-6130/833-6135fax
Mexican American Legal and Defense Fund (OK)
Marisa Demeo, Regional Counsel
1717 K Street, Suite 311
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 293-2828/293-2849 fax
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Juan Figueroa, President and General Counsel
(212) 219-3360
(202) 431-4276-fax
Portuguese American Leadership Council
Ron Cruz
1900 L street, #309
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 466-4664
Native-American
Native American Rights Fund
Lorna Babby, Managing Attorney
(202) 785-4166
Navaho Nation
Merle Pete\Estelle Bowman
Muslim
American Muslim Council
Aly Abuzaakouk, Executive Director
1212 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-789-2262
Fax 202-789-2550
Key Muslim organization with contacts around the country.
Religious
The Interfaith Alliance
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, Executive Director
1012 14ᵗʰ Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 639-6370
(202) 639-6375-fax
National organization bringing all faiths together around justice issues, particular work
on hate crimes, organizing Stop the Hate rallies in October.
National Conference for Community and Justice
Brian Foss, Vice President of Public Policy
1815 H Street, NW
Washington, Dc 20006
(202) 887-0997 X 2 or 887-0885
(202) 887-0999-fax
Interfaith group with offices around the country - working particularly on racial justice.
Carrying on the work of the PIR in the faith community.
National Council of Churches
Rev. Robert Edgar, General Secretary
Rev. Andrew Young, President
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-2025
Represents 35 member communions - Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglicans - working
for peace and justice in the US and worldwide. Edgar recently named as General
Secretary - he is a former Democratic member of the US House of Representatives.
US Catholic Conference
Office of Social Development and World Peace
John Carr, Secretary
3211 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194
202-541-3181
202-541-3339 fax
Fosters the Catholic Church's mission in the US - key organization for Catholic
hierarchy and grassroots - very active on social justice issues.
International NGOs
Center for Democratic Renewal
Deborah Robinson
(202) 986-9426
(Head of one of the three main NGO networks)
International Human Rights Law Group
Gay McDougall
American Friends Service Committee
Lori Heninger
LCCR
Wade Henderson
Government
Department of Justice
Rose Ochi
Director, Community Relations Service
202/305-2932
Olga Trijullo
Counsel, Office of Victims of Crime
202/616-3585
Julie Fernandes
Civil Rights Division
White House
Maria Echaveste
Deputy Chief of Staff
Ben Johnson
Director, One America
Peter Rundlet
Counsel's Office
Michelle Aronowitz
Counsel's Office
Department of Interior
Mike Anderson
Brenda Toinetta
Department of Education
Judith Winston
General Counsel
State
Chris Camponova
Steve Wagenseil
Beverly Zweiben
Yvonne O'brien
Maria Peca
Other
National Immigration Forum
Frank Sharry
(202) 514-0004
Amnesty International
Julianne Traylor
Chair, Amnesty International USA
304 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-0200
Anti-Defamation League
Mr. Jess Hordes, Washington Director
1100 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1020
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202)261-4600 or (202) 452-8320
(202) 296-2371-fax
Abraham Foxman, National Director
(212) 490-2525
(212) 867-0779 Fax
Promote tolerance and diversity, civil and human rights; international focus.
Elizabeth J. O'Connell
07/05/2000 09:21:34 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Irene Bueno/WHO/EOP@EOP
CC:
Subject: UN World Conference
Irene: I hope you had a great holiday!
I sent you an e-mail last week re: a memo on the UN world conference and some concerns I have. I
spoke to Rey and to Debra Carr. Please disregard the section of the memo on a new outline for NGO
conferences. We're going to go with the program as discussed earlier.
I do still have some concerns though about making sure that these events are going to be received in the
best possible light by the NGO community. I'm worried too about ammunition for criticism by the Hill.
Specifically, my concerns are:
1. By invited some groups and not others to what is going to be seen as a planning session for the World
Conference we set ourselves up for charges of exclusion and/or singing to the choir.
2. The subjects are so vaguely defined that any discuss is likely to produce nothing new or substantive. I
fear that the conferences will become forums for criticism of current US policy.
3. Much discussion on victims and on sources was done during the Race Initiative; many will see us as
duplicating efforts.
4. Being sure that we are vetting the panelists so that they represent (as much as possible) the views of
the administration.
I haven't raised these issues directly with Maria. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts. Perhaps I'm
being too cautious, too political. Let me know what you think.
Thanks, Irene. Talk to you soon. Take Care.
1
Paper for mtg
2 Quitin
3
Banpose of mtg
I Gay t Ledian Jiming
3 W/t ug-
Martha Sheily / libry rever (exis/New
Expire midnight Sat.
Address - 5-7000
Alus Arriaga - notice - case-chile
Allison -
Elaine training -coneby sooner -next week
king 202-857-8210 Mpn Then An Ented pur
Reynaldo Valencia
06/21/2000 05:01:00 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Maria Echaveste/WHO/EOP@EOP
CC:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
Subject: Todays' World Conference Meetings & Stakeout
Maria:
Just a quick note to let you know that the two meetings for today with High Commissioner Mary
Robinson seem to have been absolutely great. On the government side we had a few glitches with
clearances (nothing major and there seems to be no way to make that process fool-proof despite several
checks and re-checks of those responding that they were coming), but they seemed to absolutely love
meeting with her and she with them. Much good feedback from this meeting.
On the NGO side, the same is true. They seemed quite happy to be meeting with her and she
with them. Unfortunately, in my opinion, much of the meeting turned to a discussion of our CERD Report
-- which always happens whenever we meet with the NGO community, they quickly turn it to a CERD
update opportunity -- which was nevertheless a positive and healthy discussion. Again, much positive
feedback on that, particularly from Gay McDougal.
Debra Carr is writing a fuller report summary on these two meetings, but I wanted to let you know
that the proof-positive that the event went well was that when we pulled the High Commissioner from her
meeting with the NGO's to do the stakeout, I walked out with her, and her exchange with the press was
nothing less than glowing. The only near negative thing she said to the press was that she wished she
had had more time in the two meetings, but that that was largely a function of the "rich" agenda and the
wonderful people that were present at both. She specifically said that she was grateful to the President
for his leadership in this area, that she was grateful to the Senior White House staff for organizing today's
meetings, and that she was impressed with the high-level and number of the various agency
representatives who we had assembled for her. Moreoever, she said she was specifically interested in
and impressed by the efforts of the White House One America office and the work that they were doing.
She took a few questions and handled them all with style and grace and absolutely no negative
commentary on the White House or Administration. She punted on the question of an apology for slavery
by saying each country has to resolve that on its own.
Again, Debra will follow-up with a more thorough report on the meetings themselves, but I thought
you'd like to know that she certainly left with a very positive experience based on her stakeout
performance. By the time the NGO briefing ended no press was still present at the stakeout so we were
able to let the NGO's leave out the front door without threat of microphone-seeking attendees. Finally,
attached is a short memorandum prepared by Colin Vandel, COS Intern, which summarizes the stakeout.
He's a great writer and does a great job of capturing the moment.
rstakeout.doc
Thanks,
--Rey
Message Copied To:
[email protected]
Irene Bueno/WHO/EOP@EOP
Adrian E. Miller/WHO/EOP@EOP
Elizabeth J. O'Connell/WHO/EOP@EOP
Wendy L. Patten/NSC/EOP@EOP
Colin B. Vandell/WHO/EOP@EOP
Tracy Hresko/OPD/EOP@EOP
Todd E. Plants/WHO/EOP@EOP
MEMORANDUM
TO:
REY VALENCIA
FROM:
COLIN VANDELL
DATE:
JUNE 21, 2000
RE:
OVERVIEW OF STAKE-OUT FOR MADAM HIGH COMMISSIONER
MARY ROBINSON
After discussing next year's World Conference Against Racism with Cabinet officials
and NGO leaders, United Nations High Commissioner Mary Robinson was very upbeat in her
press stake-out. She remarked that the three-hour meeting covered a full agenda and went well;
however, she wished she had more time to cover the issues with the group. The High
Commissioner mentioned the "Four Negatives" (racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and
other intolerances) that will be addressed at the World Conference. When asked whether Africa
has "fallen off the (United Nation's) radar screen," High Commissioner Robinson insisted that
Africa is one of the United Nation's top priorities. Citing Sierra Leone as a particularly volatile
region, the High Commissioner mentioned impunity and diamond-mining as specific issues the
U.N. is focusing on. During her brief talk, she also praised existing U.S. programs aimed at
helping race relations. The High Commissioner particularly admired the One-America initiative.
High Commissioner Robinson's only bit of hesitation came after being asked if she would
support a public apology for slavery from the United States government. After pausing for a few
moments, she acknowledged America's tenuous racial history but stopped short of supporting a
public apology. The High Commissioner expressed her opinion that each country must address
issues such as this on its own.
Mtg w/ NGOs t may Robinion
4/20/00 Racism, Rowd Discum
Xemphobia & Related bittlen
Declaration forward looking, operatic action idens
3rd contunce but the are is brader 1 not sciecessful.
compersation -we need to address this * at this cort.
Admitting mistaker of the past.
mike
pooner
(DHow do we boyage at a nat'l land he hole at the declarch
Lauryn cmto
n Herm R ght
I action acquire
national mty ? evn public educats
Crimmal josh a
Impution system
)
Shto local gavi!
2
Some connection Sheen un tels healy CO mpiting
w/ breaty obligition Cy. CERD Report)
Debra
De are stilling
discussing
Chris C bring NGDs into The process on the CERD Report
Rey
-
wode
CERD Report have been involved
Time table -hm cm as NGUs be involved in the process
-
Summer + laly Fall
input NGO into the upont
ally
X
Bifore ind of August blc CERO
Guy
Transition Issues
What role cm NGWS play in un Caf.
Debra
smalla mFR transition issues
May
Robernson
This get countin to capily al fusty
CERD upit ruch h influt not just the Gov't views but NWGVNW
will
Role Shadn Reporter
Engage net just dmskc behavior but global issue
plicia
CERD-
US/NGOs are birg locked out the Reproid Cafere.
-
Chile is hosting this enterger begining A
Barbino
Arwine
A
Platform - NGO input
2
outrish - Day nt dring at 50/-
INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES
Agenda
June 15, 2000
2:00 -- OEOB 208
1. Review of Summary of Conclusions from last meeting
SBA
2. Completion of CERD report -end of June OK -10.30an 1st Flor/
Edue.
status
indevior
timetable for receiving outstanding agency submissions
NGOs Inpdate mts. -9/1 on their view, in put shadow report
3. Report from delegation to prepcom for U.N. World Conference on Racism
key substantive issues
upcoming events (Mary Robinson visit, Western Hemisphere prepcom)
4. Human Rights Watch report on racial disparities in incarceration, should we upond.
summary
105, will name
discussion of whether and how to respond
will be an issue. is the CORD report
5. Report from delegation to Torture Committee - Horold & Bill Yes mans made a public
6. UN Special Rapporteurs and Questionnaires -Bev. +sture
8/14-25
SR SR on on Toxic Right to Wastes Education6yn and Human in Rights Dec. not Ldich environmental alt visit racism- state, no Sed, shipping local garbage anthing
date
SR on Migration -not planned. Roserb Green. Mexico
SR on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography -DOJ
Questionnaire on UN Decade for Human Rights Education -we reimb
XWNESCO
(DOEd/inil other)
7. Upcoming Meetings
Debra ALL Sectionnt go sups- -Snde He meet w/
Interagency Meeting on Indigenous Rights Issues
Thank force mb
Interagency process on visits to the US by human rights abusers
after
8. Next regular meeting - July 13, 2:00, OEOB 208
HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLANTS
- Need to develop a network of State other (Andre)
= DOJ- Brim Devalonce -
- complaintr Per year(15035) 40
other = 20
- a Jacked someone to report next month, DUJ will have amb to duedy
or set of contrate.
