Robinson calls for more measures to combat racism

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Mary Robinson, has opened a three-day conference in Geneva on racism with a call for victims of discrimination to be given greater access to courts.

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Mary Robinson, has opened a three-day conference in Geneva on racism with a call for victims of discrimination to be given greater access to courts.

Robinson said measures had to be taken at both local and international level to ensure victims of racism had legal redress. She added that anti-racism laws in some coutries were often still virtually unknown and too complex.

The meeting in Geneva, which is being held at expert level, is a preparatory session for the World Congress against Racism due to take place next year in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Robinson outlined several aims for the experts. They included:
– Measures to prevent racism or acts of racism taking place.
– Drawing up an inventory of racist organisations and individuals.
– Discussion of new media capable of propagating racism, such as the Internet.

The Swiss delegation is expected to put forward proposals on the second day of the conference, during a debate on racism and the Internet. The Swiss delegation is led by Jean-Daniel Vigny, head of the human rights department at the foreign ministry.

From staff and wire reports