Professor Verene Shepherd, Professor of Social History and University Director,  Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) will open one of two roundtable discussions at the upcoming United Nations (UN) meeting at its Headquarters in New York  on September 22. The Roundtable Discussions mark the 10th Anniversary of the Durban Anti-Racism Conference held in South Africa in 2001.
 
In her capacity as a member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (WGPAD), Professor Shepherd will lead the discussions on issues of “Victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance: recognition, justice and development”. The WGPAD which was established by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in April 2002 seeks to examine racial problems and possible measures to be taken towards the elimination of racial discrimination against people of African Descent and to ensure their access to justice.
 
This high-level meeting dubbed, “Durban 111” will serve to reaffirm the commitments of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action of 2001. According to the Declaration and Programme of Action all States have a duty to protect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons and that the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights is essential for the development of societies throughout the world. The Declaration also speaks to the importance of applying a gender perspective in addressing issues of discrimination, and recognizes the multiple forms of discrimination which women may face.
 
The Meeting holds special significance to the international community, as it comes during the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent, and creates an important opportunity to focus on how to combat racism and racial discrimination in all its manifestations.
 
A live webcast of the meeting can be viewed at www.un.org/webcast