Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Fourth session, 16-27 January 2006

Introduction

The Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action will hold its fourth session from 16 to 27 January 2006 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva , Conference Room XXI. The Working Group ’s two-week session will follow the following format: (a) the first week will be devoted to a high level seminar on racism and the Internet and to the issue of complementary international standards in combating racism; (b)the second week will focus on a thematic analysis of the issue of globalization and racism.

The High level Seminar

In its resolution 2005/64 the Commission on Human Rights requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right (OHCHR) to convene a high-level seminar on racism and the Internet and on complementary international standards for combating racism, within the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group. The seminar will take place from 16 to 20 January 2006 .

The seminar will be divided into two sessions:

• Racism and the Internet will be examined on 16 and 17 January (two days);

• Complementary international standards will be examined on 18 to 20 January (three days).

Thematic analysis

Since its first session in 2003, the Intergovernmental Working Group has organized its work on a thematic basis by analyzing different issues identified in Durban as related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and has issued recommendations on measures towards the effective implementation of the corresponding provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and analyzed the issues of education, poverty, health and the Internet.

At its fourth session, the Intergovernmental Working Group will devote the second week of the session to a thematic analysis of the issue of globalization and racism.