WCAR Labels Slavery a Crime Against Humanity
Feature Story by Tia Sumler - 9/9/2001
September 09, 2001-Agreement was acheived in the final days of the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR), producing a document that labeled slavery a crime against humanity and suggested exploration of reparations for slavery.Wade Henderson, the executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights in Washington, said: "For African descendants, I think the agreement offers a genuine breakthrough. By recognizing slavery as a crime against humanity, the document sets the stage for legislative and legal action to address historic inequities."
The resolution came after a dramatic week that included a walkout by the United States and Israeli delegations. The walkout was condememned by many U.S. civil and human rights organizations participating in the conference.
A statement issued by Wade Henderson, Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the largest, oldest, and most diverse coalition of civil and human rights organizations in the United States, focused on the many opportunities presented by the WCAR that would now be lost.
"By withdrawing, the United States has squandered an opportunity to participate in important issues facing the country and the world. While we understand the gravity of the situation in the Middle East, focusing solely on this issue overshadows discussion of other critical challenges including contemporary slavery, caste discrimination, criminal justice, poverty, education, rights of indigenous peoples and gender discrimination. The refusal to take part in this historic discussion of important human rights issues is an abdication of U.S. leadership in the global effort against racism and bigotry."
"The Leadership Conference is also dismayed by the expressions of anti-Semitism voiced by a variety of sources. Such hate speech is not redeemed by the fact that Palestinians and other groups have also been subjected to abusive language. Religious hate has no place at a conference dedicated to the elimination of racism and other forms of intolerance. It is not acceptable for any racial, religious, or ethnic group to be made the target of discrimination."