- CKT
DRL- - training AUSA
-schedule for Mon. pm A Smith Carolin
Human UN conf Rightz on Racism Abuseur (Stua) at natil, right load card.
key
- compensations Issue measure Reparations - came up in context of themes.
African staden + AfrAm NGOs one pushing very hand on compansatory measur,
Include prese, Link to an caf.
- -Developing a proorter stoner
- Europeane -shongly opposed.
mtgs al Domestic Events servious
- -Senate - - Redum staffers briefing on componetive
-?- other neasure
7/7- vickn
may Robinsons mtg
Pun Aval Dity atter
wearer PMP comm - ?
wale Hundrouns to AG
LCCR Report CRT +OPP an neviewing the recombition
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. fax
From Wendy Patten re: Human Rights IWG meeting (partial) (1 page)
06/14/2000
P3/b(3)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Domestic Policy Council
Irene Bueno
OA/Box Number: 25023
FOLDER TITLE:
UN Conf. on Racism [2]
2017-1120-S
ry2231
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
OFFICE OF MULTILATERAL AND HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
FAX COVER SHEET
From: Wendy Patten 456-9141 (phone) /456-9140 (fax)
FAX
To: Harold Koh, State/DRL
647-5283
Steve Wagenseil, State/DRL
647-4344
NATIONAL
Rosa Ehrehreich/Laura Dickinson, DRL
647-4501
Andre Surena/Chris Camponovo, State/L
736-7028
SECURITY
Nancy Rubin, State/IO
686-9058
Beverly Zweiben, State/IO
647-4628
COUNCIL
David Scheffer, Mike Newton, State, S/WCI
736-4495
Ted Piccone, State/S/P
647-4147
David Killion, State/H
647-9667
Anita Bottl. State/G/PICW
647-5337
-
17th & Penn, N.W.
[1]
(b)(3)
Washington, D.C.
James Castello, DOJ/DAG
514-6897
Richard Jerome, DOJ/ASG
307-3904
20504
Bill Lann Lee/Julie Fernandes, DOJ/CRT
307-2839
Bo Cooper, DOJ/INS
514-5491
Did you get a complete,
Kelly Ryan/Molly Groom, DOJ/INS
514-5491
clear transmission? If not,
David Koplow/Illana Davidson, DoD/GC
(703) 614-9789
Jim Schear/DoD
(703) 614-0442
please call:
Mac DeShazer, DOL
219-5980
Joel Fishman, USIA
619-5646
(202) 456-9141
Elizabeth Wilcox, Treasury
622-8378
\
Alex Wohl/Francisco Garcia, Education
401-3130
<
Irene Bueno, Domestic Policy Council
6-5581
Caroline Krass, NSC Legal
6-9110
Reynaldo Valencia, COS
6-1121
Date: 6/14/00
REMINDER: Human Rights IWG meeting scheduled for TOMORROW,
June 15, 2:00, OEOB 208. Please call Theresa or Colby at 456-9141
with clearance Information. Agenda and summary of conclusions
from the May meeting are attached.
Summary of Conclusions
Human Rights Treaty IWG
April 6, 2000
It was agreed that:
State/L will hold off on preparing a proposal for formalizing the referral process for human rights
complaints that arise in international fora. While Justice/CRT agreed to review complaints from
international organizations, State/L would like to wait a few months before drafting its proposal in the
hope that an actual case might arise, which would assist in formalizing the process.
State/DRL and Justice agreed to meet to discuss ideas for training Assistant U.S. Attorneys on
international human rights obligations and report on their plans at the next meeting.
NSC will convene a meeting to discuss State concerns with the Justice/INS legislative proposal on
human rights abusers. The objective is to work quickly to finalize the bill so that INS can transmit it to
the Hill before the next IWG meeting.
Agencies will meet on April 12 to discuss broader policy and process issues regarding visits to the
U.S. by human rights abusers.
NSC will work with State to set up a meeting to discuss the second periodic report under the ICCPR.
State, Justice, COS, and NSC will complete their ongoing reviews of the draft CERD report and be
prepared to circulate the final draft to agencies for clearance by the end of May.
Justice and State will work together to provide substantive support to the delegations to the global
prepcom for the UN World Conference on Racism (May 1-5) and the US presentation to the Torture
Committee (May 10-12).
State/L will report at the next meeting on what additional information it needs from Justice in order to
be able to make a recommendation regarding signing the InterAmerican Convention on Violence
Against Women.
Summary of Conclusions
Human Rights Treaty IWG
May 18, 2000
It was agreed that:
NSC will convene additional meetings as necessary to continue discussing and attempt to resolve
State and Justice/INS differences on the Justice draft bill on human rights abusers.
Summary of conclusions from the April 6 meeting will be reviewed at the June IWG meeting.
INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES
Agenda
June 15, 2000
2:00 -- OEOB 208
1. Review of Summary of Conclusions from last meeting
2. Completion of CERD report
status
timetable for receiving outstanding agency submissions
3. Report from delegation to prepcom for U.N. World Conference on Racism
key substantive issues
upcoming events (Mary Robinson visit, Western Hemisphere prepcom)
4. Human Rights Watch report on racial disparities in incarceration
summary
discussion of whether and how to respond
5. Report from delegation to Torture Committee
6. UN Special Rapporteurs and Questionnaires
SR on Toxic Wastes and Human Rights
SR on Right to Education
SR on Migration
SR on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography
Questionnaire on UN Decade for Human Rights Education
7. Upcoming Meetings
Interagency Meeting on Indigenous Rights Issues
Interagency process on visits to the US by human rights abusers
8. Next regular meeting - July 13, 2:00, OEOB 208
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
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To: Irene Bueno
Fax Number: 6-5581
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Message:
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United States: Stark Race Disparities in Drug Incarceration
Some states send black men to prison at rates 27 to 57 times greater than whites
(New York, June 8, 2000) - The U.S. war on drugs has been waged overwhelmingly against black
Americans, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. The report, "Punishment
and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs," includes the first state-by-state analysis of
the role of race and drugs in prison admissions. All of the 37 states Human Rights Watch studied
send black drug offenders to prison at far higher rates than whites.
Related Material
"These racial disparities are a
"These racial
national scandal," said Ken Roth,
Punishment and
disparities are a
Executive Director of Human
Prejudice: Racial
Rights Watch. "Black and white
Disparities in the War on
national scandal.
drug offenders get radically
Drugs
Black and white
different treatment in the American
HRW Report, June 2000
drug offenders get
justice system. This is not only
profoundly unfair to blacks, it also
War on Drugs
radically different
corrodes the American ideal of
Focus on Human Rights
treatment in the
equal justice for all."
American justice
Drugs and Human Rights
system. This is not
The ten states with the greatest
in the United States
racial disparities are: Illinois,
only profoundly
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maine, lowa, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey,
unfair to blacks, it
North Carolina, and West Virginia. In these states, black men are
also corrodes the
sent to prison on drug charges at 27 to 57 times the rate of white
men.
American ideal of
equal justice for
"Most drug offenders are white. Five times as many whites use
all."
drugs as blacks," said Jamie Fellner, Human Rights Watch
associate counsel and author of the report. "But blacks comprise
Ken Roth
the great majority of drug offenders sent to prison. The solution to
Executive Director of
this racial inequity is not to incarcerate more whites, but to reduce
Human Rights Watch
the use of prison for low-level drug offenders and to increase the
availability of substance abuse treatment."
Among the report's key findings:
Nationwide, blacks comprise 62 percent of drug offenders admitted to state prison. In seven
states, blacks constitute between 80 and 90 percent of all people sent to prison on drug
charges.
Nationwide, black men are sent to state prison on drug charges at 13 times the rate of white
men.
Two out of five blacks sent to prison are convicted of drug offenses, compared to one in four
whites.
Black men are incarcerated at 9.6 times the rate of white men. In eleven states, they are
incarcerated at rates that are 12 to 26 times greater than that of white men.
Nationwide, one in every 20 black men over the age of 18 is in prison. In five states, between
one in 13 and one in 14 black men is in prison.
"Punishment and Prejudice" also documents how drug law enforcement has fueled the exploding
U.S. prison population. During the 1990s, more than one hundred thousand people were admitted to
prison on drug charges every year. Over 1.5 million prison admissions on drug charges have
occurred since 1980. The incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders has propelled the nation's
soaring incarceration rate, the highest in the western world. Human Rights Watch calls for changes
in drug control strategies to minimize their racially disproportionate impact and to reduce the
overincarceration of nonviolent offenders. Among its recommendations, Human Rights Watch urges
states to:
repeal mandatory minimum sentencing laws for drug offenders;
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United States: Stark Disparities in Drug Incarceration(Press Release, June 2000)
Page 2 of 2
increase the availability of alternative sanctions;
increase the use of drug courts;
increase the availability of substance abuse treatment; and
eliminate racial profiling
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Vol. 12, No. 2 (G)
UNITED STATES
Punishment and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the War on
Drugs
Note: All of the tables and figures on this page are in Adobe Acrobat. In order to read
them, you will need to download and install the Acrobat program. You can obtain it
here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.hm.
I. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations
II: The Extent of U.S. Incarceration
Table 1: State Prison Incarceration Rates per 100,000 Residents at Midyear 1999
III. INCARCERATION AND RACE
Admissions to Prison
Overrepresentation of Blacks in Prison
Rates of Incarceration
Rates of Incarceration of Black and White Men
Figure 1: Admissions to State and Federal Prison by Race, 1980-1996
Table 2: Percentage of new Admissions to State Prison by Race
Figure 2: Proportion of Blacks among State Residents and in Prison Population
Figure 3: State Incarceration Rates by Race
Table 3; Rates of Incarceration by Race, 1996 (with Black/White Ratio)
Table 4: State Incarceration Rates by Race for 1988 and 1996
Figure 4: Male Incarceration Rates by Race
Table 5: State Incarceration Rates of Adult Males by Race (with Black/White Ratio)
Table 6: Fraction of Black and White Male Population in Prison
IV. THE ROLE OF VIOLENT CRIME IN U.S. INCARCERATION RATES
Table 7: Proportion of Violent and Nonviolent Offenders among Admissions to State Prison
V. THE IMPACT OF THE WAR ON DRUGS ON U.S. INCARCERATION
Drug Offenders Admitted to Prison
Rate of Admission of Drug Offenders
Drug Offending and Prison Admissions
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Drugs Involved In Offense
Type of Drug Conduct
Low-level offenders
Figure 5: Drug Offender Prison Admissions
Figure 6 Drug Offenders as Percentage of New Prison Admissions
Table 8: State Prison Admisison Rates for Drug Offenders
Table 9: Rates of Admission to State Prison: Persons Sentenced for Drug Offenses or Crimes of
Violence
Table 10: Percentage of Drug Using Population Aged 12 and Older in 1991-1993, and Rate of Drug
Admissions to State Prison
Table 11: Marijuana Offenders as Proportion of All Drug Admissions
Table 12: Type of Drug Offense among Drug Offender Admissions to State Prison
VI. RACIALLY DISPROPORTIONATE INCARCERATION OF DRUG OFFENDERS
Racial Disparities in Drug Offender Admissions to Prison
Drug Offenders as a Proportion of Total Black Admissions
Figure7: Percentage of Drug offenders Admitted to Prison by Race
Figure 8: Rate of Male Drug Offender Admissions to Prison by Race
Table 13: Ranking of States by Percentage of Black Drug offenders Admitted to State Prison
Table 14: Rates of Admission for Black and White Male Drug Offenders
Table 15: Drug Offenders as Percentage of Admissions by Race to State Prison
Table 16: Drug, Violent and Nonviolent Offenders as Percentage of Admission by Race to State
Prison
VII. RACIALLY DISPROPORTIONATE DRUG ARRESTS
Drug Arrests
Drug Law Violations by Blacks and Whites
Origins of Racially Disproportionate Arrests
Table 17: Drug Use Population Estimates for 1998 (in Thousands)
Table 18: Comparison of Drug use and Arrests by Race
VIII. Women, Race, Drugs and Imprisonment
Table 19 Percentage of Drug Offenders among Female Admissions to State Prison:
Figure 9: Female Drug Offenders as Percentage of State Admissions
IX. CONCLUSION
PRINT
APPENDIX: Methodology
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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I. SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Since the mid 1980s, the United States has undertaken aggressive law enforcement strategies and
criminal justice policies aimed at curtailing drug abuse. The costs and benefits of this national war on
drugs are fiercely debated. What is not debatable, however, is its impact on black Americans.
Ostensibly color blind, the war on drugs has been waged disproportionately against black Americans.
Our research shows that blacks comprise 62.7 percent and whites 36.7 percent of all drug offenders
admitted to state prison, even though federal surveys and other data detailed in this report show
clearly that this racial disparity bears scant relation to racial differences in drug offending. There are,
for example, five times more white drug users than black. Relative to population, black men are
admitted to state prison on drug charges at a rate that is 13.4 times greater than that of white men. In
large part because of the extraordinary racial disparities in incarceration for drug offenses, blacks are
incarcerated for all offenses at 8.2 times the rate of whites. One in every 20 black men over the age of
18 in the United States is in state or federal prison, compared to one in 180 white men.
Shocking as such national statistics are, they mask even worse racial disparities in individual states.
In seven states, for example, blacks constitute between 80 and 90 percent of all drug offenders sent to
prison. In at least fifteen states, black men are admitted to prison on drug charges at rates that are
from 20 to 57 times greater than those of white men. These racial disparities in drug offenders
admitted to prison skew the racial balance of state prison populations. In two states, one in every 13
black men is in prison. In seven states, blacks are incarcerated at more than 13 times the rate of
whites.
The imprisonment of blacks for drug offenses is part of a larger crisis of overincarceration in the
United States. Although prison should be used as a last resort to protect society from violent or
dangerous individuals, more people are sent to prison in the United States for nonviolent drug
offenses than for crimes of violence. Throughout the 1990s, more than one hundred thousand drug
offenders were sent to prison annually. More than 1.5 million prison admissions on drug charges
have occurred since 1980. The rate at which drug offenders are incarcerated has increased ninefold.
According to retired General Barry McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, the nation's war on drugs has propelled the creation of a vast "drug gulag." Drug control
policies bear primary responsibility for the quadrupling of the national prison population since 1980
and a soaring incarceration rate, the highest among western democracies.
Human Rights Watch presents in this report original as well as previously published statistics that
document the extraordinary extent to which Americans, and especially black Americans, have been
burdened with imprisonment because of nonviolent drug offenses. We have conducted the first state-
by-state analysis of the impact of drug offenses on the admission to prison of blacks and whites. (See
Appendix for methodology.) The statistics we have compiled present a unique -- and devastating --
picture of the price black Americans have paid in each state for the national effort to curtail the use
and sale of illicit drugs.
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We have focused on the imprisonment of drug offenders at the state level because aggregate national
data masks the remarkable differences among the states regarding the degree to which they put drug
offenders in prison and the extent to which the use of prison as a penal sanction for drug offfenders is
racially disproportionate. As discussed in this report, these substantial state differences are primarily
the result of public penal policies and law enforcement priorities, not different rates of drug
offending.
With this report Human Rights Watch seeks to bring renewed attention to extreme racial disparities
in one area of the criminal justice system -- the incarceration of drug law offenders, i.e., persons
whose most serious conviction offense is a nonviolent drug law violation. The high rates of
incarceration for all drug offenders are cause for concern. But the grossly disparate rates at which
blacks and whites are sent to prison for drug offensesraise a clear warning flag concerning the
fairness and equity of drug law enforcement across the country, and underscore the need for reforms
that would minimize these disparities without sacrificing legitimate drug control objectives.
Drug offenders in the United States face penal sanctions that are uniquely severe among western
democracies. Drug sentences, even for those guilty of retailing or possessing small drug quantities,
can compare to or exceed sentences for serious violent crimes such as armed robbery, rape, and even
murder. Supporters of imprisonment for drug offenders insist it removes major traffickers and
dangerous criminals from society, deters prospective offenders, and enhances community safety and
well-being. Critics point to compelling data showing that few of the drug offenders who end up in
prison are higher level dealers or traffickers and, indeed, that the prior criminal records of many
incarcerated drug offenders are limited to drug offenses or consist of other nonviolent crimes. The
massive use of imprisonment has failed to decrease the availability of drugs or raise their price, and
adult drug use has not changed appreciably since the end of the 1980s. Most observers believe
imprisonment has had little impact on the number of drug dealers on the streets. Even many police
officials acknowledge that for every low level dealer incarcerated, another emerges to take his place.
Moreover, according to an authoritative independent study of mandatory minimum prison sentences
for drug offenders, such sentences are "not justifiable on the basis of cost-effectiveness at reducing
cocaine consumption, cocaine expenditures or drug-related crime."
Prison is a legitimate criminal sanction -- but it should be used sensibly, justly, parsimoniously, and
with due consideration for the principles of proportionality and respect for human dignity required by
international human rights law. The incarceration of hundreds of thousands of low-level nonviolent
drug offenders betrays indifference to such considerations. Moreover, many drug offenders receive
egregiously long prison sentences, particularly because of the prevalence of mandatory sentencing
laws for drug offenses that do not permit judges to calibrate sentences to the conduct and level of
culpability of each defendant.1 Many factors -- the transformation of crime and punishment into key
issues in electoral debates, the persistence of drug abuse, the desire to "send a message" and
communicate social opprobrium, ignorance about drug pharmacology, and concern about crime,
among others -- have encouraged politicians and public officials to champion harsh prison sentences
for drug offenders and to turn a blind eye to the extraordinary human, social, and economic costs of
such policies. They have also turned a blind eye to the war on drugs' staggering racial impact.
It is difficult to assess the extent to which racial bias or sheer indifference to the fate of black
communities has contributed to the development and persistence of the nation's punitive anti-drug
strategies. Certainly the emphasis on penal sanctions in the fight against drugs cannot be divorced
from longstanding public association of racial minorities with crime and drugs.2 Cocaine use by
white Americans in all social classes increased in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it did not
engender the "orgy of media and political attention" that catalyzed the war on drugs in the mid-1980s
when smokable cocaine in the form of crack spread throughout low income minority neighborhoods
that were already seen as dangerous and threatening.3 Even though far more whites used both powder
cocaine and crack cocaine than blacks, the image of the drug offender that has dominated media
stories is ablack man slouching in an alleyway, not a white man in his home. When asked to close
their eyes and envision a drug user. Americans overwhelmingly picture a black person.4
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Poor minority urban neighborhoods have been the principal "fronts" of the war on drugs. Massive
street sweeps, "buy and bust" operations, and other police activities have heavily targeted participants
in street level, retail drug transactions in these neighborhoods. Not surprisingly, comparably few of
the people arrested there have been white. Racial profiling or the police practice of stopping,
questioning, and searching minorities in vehicles or on the street based solely on their appearance
has also contributed to racially disproportionate drug arrests, although there are no reliable estimates
of the number. More blacks have also been prosecuted federally for crack offenses than white, and
thus have disproportionately felt the effects of the higher sentences for crack versus powder cocaine
mandated in federal law.5
Many Americans would agree that punitive drug policies relying on harsh penal sanctions would
have been changed long ago if whites were incarcerated on drug charges at the same rate as blacks. It
is deeply troubling that in the United States the political majority has maintained criminal justice
policies that so disproportionately burden a racial minority, particularly when those policies coupled
with felony disenfranchisement laws further politically weaken that minority 6 Politicians have been
able more easily to reap the electoral advantages of endorsing tough policies because the group that
suffered most from those policies black Americans -- lacked the numbers to prevail in the political
arena.
Human Rights Watch fully acknowledges the public's legitimate interest in curtailing the abuse of
dangerous drugs. But the importance of drug control should not be permitted to override fundamental
principles of equal protection of the laws and racial equality. In an equitable criminal justice system,
sanctions should be imposed equally on offending populations,
Under state and federal constitutional law, racial disparities in law enforcement are constitutional as
long as they are not undertaken with discriminatory intent or purpose.7 International human rights
law wisely does not impose the requirement of discriminatory intent. The International Convention
CERD report
on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), to which the U.S. is a state party,
defines race discrimination as conduct that has the "purpose or effect" of restricting rights on the
basis of race. 8 It proscribes race-neutral practices curtailing fundamental rights that unnecessarily
create statistically significant racial disparities even in the absence of racialanimus, It requires
remedial action whenever there is an unjustifiable disparate impact upon a group distinguished by
race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin, even where there may be no intent to discriminate
against that group. 10 Under CERD, governments may not engage in "malign neglect," that is, they
may not ignore the need to secure equal treatment of all racial and ethnic groups, but rather must act
affirmatively to prevent or end policies with unjustified discriminatory impacts.
Assessing whether the severe impact of drug law enforcement on blacks is justifiable requires
scrutiny of the drug war's goals and methods, and consideration of available alternatives. Human
Rights Watch believes there are numerous policy alternatives to current patterns of criminal law
enforcement that would reduce adverse racial disparities while continuing to respond to social
concerns about public drug dealing and drug abuse. In the context of nationwide debates over the use
of the criminal law to address drug abuse, doubts about the fairness and justice of enforcing those
laws disproportionately against minorities take on even greater significance. It is hard to justify
policies that result in the grossly disproportionate incarceration of a racial minority when there are
feasible and cost-effective alternative approaches to address drug abuse and drug dealing that would
not have such an effect.
