Brussels conference ends with condemnation of any form of racism, xenophobia and discrimination, calls on OSCE States to combat hate acts

BRUSSELS, 14 September 2004 - An international OSCE conference on tolerance and the fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination ended here today with a declaration condemning, in clear terms, all forms of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, while urging OSCE participating States to respond effectively to acts motivated by intolerance.

The two-day conference in the Belgian capital, attended by more than 700 government officials, non-governmental organizations and expert speakers, was the third of three OSCE events on related topics held this year. The first one in Berlin focussed on anti-Semitism while the second, in Paris, was on hate propaganda on the Internet.

"We have come a long way from Vienna, last September, when racism, xenophobia and discrimination were first discussed in this format," Solomon Passy, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Bulgarian Foreign Minister, told the conference.

"We now have a clear route mapped out. As Prince Philip of Belgium said yesterday, we need continued dialogue and education, and we need to add tolerance to our agenda. Action is called for and the OSCE is determined to provide a strong lead."

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht said: "This conference has identified concrete measures to combat all forms of racism and xenophobia and has allowed us to send a clear signal to the entire international community. This should be our inspiration.

"Current events show us that condemnation alone is not enough, " he added. "The key theme of this conference was dialogue; dialogue aimed at developing mutual respect and understanding, as well as promoting a fairer society."

In their declaration, participants condemned all organizations and individuals promoting hatred or acts of racism, xenophobia, discrimination or intolerance. They firmly rejected the identification of terrorism and extremism with any religion, culture, ethnic group, nationality or race, and declared unambiguously that international developments or political issues never justify racism, xenophobia and discrimination.

The Brussels declaration also incorporated a decision taken by the OSCE Permanent Council on 29 July, by which the Organization's 55 participating States committed themselves to consider enacting or strengthening legislation that prohibits discrimination; to promote educational programmes to foster tolerance and combat racism, xenophobia and discrimination; to promote and facilitate an open and transparent interfaith and intercultural dialogue and partnership; and to take steps to combat acts of discrimination and violence against Muslims in the OSCE area.

The States also agreed to act against discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia against migrants and migrant workers, to combat hate crimes and to collect and maintain reliable information and statistics about hate crimes motivated by racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance.

The Permanent Council decision also tasked the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to systematically collect and disseminate information throughout the OSCE area on best practices for preventing and responding to racism, xenophobia and discrimination.