Germany, France and Dozens of Nations Boycott UN Durban Anniversary Event
Germany, France and dozens of other nations boycotted a UN meeting in New York marking 25 years since the Durban Declaration against racism, citing persistent antisemitism and political exploitation.
Germany, France and dozens of other nations boycotted a special United Nations meeting in New York marking 25 years since the Durban Declaration against racism. Berlin justified its absence by citing the antisemitic incidents that accompanied the original conference in South Africa and its follow-up sessions. United States Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, described the event as a shameful commemorative gathering, after Israel worked in recent weeks to persuade countries to boycott it.
Germany: The Fight Against Racism Exploited to Spread Antisemitism
According to a report by the German newspaper WELT, based on the German news agency DPA, the Foreign Office in Berlin clarified that Germany supports the stated goals of the Durban process, but opposes the way it has been exploited in the past. According to the ministry, the process has repeatedly served as a platform for antisemitic statements, and therefore Germany also refrained from participating in review conferences held over the years.
France and other countries took a similar stance. According to a report by the JNS news agency, more than 40 countries boycotted the gathering, a number exceeding the 38 nations that stayed away from the 20th-anniversary events in 2021. The Israeli mission to the UN stated that the boycott came following a diplomatic effort led by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What is the Durban Process and Why is it Controversial?
The Durban process began at the World Conference against Racism, held in South Africa in 2001. Its goal was to formulate an international plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia, while also addressing the consequences of slavery and colonialism. The declaration adopted at the end of the conference has since served as the basis for UN activities in the field.
The Durban conference was accompanied by sharp clashes over the treatment of Israel, with Palestinian and Syrian representatives accusing it of racism and human rights violations.
However, the original conference was accompanied by fierce clashes surrounding the treatment of Israel. Palestinian and Syrian representatives accused it of racism and violations of Palestinian rights. Early drafts contained formulations linking Zionism to racism, but these were removed from the final text. At the same time, events held on the sidelines of the conference were accompanied by antisemitic manifestations. The United States and Israel walked out in protest. The 2009 review conference in Geneva and subsequent anniversary gatherings also sparked controversies and boycotts by Western nations.
Israel Worked to Expand the Boycott
Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, called on countries not to legitimize the legacy of the conference. According to him, the lesson from Durban is that the fight against racism can lose its credibility when it is exploited to spread hatred and promote a political agenda. Israel argued that there is no room to celebrate the anniversary without confronting the manifestations of antisemitism that accompanied the process.
Despite the boycott, the conference took place as planned. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to tighten legislation against discrimination, tackle biases in artificial intelligence, and promote practical steps to rectify historical injustices. He stated that racism continues to deepen social divides and deprive human beings of fundamental rights and freedoms, emphasizing that the fight against discrimination is even more urgent today than it was 25 years ago.