Even if blacks and whites were sent to prison on drug charges at comparable rates, Human Rights
Watch would still urge reconsideration of the heavy U.S. reliance on incarceration in its drug
policies. In choosing strategies to address drug abuse and drug dealing, the country must consider the
negative consequences of high incarceration rates, particularly in minority communities. No
functioning democracy has ever governed itself with as large a percentage of its adults incarcerated as
the United States. The direct and collateral consequences of imprisonment may be acceptable when
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violent offenders are put behind bars, but they are much harder to justify for nonviolent drug
offenders.
In the poor urban minority communities from which most black drug offenders are taken, the high
percentage of men and, increasingly. women sent to prison may also undermine their communities'
moral and social cohesion. By damaging the human and social capital of already disadvantaged
neighborhoods, the "war on drugs" may well be counterproductive, diminishing opportunities for
social and economic mobility and even contributing to an increase in crime rates.
The racially disproportionate nature of the war on drugs is not just devastating to black Americans. It
contradicts faith in the principles of justice and equal protection of the laws that should be the
bedrock of any constitutional democracy; it exposes and deepens the racial fault lines that continue to
weaken the country and belies its promise as a land of equal opportunity; and it undermines faith
among all races in the fairness and efficacy of the criminal justice system. Urgent action is needed, at
both the state and federal level, to address this crisis for the American nation.
Recommendations
U.S. political leaders must acknowledge the excessive and racially disproportionate incarceration of
nonviolent drug offenders and grapple forthrightly with ways to eliminate it. The first step is to
reevaluate the current strategies for fighting drugs. Policy makers in each state, as well as in the
federal government, should reassess existing public policy approaches to drug use and sales to
identify more equitable but still effective options. In particular, they should examine the costs and
benefits of relying heavily on penal sanctions to addressdrug use and drug trafficking and should look
closely at law enforcement strategies to identify ways to make them more racially equitable.
We believe each state as well as the federal government should subject current and proposed drug
policies to strict scrutiny and modify those that cause significant, unwarranted racial disparities. In
addition, we believe the state and federal governments should:
*
Eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing laws that require prison sentences based on the quantity
of the drug sold and the existence of a prior record. Offenders who differ in terms of conduct, danger
to the community, culpability, and other ways relevant to the purposes of sentencing should not be
treated identically. Judges should be able to exercise their informed judgment in crafting effective
and proportionate sentences in each case.
*
Increase the availability and use of alternative sanctions for nonviolent drug offenders. Drug
defendants convicted of nonviolent offenses should ordinarily not be given prison sentences, even if
they are repeat offenders, unless they have caused or threatened specific, serious harm -- for example,
when drug sales are made to children -- or if they have upper level roles in drug distribution
organizations.
*
Increase the use of special drug courts in which addicted offenders are given the opportunity to
complete court supervised substance abuse treatment instead of being sentenced to prison.
* Increase the availability of substance abuse treatment and prevention outreach in the community as
well as in jails and prisons.
*
Redirect law enforcement and prosecution resources to emphasize the arrest, prosecution, and
incarceration of importers, manufacturers, and major distributors, e.g., drug king pins, rather than low
level offenders and street level retail dealers.
* Eliminate different sentencing structures for powder cocaine and crack cocaine, drugs that are
pharmacologically identical but marketed in a different form. Since more blacks are prosecuted for
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crack cocaine offenses and thus subjected to the higher penalties for crack offenses that exist in
federal and some state laws, the crack-powder sentencing differential aggravates without adequate
justification the racial disparities in imprisonment for drug offenses.
*
Eliminate racial profiling and require police to keep and make public statistics on the reason for all
stops and searches and the race of the persons targeted.
* Require police to keep and make public statistics on the race of arrested drug offenders and the
location of the arrests.
To facilitate more inter-state criminal justice analyses, the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Justice should annually compile and publish state-by-state statistics on the racial
impact of the criminal justice system as it applies to drug offenders, including statistics on arrests,
convictions, sentences, admissions to prison, and prison populations.
II. THE EXTENT OF U.S. INCARCERATION
In the year 2001, the total number of people in U.S. prisons and jails will surpass two million. 12 The
state and federal prison population has quadrupled since 1980 and the rate of incarceration relative to
the nation's population has risen from 139 per 100,000 residents to 468.13 If these incarceration rates
persist, an estimated one in twenty of America's children today will serve time in a state or federal
prison during his or her lifetime. 14
There is a considerable range in prison incarceration rates among U.S. states (Table 1). Minnesota has
the lowest rate, 121 prisoners per 100,000 residents, and Louisiana the highest, with a rate of 763.
Seven of the ten states with the highest incarceration rates are in the South. 15 Almost every state has
a prison incarceration rate that greatly exceeds those of other western democracies, in which between
35 and 145 residents per 100,000 are behind bars on an average day. 16 The District of Columbia, an
entirely urban jurisdiction, has a rate of 1,600.
1 See Human Rights Watch, Cruel and Usual: Disproportionate Sentences for New York Drug
Offenders (New York: Human Rights Watch, 1997). Thirty two states have mandatory minimum
sentencing laws for drug offenses. Bureau of Justice Assistance, "National Assessment of Structured
Sentencing" U.S. Department of Justice (February 1996). Mandatory sentences are not responsible
for all excessive drug sentences. In Oklahoma, for example, a jury in 1997 gave a sentence of 93
years to Will Forster, an employed father of three with no prior criminal record who grew marijuana
plants in his basement.
2 Michael Tonry, Malign Neglect: Race, Crime, and Punishment in America (New York: Oxford
University Press, 1995); David Cole, No Equal Justice (New York: The New Press, 1999); David
Musto, The American Disease: Origins of Narcotic Control (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press,
1973).
3 See, e.g., Craig Reinarman and Harry G. Levine, "The Crack Attack, Politics and Media in the
Crack Scare," in Craig Reinarman and Harry G. Levine, Crack in America (Berkeley: University of
California Press, 1997)
.4 Barry R. McCaffrey "Race and Drugs: Perception and Reality, New Rules for Crack Versus
Powder Cocaine," Washington Times, October 5, 1997 citing results of a survey published in 1995:
Burston, Jones, and Robert-Saunders, "Drug Use and African Americans: Myth Versus Reality" in
the Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education. Ninety-five percent of respondents pictured a black drug
user while only 5 percent imagined other racial groups.
5 According to the United States Sentencing Commission, 88.3 percent of federal crack cocaine
defendants were black. United States Sentencing Commission, Special Report 10 the Congress:
Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy, 1995, Washington, D.C., 1995, p. 156. The sentencing laws
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of at least ten states also treat crack cocaine offenses more harshly than powder. 6 See Human Rights
Watch and The Sentencing Project "Losing the Vote: The Impact of Felony Disenfranchisement Law
in the United States," (New York: Washington, D.C., 1998)
7 The requirement of proof of intent has been a formidable barrier for victims of discrimination in the
criminal justice system seeking judicial relief. See, e.g., "Developments in the Law: Race and the
Criminal Process," 101 Harvard Law Review 1520 (1988).
8 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Par. I, Article
1,3. In the Centre for Human Rights, Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments,
Vol., ST/HR/1/REV.5 (New York: United Nations, 1994), p.66. Also available at
http://www.un.org/Depts/Treaty/.
9 See CERD, General Recommendation XIV(42) on article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention, U.N.
GAOR, 48th Sess., Supp. No. 18, at 176, U.N. Doc. A/48/18(1993). See also, Theodor Meron, "The
Meaning and Reach of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination," 79 The American Journal of International Law 283, 287-88 (1985).
10 Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, General Recommendation on Par. I,
Article 1 of CERD.
11 See Todd R. Clear, "The Unintended Consequences of Incarceration," (paper presented to the NIJ
Workshop on Corrections Research, February 14-15, 1996).
12 Allen J. Beck, "Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 1999," Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.
Department of Justice (April 2000).
13 Ibid.; Kathleen Maguire and Ann L. Pastore, eds., 1998 Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice (1999), Table 6.36.
14 Thomas P. Bonczar and Allen J. Beck, "Lifetime Likelihood of Going to State or Federal Prison,"
Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice (March 1997).
15 In each of the twenty years since 1978 for which data is available, the South has had significantly
higher incarceration rates than any other region. See BJS, 1998 Sourcebook, Table 6.37.
16 The number of prisoners per 100.000 inhabitants varies worldwide from about 20 in Indonesia to
about 685 in Russia. In Western Europe, the rate ranges between 35 in Cyprus and 145 in Portugal.
Andre Kuhn, "Incarceration Rates Across the World," Overcrowded Times, April 1999, p.1.
International rates of incarceration include prisoners awaiting sentences as well as all sentenced
prisoners, whereas state prisons in the U.S. only confine convicted prisoners with sentences of more
than one year. Therefore, the actual difference between foreign rates of incarceration and U.S. prison
incarceration rates is even greater than suggested.
TOC
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PARTIAL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
OCTOBER 8, 1999 MEETING WITH MRS. MARY ROBINSON,
U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Ms. Susan Beresford
President
The Ford Foundation
Ms. Ana Maria Brasileiro
Consultant
PROLEAD / Inter-American Development Bank
Mr. Reed Brody
Director of Advodacy
Human Rights Watch
Ms. Irene Bueno
Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy
The White House
Ms. Charlotte Bunch
Director
Center for Women's Global Leadership
Mr. Scott Busby
Director
Office of Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs
National Security Council
The White House
Mr. Julius E. Coles
Director
Andrew Young Center for International Affairs and Professor of Political Science
The Honorable Jdhn Conyers, Jr.
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Ms. Kerry Kennedy Cuomo
Founder
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights
Dr. Ramona Hoage Edelin
Executive Director
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Inc.
Professor Christopher Edley, Jr.
Harvard University Law School
Principal Adviser to President Clinton on Issues relating to Race Relations
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Mr. Juan Figueroa
President and General Counsel
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund
Dr. Dorothy Height
Chairman of the Board and President Emeritus
National Council of Negro Women
Ms. Lynn Walker Huntley
Director
Comparative Human Relations Initiative
Southern Education Foundation, Inc.
Ms. Beni Ivey
Executive Director
Center for Demodratic Renewal
Ms. Elaine Jones
Director-Counsel
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Ms. Sara E. Melendez
President and C.B.O.
Independent Sector
Ms. Karen Narasaki
Executive Director
National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
Mr. John Payton
Civil Rights Litigator
Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering
Mr. Mark Pelavir
Associate Director
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Mr. Randall Robinson
President
TransAfrica Forum
Ms. Sullivan Robinson
Interim Executive Director
Congress of National Black Churches
Mr. Peter Rundlet
Associate Counsel to the President
The White House
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Mr. Hilary Shelton
Director
NAACP Washington Bureau
Mr. Steve Suitts
Consultant
Comparative Human Relations Initiative
Southern Education Foundation, Inc.
Ms. Walt Swanston
Executive Director
UNITY: Journalists of Color. Inc.
