[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 31, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S8482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 142--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
  UNITED STATES SHOULD BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE UNITED NATIONS 
   WORLD CONFERENCE ON RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND 
                          RELATED INTOLERANCE

  Mr. DODD submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 142

       Whereas racial discrimination, ethnic conflict, and 
     xenophobia persist in various parts of the world despite 
     continuing efforts by the international community;
       Whereas in recent years the world has witnessed campaigns 
     of ethnic cleansing;
       Whereas racial minorities, migrants, asylum seekers, and 
     indigenous peoples are persistent targets of intolerance and 
     violence;
       Whereas millions of human beings continue to encounter 
     discrimination solely due to their race, skin color, or 
     ethnicity;
       Whereas early action is required to prevent the growth of 
     ethnic hatred and to diffuse potential violent conflicts;
       Whereas the problems associated with racism will be 
     thoroughly explored at the United Nations World Conference 
     against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related 
     Intolerance, to be held in Durban, South Africa from August 
     31 to September 7, 2001;
       Whereas this conference will review progress made in the 
     fight against racism and consider ways to better ensure the 
     application of existing standards to combat racism;
       Whereas the conference will increase the level of awareness 
     about the scourge of racism and formulate concrete 
     recommendations on ways to increase the effectiveness of the 
     United Nations in dealing with racial issues;
       Whereas the conference will review the political, 
     historical, economic, social, cultural, and other factors 
     leading to racism and racial discrimination and formulate 
     concrete recommendations to further action-oriented national, 
     regional, and international measures to combat racism;
       Whereas the conference will draw up concrete 
     recommendations to ensure that the United Nations has the 
     resources to actively combat racism and racial 
     discrimination; and
       Whereas the United States is a member of the United 
     Nations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States should attend and participate fully 
     in the United Nations World Conference on Racism, Racial 
     Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;
       (2) the delegation sent to the conference by the United 
     States should reflect the racial and geographic diversity of 
     the United States; and
       (3) the President should support the conference and should 
     act in such a way as to facilitate substantial United States 
     involvement in the conference.

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the possibility that 
the United States will not send a full delegation to the United Nations 
World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and 
Related Intolerance. I believe this is both a worthwhile and important 
endeavor, and I am greatly troubled by the prospect that the United 
States may not attend.
  According to a Washington Post article last week, the Bush 
Administration's reservations about attending the conference stem from 
concerns regarding certain proposed items on the agenda. The 
Administration's concerns are legitimate ones, but it is my belief that 
the Conference organizers are so anxious to have high level U.S. 
participation in Durban that contentious issues can be resolved prior 
to the August event, provided the United States signals its genuine 
interest in participating. Clearly the overarching objectives of the 
conference are of great importance to the American people and to 
peoples throughout the planet. As members of the global community, and 
as a global leader and vocal advocate for human rights, it would be 
tragic if the United States could not find a way to support the 
conference's honorable ambitions.
  I do not need to list for my colleagues all the many injustices that 
occur each day, worldwide, that can be attributed to racism and 
ignorance, racism's frequent collaborator. As we all know, despite the 
best efforts of the international community, the effects of racial 
discrimination, ethnic conflict, and xenophobia continue to threaten 
and victimize people the world over. We have seen the violent 
devastations of racism in the former Yugoslavia, in Indonesia, and 
sadly, at home in America as well. The hateful term ``ethnic 
cleansing'' is now all too often used to describe violent international 
conflicts, and, increasingly, international humanitarian relief efforts 
focus on the tides of refugees fleeing persecution based on skin color, 
religion, and ethnic heritage. The task that lays before all nations 
therefore, is to peer deeply into the corners of our societies that we 
find most distasteful and hurtful, and to shine some light honestly 
onto the devastation that racism has inflicted.
  In my view, the United Nations World Conference on Racism is the 
place to begin this difficult, but crucial process of racial 
introspection. It is not enough for the United States to pay lip 
service to the ideals of racial equality. We should attend this 
conference, and lend our full support to this worthy cause. I believe 
that in the conference we have a unique opportunity to work with other 
nations, our neighbors and partners, to begin the process of addressing 
the many crimes caused by racism, and the underlying societal causes of 
racism itself. This conference has the power to raise awareness about 
these issues, to form international consensus on best to combat racism, 
and to educate the international community on the ravages of racially 
motivated persecution and conflict.
  It is my hope, that the Bush Administration will conclude that our 
presence at the United Nations Conference on Racism, Racial 
Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance is vital and 
appropriate, and will work to ensure that problems related to U.S. 
participation are resolved before the conference convenes next month. I 
would also hope that the President would designate Secretary of State 
Colin Powell to lead a racially and geographically diverse delegation 
from the United States to the conference in South Africa. Toward that 
end, I am submitting a resolution which urges the active participation 
of the United States in the conference, and it is my hope that my 
colleagues will support this resolution.

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