Ms. Julianne Travior
Chairperson
Amnesty International - USA
Ms. Emily Tynes
President
Communications Consortium
Ms. Carole Henderson Tyson
Vice President of Program Related Initiatives
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
The Honorable Maxine Waters
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Mr. Roger W. Wilkins
Member, NAACP Board of Directors
Robinson Professor of History and American Culture
George Mason University
Ms. Judith Winston
General Counsel
U.S. Department of Education
Formerly Director of President's Initiative on Race
Mr. Clarence Wdod
President
Chicago Human Relations Foundation
Dr. James Zogby
President
Arab American Institute
OPLShortList.wpd
6-9-00
American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee*
Marvin Wingfield
Director of Education
4201 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 2008
(202) 244-2990
(202) 244-3196-fax
American Jewish Committee
1156 Fifteenth Street, NW, 12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.785.4200 O 202.785.4115 F
Mr. Jason Isaacson, Washington Dir.
(212) 751-4000 (212) 838-2120 Fax
David Harris, Exec. VP
Promote democracy, human and civil rights; international focus.
American Muslim Council
0
Aly Abuzaakouk, Executive Director
1212 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-789-2262
Fax 202-789-2550
Key Muslim organization with contacts around the country.
Amnesty International
Pat Rengel, Legislative Counsel
304 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-0200
Anti-Defamation League
Mr. Jess Hordes, Washington Director
1100 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1020
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202)261-4600
or (202) 452-8320 (202) 296-2371-fax
Abraham Foxman, National Director
(212) 490-2525 (212) 867-0779 Fax
Promote tolerance and diversity, civil and human rights; international focus.
The Carter Center
Karen Ryan
One Copenhill
Atlanta, GA. 30307
(404) 420-5151
0
The Congress of National Black Churches, Inc. - umballa group.
Ms. Sullivan Robinson, Executive Director
1225 Eye Street, NW
Washington, Dc 20005
202-371-1091
Fax 202-371-0908
internation
Human Rights Watch
Kenneth Roth, Executive Director
New York, NY
(212) 290-4700
The Interfaith Alliance
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, Executive Director
1012 14ᵗʰ Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 639-6370
(202) 639-6375-fax
National organization bringing all faiths together around justice issues, particular work
on hate crimes, organizing Stop the Hate rallies in October.
League of United Latin American Citizens
Brent Wilkes, Executive Director
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 833-6130/833-6135fax
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Wade Henderson, Director
Washington, DC
(202) 466-1885 or 466-3311
LCCR has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
U.S. His organization has held programs on the topic and he is already involved in the
conference.
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Rick Dovalina National President
(202) 833-6130
NAACP
Kweisi Mfume, President & CEO
Baltimore, MD
410-486-9226
Hilary Shelton, Director (Washington Bureau)
(202) 638-2269
Mfume has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
world. His organization has held programs on the topic and he is already involved in
the conference.
National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
Karen Narasaki, Executive Director
(202) 296-2300
(202) 296-2318 - fax
National Conference for Community and Justice
Brian Foss, Vice President of Public Policy
1815 H Street, NW
Washington, Dc 20006
(202) 887-0997 X 2 or 887-0885
(202) 887-0999-fax
Interfaith group with offices around the country - working particularly on racial justice.
Carrying on the work of the PIR in the faith community.
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) -umbrulla group
JoAnn Chase, Executive Director
Jack Jackson
(202) 466-7767
Have NARF
OF
National Council of Churches
Rev. Robert Edgar, General Secretary
Rev. Andrew Young, President
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-2025
Represents 35 member communions - Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglicans - working
for peace and justice in the US and worldwide. Edgar recently named as General
Secretary - he is a former Democratic member of the US House of Representatives.
National Council of Jewish Women
Sammie Moshenberg, Director, Washington Operations
1707 L Street, NW, 9th floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 296.2588
(202) 331-7792-fax
Susan Katz, Executive Director
(212) 645-4048
(212) 645-7466 Fax
Part of International Council of Jewish Women, promote women's rights.
National Council of La Raza
Raul Yzaguirre, President
Charles Kamasaki, Vice President
1111 19th St., NW Suite 1000
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 785-1670
(202) 776-1792-fax
National Council of Negro Women
Dr. Dorothy Height, Chair
Washington, DC
(202) 737-0120
Dr. Height has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout
the world. Her organization has held programs on the topic and she is already involved
in the conference.
National Italian American Foundation
Alfred Rotandaro
(202) 387-0600
National Urban League
Hugh Price, President & CEO
New York, NY
212-558-5333
Lisa Bland-Malone (Washington contact)
(202) 898-1604
Price has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
world.
Organization of Chinese Americans
Daphne Kwok, Executive Director
202-223-5500 (ph) 202-223-0540 (fax)
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
Reverend Jesse Jackson, President & CEO
Washington, DC
202-333-5270
Reverend Jackson has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation
throughout the world. Jackson is also the Special Envoy to Africa.
US Catholic Conference
John Carr, Secretary
Office of Social Development and World Peace
3211 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194
202-541-3181
Fax 202-541-3339
Fosters the Catholic Church's mission in the US - key organization for Catholic
hierarchy and grassroots - very active on social justice issues.
NHLA. natial Hispine ludushy Agrika- Maric manabel
WN Corf W/G
ME wrter he must 2x
4/21 21
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hosted but us not invited intially totally not set
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- What go officials but pla to you or observors
Stite Dgot cordite w/ wH. (Huild lesh)
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- 5.6 expert mtys not upet truntall ngs have litition
Groups of NGOS are not Lppy blc Rs rat mts
-meety Eet 6/16 itam 2pm - WH - Main ?
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-
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meet next wak -bable Lo the Ask then about the Hil.
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- us positive - we are not apt talking about it but
on Deparation subsumed in the resource remedier issuer.
Geneva was thy did mA hear His for in in Geneva.
- make operational the process - in developing the
declaration WH nuck to clear Cavoid Groun puble)
- South Africa does not wat L disum.
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gets $
Nat I Meeting - NGUs wast want this but they can do it themalver
donnt male alot of sure but letz keep talky about it.
Admin is behind so you shed schelele any.
we wild at the agenda.
invite wide t Gerry to 6/21.
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Broduale buty the Hill - bediah will attant.
ME. will speck
Speciality Media - Victna Valent - Jaker Jamifer the Joe/honetta
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& us ponting take d us participate taken place.
workat hw wh decision collabortion effort:
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but me
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what's it look like, problem areas, motor to at dre.
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4
AGENDA ITEMS
Drop-by
June 8, 2000 at 9:30 a.m.
Indergry Jale Force
I.
African-American Permanent Fund
Oney will call Oak.
epod PPty L 1 note
Memo s part hs polus. ME review
Nay tabin Deaft
Requested a meeting on reparations with the President via OCS/John P.
Pre mg on 4/15
Meeting with Jena Roscoe, Minyon Moore, and Ben Johnson and Debra Carr on
WH comal -tell Bill masu June 16 at 10:30. (Maureen S. may be there as well.) -mty on Reparations
age leke
African American Permant Fund. 0221C Daus. Spike la, Rondle # Robinson
DPC-
Jena to provide background on the group and the participants
WH group to have pre-meeting planning session via conference call on
June 15
comparism al II. woman confern.)
Nancy Rubin brochure and Goodwill Ambassadors to travel and country on the un card.
check w/ Gay & wode but if she pusher mut w/ her. modifications -8
III.
European PrepCom delegation in October
proposol FOCUS as
next year at No
EC set 4 delegates as maximum
State: Steve WH and Harold K.
Ben, July wilson -domestic knowledge
White House: Debra C. and Sharon Kotak(?) adviser
an Relson, involved in Beijing
IV.
Master List for Robinson Visit
A.
NGOs: All from DC metro area, master list to be discussed and narrowed
down to 20 to 25 by WH and State with input for NSC and OPL by June
13.
My Suggestions:
African-American NGOs: NAACP (Kweisi Mfume), National
Negro Women's League (J. Malveaux), National Urban League
(Huge Price), Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (Wade
Henderson), National Council of Negro Women (Dr. Dorothy
Height), International Human Rights Law Group (Gay
McDougall).
Native American NGOs: Indian Law Resource Center (Steve
Tulleberg and Keith Harper)
Hispanic and Asian NGOs:
1
B.
GOVT: I've included Bill Lee¹ and Julie Fernandes, Ben Johnson, Judith
Winston, Audrey Hutchinson, Mary Frances Berry and asked OLA for reps
from HHS, USDA, Dept of Interior, Labor, FCC, SBA.
INS and EPA to be added.
Arends to provide recommendations by Friday; she will attempt to obtain
Secretary or Under-Secretary level participants but we are most likely to
get Directors of Offices of CRT and General Counsels.
V.
NGO offers to schedule meetings across the country.
The positive side is that we can use this as a means of conducting broader
outreach-- defusing criticism that we are not helping NGOs organize, allowing us
to be more transparent, and increasing general public awareness of the world
conference as suggested by the UN for domestic preparations.
The negative side is that we have to select our "partners" carefully because we
lose some control.
NY (John Goring/Columbia Law). Meeting on June 13 at 3:00
LA (Friends of the UN). To continue discussions week of June 12th.
Declarative?
Chicago(?) (African Friends service Center) Pending follow-up.
VI.
Budget
Lindsay informed me Wednesday that the State will pay for travel. However, that
does not guarantee that we have a constituting document in place.
No one at State is assuming authority to prepare cover letter to Albright
recommending she sign off on the constituting document and attached
budget.
¹BLL will be unavailable b/c he will be in Colorado at a conference. Bill Yeoman, Julie
and one or more of the Deputy AAGs will attend.
2
Jue Hicher comere a mtg of human right (local) com folke something inte all
LA Human UNCM Bits Common -sed to group t scholule cafcele
List for 2020
mts
The Africa - America Institute
Mora McLean, President
New York, NY
212-949-6666
One of the leading Africa NGO's and scholars on community and economic
development initiatives with African country. Has hosted several technical and
community programs on racial reconciliation and democracy in African countries
especially with South Africa.
American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee*
Marvin Wingfield
Director of Education
4201 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 300
Washington, DC 2008
(202) 244-2990
(202) 244-3196-fax
American Friends Service Center*
Bomani Johnson
Team Associate/African American Community Empowerment Program
59 East Van Buren, Suite 1400
Chicago, II 60605-1212
(312) 427-2533 xt. 21
(312) 427-4171
American Jewish Committee
1156 Fifteenth Street, NW, 12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.785.4200 O 202.785.4115 F
Mr. Jason Isaacson, Washington Dir.
(212) 751-4000 (212) 838-2120 Fax
David Harris, Exec. VP
Promote democracy, human and civil rights; international focus.
American Jewish Congress
2027 Massachusetts Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.332.4001 O 202.387.3434 F
Mr. Matt Dorf, Wash. Dir.
(212) 879-4500 (212) 249-3672
Phil Baum, Exec. Dir.
Promote religious freedom, civil rights, and domestic focus.
1
American Muslim Council
Aly Abuzaakouk, Executive Director
1212 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-789-2262
Fax 202-789-2550
Key Muslim organization with contacts around the country.
Americans for Peace Now
Debra DeLee, Dir. Wash. Office
1835 K Street, NW #500
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 728-1893
(202) 728.1895-fax
Promote peace in the Middle East.
Anti-Defamation League
Mr. Jess Hordes, Washington Director
1100 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1020
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202)261-4600
or (202) 452-8320 (202) 296-2371-fax
Abraham Foxman, National Director
(212) 490-2525 (212) 867-0779 Fax
Promote tolerance and diversity, civil and human rights; international focus.
Arab American Institute
James Zogby, President
(202) 429-9210
Asian Americans for Equality*
Christopher Kui, Executive Director
108-110 Norfolk Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 979-1108 xt. 107
(212) 979-2219-fax
Assembly of Turkish American Associations*
Osman N. Tat, Assistant Director of Public Education
1526 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 483-9090 xt. 206
(202) 483-9092
2
B'nai B'rith International
Dan Mariaschin, Executive Director
1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 857.6545
(202) 857.6689-fax
Fraternal service organization; International focus
Center for Democratic Renewal*
Beni Ivey
P.O. Box 50469
Atlanta, Georgia
(404) 221-0025
(404) 221-0045
Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation
Wayne Owens, President
Sara Ehrman, Senior Advisor
633 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
202-624-0850
202-624-0855 F
Promote peace in the Middle East.
Children's Defense Fund
Marian Wright Edelman
(202) 628-8787
Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organizations
Mr. Malcolm Hoenlein, Ex. Vice Chair
110 East 59th Street
New York, New York 10022
(2120 318-6111
(212) 644-4135-fax
Promote strong US-Israel relationship and advocate on behalf of Israel
The Congress of National Black Churches, Inc.
Ms. Sullivan Robinson, Executive Director
1225 Eye Street, NW
Washington, Dc 20005
202-371-1091
Fax 202-371-0908
3
Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers)*
Nissa Puffer
Quaker U.N. Office
777 U.N. Plaza
New York, NY 10017
(212) 682-2745
(212) 983-0034-fax
Hadassah
Ms. Marla Gilson, Washington Representative
5100 Wisconsin Ave, NW, #250
Washington, DC, 20016
(202) 363-4600
(202) 363-4651-fax
Women's Zionist organization, international focus
Hispanic National Bar Association
Alex Sanchez, Executive Director
P.O. Box 66105
Washington, D.C. 20035
(202) 293-1507/293-1508
Human Rights Campaign
Elizabeth Birch, Executive Director
(202) 628-4160
Human Rights Watch
Kenneth Roth, Executive Director
New York, NY
(212) 290-4700
IFESH, Inc.
Reverend Leon Sullivan
602-443-1800
Created the Sullivan Principals for Corporate investment in South Africa during
the apartheid era. Heads a leading Africa NGO that conducts technical and educational
assistance programs in Sub - Saharan Africa.
Indian Law Resource Center*
Steve Tullberg, Director (Washington office)
Keith Harper
601 E Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
4
(202) 547-2800
Institute for Caribbean Studies
Dr. Claire Nelson, President
Washington, DC
(202) 623-2588 or 202-829-1887
(202) 829-1667-fax
ICS has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
Americas. ICS represents Afro - Caribbean Americans in the United States.
The Interfaith Alliance
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, Executive Director
1012 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 639-6370
(202) 639-6375-fax
National organization bringing all faiths together around justice issues, particular work
on hate crimes, organizing Stop the Hate rallies in October.
International Human rights Law Group
Gay McDougall, Executive Director
1200 18th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 822-4600
(202) 822-4606-fax
International Possibilities Unlimited*
Deborah Robinson, Ph.D
Executive Director
P.O. Box 4430
Washington, DC 20017
(202) 723-5622
(202) 723-5637
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Eddie Williams
(202) 788-3510
The Joint Center for Political Studies and Public Policy
Dr. Margaret Simms, Vice President for Research Programs
Carole Henderson Tyson, Vice President for Office of International Affairs
Washington, DC
Simms: (202) 789-3523
5
Tyson: (202) 789-3515.
League of United Latin American Citizens
Brent Wilkes, Executive Director
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 833-6130/833-6135fax
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (Formerly NJCRAC)
Ms. Reva Price, Dir. Wash. Office
1640 Rhode Island Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 293-1649
(202) 293-2154-fax
New York: (212) 684-6950 (212) 686-1353 Fax
Promote coalitions with other ethnic, religious groups, domestic based grassroots.
Latino Civil Rights Center
Roberto Frisancho, Executive Director
2701 Ontario Rd., NW 2nd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 332-1053
(202) 483-7460 fax
Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights
Barbara Arnwine
(202) 662-8600
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Wade Henderson, Director
Washington, DC
(202) 466-1885 or 466-3311
LCCR has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
U.S. His organization has held programs on the topic and he is already involved in the
conference.
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Rick Dovalina, National President
(202) 833-6130
MANA, A National Latina Organization
Alma Riojas, President
1725 K. St., NW Suite 501
6
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 833-0060/496-0588 fax
Mexican American Legal and Defense Fund
Marisa Demeo, Regional Counsel
1717 K Street, Suite 311
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 293-2828/293-2849 fax
NAACP
Kweisi Mfume, President & CEO
Baltimore, MD
410-486-9226
Hilary Shelton, Director (Washington Bureau)
(202) 638-2269
Mfume has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
world. His organization has held programs on the topic and he is already involved in
the conference.
National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
Karen Narasaki, Executive Director
(202) 296-2300
(202) 296-2318 - fax
National Association of Elected and Appointed Latin Officials
Larry Gonzalez, Policy Director
311 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 546-2536/546-4121
National Coalition for Haitian Rights
Jocelyn McCalla, Executive Director
New York, NY
(212) 337-0005, ext. 17
National Conference for Community and Justice
Brian Foss, Vice President of Public Policy
1815 H Street, NW
Washington, Dc 20006
(202) 887-0997 X 2 or 887-0885
(202) 887-0999-fax
Interfaith group with offices around the country - working particularly on racial justice.
Carrying on the work of the PIR in the faith community.
7
National Conference on Soviet Jewry
Mr. Mark Levin, Executive Director
1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 898-2500
(202) 898-08220-fax
Advocate on behalf of religious freedom and tolerance in FSU
National Congress of American Indians
JoAnn Chase, Executive Director
Jack Jackson
(202) 466-7767
National Council of Churches
Rev. Robert Edgar, General Secretary
Rev. Andrew Young, President
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-2025
Represents 35 member communions - Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglicans - working
for peace and justice in the US and worldwide. Edgar recently named as General
Secretary - he is a former Democratic member of the US House of Representatives.
National Council of Jewish Women
Sammie Moshenberg, Director, Washington Operations
1707 L Street, NW, 9th floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 296.2588
(202) 331-7792-fax
Susan Katz, Executive Director
(212) 645-4048
(212) 645-7466 Fax
Part of International Council of Jewish Women, promote women's rights.
National Council of La Raza
Raul Yzaguirre, President
Charles Kamasaki, Vice President
1111 19th St., NW Suite 1000
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 785-1670
(202) 776-1792-fax
8
National Council of Negro Women
Dr. Dorothy Height, Chair
Washington, DC
(202) 737-0120
Dr. Height has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout
the world. Her organization has held programs on the topic and she is already involved
in the conference.
National Immigration Forum
Frank Sharry
(202) 514-0004
National Italian American Foundation
Alfred Rotandaro
(202) 387-0600
National Puerto Rican Coalition
Jennie Torres Lewis. Policy Director
1700 K St., NW Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 223-3915
(202) 429-2223-fax
National Urban League
Hugh Price, President & CEO
New York, NY
212-558-5333
Lisa Bland-Malone (Washington contact)
(202) 898-1604
Price has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
world.
Native American Rights Fund
Lorna Babby, Managing Attorney
(202) 785-4166
Organization of Africans in the Americas
Michael Franklin, Executive Director
Washington, D.C.
(202) 638.1645
(202) 638.1667-fax
OAA has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation throughout the
Americas. OAA represents Afro - Latinos and Caribbean Americans in the United
States.
9
Organization of Chinese Americans
Daphne Kwok, Executive Director
202-223-5500 (ph) 202-223-0540 (fax)
People for the American Way
Ralph Neas
(202) 467-4999
Preamble Center*
Amara okoroafor
1737 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-3263
(202) 265-3647-fax
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Juan Figueroa, President and General Counsel
(212) 219-3360
(202) 431-4276-fax
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
Reverend Jesse Jackson, President & CEO
Washington, DC
202-333-5270
Reverend Jackson has historically been involved in promoting racial reconciliation
throughout the world. Jackson is also the Special Envoy to Africa.
Roger Wareham*
572 Flatbush Ave, Suite 2
Brooklyn, NY 11225
(718) 941-6407
(718) 941-6360 -fax
Ron Brown Foundation
Alma Brown & Michael Brown, President & CEO
Washington, DC
202-362-2080; 202-457-5614; 202-363-1982.
A leading community development organization that conducts international programs
that concern racial reconciliation.
Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture
Howard Dodson, Director
10
New York, NY
212-491-2200
The Schomberg Center promotes the study of the histories and cultures of peoples of
African
descent and interprets its collections through exhibitions, publications and educational,
scholarly and cultural programs. They frequently host events pertaining to race
relations throughout the world.
UAHC/Religious Action Center
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director
2027 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 387.2800
(202) 667.9070-fax
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President
(212) 249-0100 (212) 650-4169 Fax
Congregational grassroots, most progressive.
Union of Orthodox Congregations of America
Nathan Diament, Washington Director
1640 Rhode Island Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-857-2770
202-331-9161 Fax
Rabbi Raphael Butler, Executive VP
(212) 613-8264
(212) 564-9058 Fax
Congregational grassroots, most conservative.
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Exec. VP
Sarrae Crane, Policy Director
155 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 533-7800 (212) 353-9439 Fax
Congregational grassroots, fairly progressive.
US Catholic Conference
John Carr, Secretary
Office of Social Development and World Peace
3211 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194
202-541-3181
Fax 202-541-3339
Fosters the Catholic Church's mission in the US - key organization for Catholic
hierarchy and grassroots - very active on social justice issues.
11
US Commission on Civil Rights
Mary Frances Berry
(202) 376-7417
W.E.B. DuBois Institute for Afro-American Research
Dr. Henry Gates, Chair, W.E.B. DuBois Professor of the Humanities & Director
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
(617) 496-5468
The W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for Afro-American Research is the nation's oldest research
center dedicated to the study of the history, culture, and social institutions of African
Americans. Gates is also the CO - founder of Africana. Com, the world's largest directive
that provides authoritative information about the whole world of Africa and its Diaspora.
Gates will be involved in the conference.
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Shamina Singh, Executive Director
301-443-2492 (ph) 301-443-7853 (fax)
The Wilkins Center*
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota
Dr. Samuel Myers, Jr., (Assistant-Judy Leahy), Chair
Minneapolis, MN
612-625-9821
The Wilkins Center will be hosting a World Conference on Remedies to Racial and
Ethnic Economic Inequality in Durban, South Africa in 2002. This conference will follow
the UN Conference on Racism next year. Myers is a POTUS and VPOTUS Supporter.
He is a leading economist that works on race issues in America and abroad.
World Africa Network
Eugene Jackson, CEO
Atlanta, Georgia
404-521-6123
South Africa: 27 82 825617000.
World Africa Network is an ISP in Africa that also runs International programs and
technical assistance programs throughout Africa to promote racial reconciliation. His
company will cover the conference and reports on the work involving racial
reconciliation throughout the places of color in the world.
World Jewish Congress
Mr. Israel Singer, Sec. General
12
501 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 755-5770
(212) 755.5883-fax
Mr. Douglas Bloomfield, Washington Representative
301.460.3285 O 301.460.4187 F
International network of Jewish communities.
*Denotes NGOs at April briefing
13
11/18/99
THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE
ON RACISM
The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance will be held in year 2001 in South Africa. The first Preparatory meeting for the
World Conference will be held from 1 to 5th May, 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting,
called PrepCom, will bring together United Nations experts, government representatives, world
leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media from around the world.
What is the World Conference Against Racism:
In 1997, the United Nations General Assembly agreed to hold a World Conference Against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The main objectives of the
Conference, as stated in the resolution include:
To review progress made in the fight against racism and
reappraise the obstacles to further progress in the field and ways to overcome
them;
To increase the level of awareness about the scourges of racism and racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
To review the political, historical, economic, social, cultural and other factors
leading to racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia;
To formulate concrete recommendations to further action-oriented national,
regional and international measures to combat all forms of racism.
The conference will be an important opportunity for the international community to establish a
new approach to racism for the next millennium. The agenda is to be action-oriented and focus
on practical measures to eradicate racism, including measures of prevention, education and
protection and the provision of effective remedies to discrimination.
The following themes will be considered at the World Conference: the prevention of racism
through education and the media; issues of exclusion and marginalization in multiracial societies
where race is largely defined by skin color; discrimination based on ethnic divisions as in
countries such as Rwanda and Bosnia; the treatment of migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and
displaced persons; the implications of economic globalization on the achievement of racial
equality worldwide; the special burdens of people with multiple identities that compound
discrimination, such as race and gender; current realities in the aftermath of slavery and
colonialism; preventive measures, including early warning and urgent action procedures;
combating hate speech and hate crimes; affirmative action; effective remedies and redress
mechanisms.
The World Conference will be a unique and important opportunity to create a new world vision
for the fight against racism in the Twenty-First Century. The message will be a positive one
about the benefits of diversity and equality in national communities and internationally.
Governments will be encouraged to present at the conference their "Best Practices" with respect
to implementing the obligations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination and the debate will be organized around specific models of
governmental programs to prevent and remedy discriminatory practices.
Participation
The traditional format for U.N. world conferences is that there would be two parallel meetings:
one in which the decision-makers are governments with NGOs and U.N. specialized agencies as
lobbyists; and a second in which NGOs and independent experts are the primary actors ( often
referred to as the NGO Forum). At the government conference, access may be restricted to
representatives of NGOs that have special status at the U.N. The NGO Forum is generally open
to a broader range of organizations that may wish to participate.
Preparing for the World Conference
Preparing for UN world conferences usually requires a minimum of two years during which the
agenda, objectives, and scope of the conference and their outcomes are determined by Member
States of the United Nations. This process involves national and regional meetings, expert group
meetings, data gathering, and drafting position papers, which are fed into the global discussions.
The PrepComs are the preparatory meetings to discuss the themes and prepare working
documents for the final World Conference. It is generally the case that a preparatory conference
is convened in each region of the world. In the past, the regional preparatory process has proven
to be critical to the eventual success of those events. In the case of both the U.N. World
Conference on Human Rights in 1993 and the conference on Women in 1995, the regional
preparatory meetings were crucial in developing the agendas for the conferences and generating a
groundswell of support at the level of the general public.
Background materials for the World Conference Against Racism and the PrepCom:
The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has established a web page for the
World Conference. The web page contains the General Assembly resolution which initiated the
work toward the World Conference, the reports of the High Commissioner and Secretary
General, the Report of the first sessional Working Group to review the proposal submitted for the
World Conference, the actual proposals which include four NGO proposals and papers by the
members of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and
Reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance.
The address of the web page is: Http:\\WWW.UNHCHR.CH
After you open this page, look at the top of the page for the title "World Conference Against
Racism click there.
uscom-see CICO laport
UNworld conternce on Racion
11/18/99
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work closely w/ Host country
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at NEUB toget this due - DUS, Ed, HUD, HHS, Labor
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\
COS - by reed
Anna Richter
11/18/99 09:31:37 AM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Irene Bueno/OPD/EOP@EOP
CC:
Subject: Reminder: UN World Conf Mtg
Forwarded by Anna Richter/OPD/EOP on 11/18/99 09:31 AM
Anna Richter
11/17/99 07:53:34 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Irene Bueno/OPD/EOP@EOP
CC:
Subject: Reminder: UN World Conf Mtg
Can you attend??? Sorry for the v-mail, I am a bit exhausted.
Forwarded by Anna Richter/OPD/EOP on 11/17/99 07:52 PM
LESLIE
BERNSTEIN
11/17/99 07:45:40 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Anna Richter/OPD/EOP@EOP
CC:
Subject: Reminder: UN World Conf Mtg
Sorry, forgot to CC you. Thx
Forwarded by Leslie Bernstein/WHO/EOP on 11/17/99 07:45 PM
LESLIE
BERNSTEIN
11/17/99 07:29:27 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
Melissa J. Prober/WHO/EOP@EOP, Peter Rundlet/WHO/EOP@EOP, Dora Kale/NSC/EOP@EOP, Scott
Busby/NSC/EOP@EOP
CC:
Reynaldo Valencia/WHO/EOP@EOP
Subject: Reminder: UN World Conf Mtg
There will be a meeting to discuss the future UN World Conference on Racism
tomorrow at 10am in the Roosevelt Room.
Outside Attendees
Bill Lann Lee/DOJ
James Castello/DOJ
Julie Fernandes/DOJ
John Trasvina/ DOJ
Ray Pierce/Ed
Judy Winston/Ed
Claudia Withers/Ed
Mary Frances Berry/US Commissioner on Civil Rts
Bryan Greene/HUD
Ida Castro/EEOC
Beverly Zweiben/State
J. Steven Blodgett/State
Steven Wagenseil/State
Thanks
11/18/99
KEY DATES:
3/2000
CERO mtg
NYC
May 1-5, 2000
Global PrepCom
Geneva
September, 2000
Western Hemisphere
Regional PrepCom
Costa Rica or Brazil
CERDENTS
DURC
May, 2001
Global PrepCom
Geneva
June\July, 2001
World Conference
South Africa
FILE No .835 10/07 '99 11:06
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1
FACSIMILE
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW GROUP
1200 18TH Street, NW, Suite 602
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-822-4600
Fax: 202-822-4606
To: Ms. Ivene Bueno
From: Alison Stewart
Fax: 202-456-558
Date: 10/7/99
Subject: Meeting with UN High commissioner
Pages: 13 , including this cover sheet.
FILE No.835 10/07 '99 11:07
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mary Robinson
As United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, the former President
of Ireland, is the principal and highest ranking official in the U.N. charged with the promotion
and protection of human rights. She reports directly to the U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan.
She works within the framework and authority of the General Assembly, the Economic and
Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights.
The U.N. General Assembly has appointed Mrs. Robinson to serve as Secretary General of the
World Conference Against Racism and her office will be the institutional infrastructure that will
implement plans for the Conference. Her responsibilities include coordinating the conference
itself as well as facilitating preparatory activities leading up to the conference, such as regional
consultations. She will work closely with the U.N. Preparatory Committee for the World
Conference that has been established by the Commission on Human Rights.
Mrs. Robinson was the first woman to be elected President of Ircland, an office she held for
seven years. She was appointed the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in 1997 by the
Secretary General, with the approval of the U.N. General Assembly.
The mission of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
is to ensure the universal enjoyment of all human rights by giving
practical effect to the will and resolve of the world community as
expressed by the United Nations.
FILE No 835 10/07 '99 11:07 ID:
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3
THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD CONFERENCE
ON RACISM
The World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance will be held in year 2001 in South Africa. The first Preparatory meeting for the
World Conference will be held from May 1 to 5th, 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland. This
preparatory meeting, called PrepCom, will bring together United Nations experts, government
representatives, world leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media from around
the world.
What is the World Conference Against Racism:
In 1997, the United Nations General Assembly agreed to hold a World Conference Against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The main objectives of
the Conference as stated in the resolution include:
To review progress made in the fight against racism and
reappraise the obstacles to further progress;
To increase the level of awareness about the scourges of racism and racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
To review the political, historical, economic, social, cultural and other factors
leading to racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia;
To formulate concrete recommendations to further action-oriented national,
regional and international measures to combat all forms of racism.
The conference will be an important opportunity for the international community to establish a
new approach to racism for the next millennium. The agenda is to be action-oriented and focus
on practical measures to eradicate racism, including measures of prevention, education and
protection and the provision of effective remedies to discrimination.
The following themes will be considered at the World Conference: the prevention of racism
through education and the media; issues of exclusion and marginalization in multiracial societies
where race is largely defined by skin color; discrimination based on ethnic divisions as in
FILE No 835 10/07 '99 11:07
ID:
FAX:
PAGE
4
countries such as Rwanda and Bosnia; the treatment of migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and
displaced persons the implications of economic globalization on the achievement of racial
equality worldwide; the special burdens of people with multiple identities that compound
discrimination, such as race and gender; current realities in the aftermath of slavery and
colonialism; preventive measures, including early warning and urgent action procedures;
combating hate speech and hate crimes; affirmative action; effective remedies and redress
mechanisms.
The World Conference will be a unique and important opportunity to create a new world vision
for the fight against racism in the Twenty-First Century. The message will be a positive one
about the benefits of diversity and equality in national communities and internationally.
Governments will be encouraged to present at the conference their "Best Practices" with respect
to implementing the obligations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination and the debate will be organized around specific models of
governmental programs to prevent and remedy discriminatory practices.
Participation
The traditional format for U.N. world conferences is that there would be two parallel meetings:
one in which the decision-makers are governments with NGOs and U.N. specialized agencies as
lobbyists; and a second in which NGOs and independent experts are the primary actors ( often
referred to as the NGO Forum). At the government conference, access may be restricted to
representatives of NGOs that have special status at the U.N. The NGO Forum is generally open
to a broader range of organizations that may wish to participate.
Preparing for the World Conference
Preparing for UN world conferences usually requires a minimum of two years during which the
agenda, objectives, and scope of the conference and their outcomes are determined by Member
States of the United Nations. This process involves national and regional meetings, expert group
meetings, data gathering, and drafting position papers, which are fed into the global discussions.
The PrepComs are meetings to discuss the themes and prepare working documents for the final
World Conference. It is generally the case that a preparatory conference is convened in each
region of the world. In the past, the regional preparatory process has proven to be critical to the
eventual success of those events. In the case of both the U.N. World Conference on Human
Rights in 1993 and the conference on Women in 1995, the regional preparatory meetings were
crucial in developing the agendas for the conferences and generating a groundswell of support at
the level of the general public.
FILE No. 835 10/07 '99 11:08
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5
Background materials for the World Conference Against Racism and the PrepCom:
The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has established a web page for the
World Conference. The web page contains the General Assembly resolution which initiated the
work toward the World Conference, the reports of the High Commissioner and Secretary
General, the Report of the first sessional Working Group to review the proposal submitted for
the World Conference, the actual proposals which include four NGO proposals and papers by the
members of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and
Reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance.
The address of the web page is: Http://WWW.UNHCHR.CH
After you openithis page, look at the top of the page for the title "World Conference Against
Racism " click there.
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KEY DATES:
May 1-5, 2000
Global PrepCom
Geneva
September, 2000
Western Hemisphere
Regional PrepCom
Costa Rica or Brazil
May, 2001
Global PrepCom
Geneva
June\July, 2001
World Conference
South Africa
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WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM
MEETING WITH HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
The following ist of issues suggests the general scope of the meeting with Mary Robinson. The meeting
will not be an occasion to highlight the valuable work being done by the participants but rather to focus on
how the World Conference and activities leading up to it can spur policy development and increased
international attentiveness to forms and practices of racial discrimination prevalent in the US. We might
include the following suggested discussion points:
What are the aims and hoped for outcomes in ongoing policy terms for the World Conference?
What is the public relations strategy associated with the holding of the World Conference? For
example, what is being done to publicize the World Conference and the regional preparatory
meeting for the Americas that will take place in Costa Rica? Does the UN intend to support or
encourage the holding of a preparatory conference in the US?
Does the UN see the events leading up to the World Conference and the Conference itself as vehicles
to educate the public about international human rights conventions and laws barring racism and
discrimination? What types of educational programs are being developed or planned in this regard?
The International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) authorizes
affirmative action as a response to racial discrimination. What has the UN done in support of
affirmative action measures on behalf of victims of discrimination in the US?
What kind of support can her office and the UN provide to groups in the US that are interested in
participating in and learning more about the preparatory conferences and the World Conference
itself?
What are the UN's priorities going forward in order to ensure that the event is successful and what
is her definition of success?
Racism and racial discriminaton are framed very broadly in CERD and other international laws and
documents? Given the breadth of these provisions, what are the subject matter priorities that will
likely be given the most attention at the World Conference?
What is the attitude and stance of the US government in relation to the holding of the event?
What other resources have been appropriated by the UN and/or raised from other sources for the
World Conference? What is the strategy to generate an adequate financial underpinning?
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International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The States Parties to this Convention,
Considering that the Charter of the United Nations is based on the principles of the dignity and
equality inherent in all human beings, and that all Member States have pledged themselves to
take joint and separate action, in co-operation with the Organization, for the achievement of one
of the purposes of the United Nations which is to promote and encourage universal respect for
and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race,
sex, language or religion,
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are
born free and lequal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and
freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or
national origin,
Considering that all human beings are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of
the law against any discrimination and against any incitement to discrimination,
Considering that the United Nations has condemned colonialism and all practices of segregation
and discrimination associated therewith, in whatever form and wherever they exist, and that the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 14 December
1960 (General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)) has affirmed and solemnly proclaimed the
necessity of bringing them to a speedy and unconditional end,
Considering that the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination of 20 November 1963 (General Assembly resolution 1904 (XVIII)) solemnly
affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating racial discrimination throughout the world in all its
forms and manifestations and of securing understanding of and respect for the dignity of the
human person,
Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false,
morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial
discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere,
Reaffirming that discrimination between human beings on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic
origin is an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations among nations and is capable of disturbing
peace and security among peoples and the harmony of persons living side by side even within
one and the same State,
Convinced that the existence of racial barriers is repugnant to the ideals of any human society,
Alarmed by manifestations of racial discrimination still in evidence in some areas of the world
and by governmental policies based on racial superiority or hatred, such as policies of apartheid,
segregation or separation,
Resolved to adopt all necessary measures for speedily eliminating racial discrimination in all its
forms and manifestations, and to prevent and combat racist doctrines and practices in order to
promote understanding between races and to build an international community free from all
forms of racial segregation and racial discrimination,
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9
Bearing in mind the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and
Occupation adopted by the International Labour Organisation in 1958, and the Convention
against Discrimination in Education adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization in 1960,
Desiring to implement the principles embodied in the United Nations Declaration on the
Elimination of Al 1 Forms of Racial Discrimination and to secure the earliest adoption of
practical measures to that end,
Have agreed as follows:
PART I
Article I
1. In this Convention, the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion,
restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the
purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal
footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or
any other field of public life.
2. This Convention shall not apply to distinctions, exclusions, restrictions or preferences made by
a State Party to this Convention between citizens and non-citizens.
3. Nothing inithis Convention may be interpreted as affecting in any way the legal provisions of
States Parties concerning nationality, citizenship or naturalization, provided that such provisions
do not discriminate against any particular nationality.
4. Special measures taken for the sole purpose of securing adequate advancement of certain racial
or ethnic groups or individuals requiring such protection as may be necessary in order to ensure
such groups or individuals equal enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental
freedoms shall not be deemed racial discrimination, provided, however, that such measures do
not, as a consequence, lead to the maintenance of separate rights for different racial groups and
that they shall not be continued after the objectives for which they were taken have been
achieved.
Article 2
1. States Parties condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pursue by all appropriate means
and without delay a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting
understanding among all races, and, to this end:
(a) Each State Party undertakes to engage in no act or practice of racial
discrimination against persons, groups of persons or institutions and to ensure
that all public authorities and public institutions, national and local, shall act
in conformity with this obligation;
(b) Each State Party undertakes not to sponsor, defend or support racial
discrimination by any persons or organizations;
(c) Each State Party shall take effective measures to review governmental,
national and local policies, and to amend, rescind or nullify any laws and
regulations which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial
discrimination wherever it exists;
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(d) Each State Party shall prohibit and bring to an end, by all appropriate
means, including legislation as required by circumstances, racial
discrimination by any persons, group or organization;
(e) Each State Party undertakes to encourage, where appropriate,
integrationist multiracial organizations and movements and other means of
eliminating barriers between races, and to discourage anything which tends to
strengthen racial division.
2. States Parties shall, when the circumstances SO warrant, take, in the social, economic, cultural
and other fields, special and concrete measures to ensure the adequate development and
protection of certain racial groups or individuals belonging to them, for the purpose of
guaranteeing them the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
These measures shall in no case entail as a consequence the maintenance of unequal or separate
rights for different racial groups after the objectives for which they were taken have been
achieved.
Article 3
States Parties particularly condemn racial segregation and apartheid and undertake to prevent,
prohibit and eradicate all practices of this nature in territories under their jurisdiction.
Article 4
States Parties condemn all propaganda and all organizations which are based on ideas or theories
of superiority of one race or group of persons of one colour or ethnic origin, or which attempt to
justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form, and undertake to adopt
immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such
discrimination and, to this end, with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of this Convention,
inter alia:
(a) Shall declare an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas
based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as
well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or
group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of
any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof;
(b) Shall declare illegal and prohibit organizations, and also organized and all
other propaganda activities, which promote and incite racial discrimination,
and shall recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an
offence punishable by law;
(c) Shall not permit public authorities or public institutions, national or local,
to promote or incite racial discrimination.
Article 5
In compliance with the fundamental obligations laid down in article 2 of this Convention, States
Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to
guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin,
to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the following rights:
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(a) The right to equal treatment before the tribunals and all other organs
administering justice;
(b) The right to security of person and protection by the State against violence
or bodily harm, whether inflicted by government officials or by any
individual group or institution;
(c) Political rights, in particular the right to participate in elections - to vote
and to stand for election - on the basis of universal and equal suffrage, to take
part in the Government as well as in the conduct of public affairs at any level
and to have equal access to public service;
(d) Other civil rights, in particular:
(i) The right to freedom of movement and residence within
the border of the State;
(ii) The right to leave any country, including one's own, and to
return to one's country;
(iii) The right to nationality;
(iv) The right to marriage and choice of spouse;
(v) The right to own property alone as well as in association
with others;
(vi) The right to inherit;
(vii) The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
(viii) The right to freedom of opinion and expression;
(ix) The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association;
(e) Economic, social and cultural rights, in particular:
(i) The rights to work, to free choice of employment, to just
and favourable conditions of work, to protection against
unemployment, to equal pay for equal work, to just and
favourable remuneration;
(ii) The right to form and join trade unions;
(iii) The right to housing;
(iv) The right to public health, medical care, social security
and social services;
(v) The right to education and training;
(vi) The right to equal participation in cultural activities;
(f) The right of access to any place or service intended for use by the general public,
such as transport hotels, restaurants, cafes, theatres and parks.
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Article 6
States Parties shall assure to everyone within their jurisdiction effective protection and remedies,
through the competent national tribunals and other State institutions, against any acts of racial
discrimination which violate his human rights and fundamental freedoms contrary to this
Convention, as well as the right to seek from such tribunals just and adequate reparation or
satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination.
Article 7
States Parties undertake to adopt immediate and effective measures, particularly in the fields of
teaching, education, culture and information, with a view to combating prejudices which lead to
racial discrimination and to promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among nations
and racial or ethnical groups, as well as to propagating the purposes and principles of the Charter
of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and this Convention.
PART II
Article 8
1. There shall be established a Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
(hereinafter referred to as the Committee) consisting of eighteen experts of high moral standing
and acknowledged impartiality elected by States Parties from among their nationals, who shall
serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution
and to the representation of the different forms of civilization as well as of the principal legal
systems.
2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons
nominated by the States Parties. Each State Party may nominate one person from among its own
nationals.
3. The initial election shall be held six months after the date of the entry into force of this
Convention. At least three months before the date of each election the Secretary-General of the
United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit their
nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in alphabetical order
of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall
submit it to the States Parties.
4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of States Parties
convened by the Secretary-General at United Nations Headquarters. At that meeting, for which
two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee
shall be nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes
of the representatives of States Parties present and voting.
5. (a) The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. However, the
terms of nine of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years;
immediately after the first election the names of these nine members shall be chosen by lot
by the Chairman of the Committee;
(b) For the filling of casual vacancies, the State Party whose expert has ceased to function as
a member of the Committee shall appoint another expert from among its nationals, subject to the
approval of the Committee.
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6. States Parties shall be responsible for the expenses of the members of the Committee while
they are in performance of Committee duties.
Article 9
1. States Parties undertake to submit to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for
consideration by the Committee, a report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other
measures which they have adopted and which give effect to the provisions of this Convention:
(a) within one year after the entry into force of the Convention for the State
conderned; and
(b) thereafter every two years and whenever the Committee so requests. The
Committee may request further information from the States Parties.
2. The Committee shall report annually, through the Secretary General, to the General Assembly
of the United Nations on its activities and may make suggestions and general recommendations
based on the examination of the reports and information received from the States Parties. Such
suggestions and general recommendations shall be reported to the General Assembly together
with comments, if any, from States Parties.