Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 13:19:05 -0000
From: "ngo_ip_undecade" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Information Note N °34, Seminar Bangkok
Dear Sir/Madam ,
Please be informed that the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights is organizing an expert regional
seminar within the context of the comprehensive implementation
of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of
Action.
The seminar which is entitled: "Combating racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance:
Role of education and awareness-raising", will take place in
Bangkok on 4-6 July 2005, and will focus on the regions of South and
Southeast Asia.
The specific goal of the seminar is to consider
strategies which could be formulated toward reaching concrete
recommendations, which aim to contribute toward the elimination
of discrimination in access and quality of education. The seminar
will examine how discrimination has posed obstacles to access to
education and how education, human rights education and awareness
raising constitute important tools in combating the persistent
manifestations of discrimination within the region of South and
Southeast Asia.
The seminar will consist of presentations by experts
followed by discussions and will include three workshops. I trust
that this seminar will offer to participants a fine opportunity
to examine some of the crucial issues which must be tackled in
order to effectively combat discrimination and realize equality in
treatment.
Interested non-governmental organizations that have
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and
non-governmental organizations who were accredited for the
World Conference against Racism are invited to communicate the names
of their representatives who will attend the meeting to Ms. Marie-
Dominique Mornet only by fax +41 22 917 90 50 on letterhead,
signed by the appropriate official of your organization, copying
Ms. Malinee Muangsiri ([EMAIL PROTECTED], tel.: +66 2 288
1235; fax: + 66 2 288 1000) as soon as possible. Kindly complete
and fax the registration form to confirm your participation.
Yours sincerely,
Sandra Aragón-Parriaux
NGO liaison officer
Anti-Discrimination Unit
OHCHR
Tel: 00 41 22 917 93 93
Fax: 00 41 22 917 90 50
Sandra Aragon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
-------------------------------------
"COMBATING RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED
INTOLERANCE: ROLE OF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS-RAISING"
REGIONAL EXPERT SEMINAR FOR SOUTH
AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
BANGKOK, THAILAND
4-6 July 2005
PROVISIONAL AGENDA
MONDAY 4 JULY 2005
9:00-9:30 Opening
9:30-10:15 Election of Chairperson of the seminar, presentation
of moderators and participants and adoption of the agenda
10:15-10:30 Coffee Break
10:30-12:30 Session 1 (plenary)
Discrimination in the region
1. Based on religion
2. Based on ethnicity
3. Based on social status
4. Based on identification as hill tribe peoples
5. Based on other grounds
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:00 Session 2 (plenary)
The contribution of education and awareness-raising in overcoming
discrimination
1. Discrimination and access to primary and secondary education
2. Discrimination and access to quality education and human
rights education
3. The role of awareness-raising in combating discrimination
15:00-15:15 Coffee Break
15:15-17:30 Discussion
TUESDAY 5 JULY 2005
09:00-12:30 Session 3 Group work
Working Group 1
Good practices from the sub-region to overcome discrimination in
access to primary and secondary education
Working Group 2
Good practices from the sub-region to overcome discrimination
through the quality of primary and secondary education and human
rights education (curricula, textbooks, materials, teacher-training,
etc.)
Working Group 3
Good practices from the sub-region to overcome discrimination
through awareness-raising initiatives and their link with the
primary and secondary education systems
12:30 -13:30 Lunch
13:30 -15:00 Group work (continued): formulation of
recommendations
15:00- 15:15 Coffee Break
15:15 -17:00 Session 4 (plenary)
Reports of the working groups and discussion
WEDNESDAY 6 JULY 2005
09:30-11:30 Session 5 (plenary)
Building a Coalition of Cities against Racism in Asia
11:00- 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30- 12:30 Discussion
12:30-14:00 Lunch
14:00-17:00 Session 6 (plenary)
Adoption of conclusions and recommendations on the role of education
and awareness-raising policies in effectively countering racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
_____________________
"COMBATING RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED
INTOLERANCE:
ROLE OF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS-RAISING"
REGIONAL EXPERT SEMINAR FOR SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
4-6 July 2005
Bangkok -Thailand
I. BACKGROUND OF THE REGIONAL SEMINAR
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is
organizing a regional seminar within the context of the
comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban
Declaration and Programme of Action entitled "Combating racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance: role of
education and awareness-raising".
Today, unfortunately, we are not short of evidence that racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue
to be a present and direct threat to human dignity. In an effort to
end the persistent discriminations that plague societies around the
world, the States participating in the World Conference against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
(held in Durban, South Africa from 31 August to 8 September 2001),
adopted a Declaration and Programme of Action. The Declaration and
Programme of Action does not only record a solemn commitment by
States to work together but also offers a functional common agenda
to the international community for the strengthening of the
international human rights framework to combat racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The seminar will provide a forum for exchange of information and
discussion on the development and implementation of anti-
discrimination policies as they relate to the role of education and
awareness raising in combating discrimination by inter alia forging
multiculturalism and assisting victims to overcome exclusion in
order to contribute to society and achieve human, social and
economic development in more inclusive societies.
The seminar will examine how discrimination has posed obstacles to
access to education and how education and awareness raising
constitute important tools in combating various manifestations of
discrimination which continue to plague many societies.
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE REGIONAL SEMINAR
The seminar aims to:
• Identify obstacles and challenges impeding the
implementation of the commitments contained in the Durban Programme
of Action in the fields of education and awareness-raising;
• Identify obstacles posed by racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance with regard to access to primary,
secondary education and human rights education;
• Promote discussion between policy makers, community leaders
and victims of discrimination on rights-based strategies to
overcoming discrimination and achieving access to primary and
secondary education;
• Consider the need to support programs designed for the
training of teachers, and trainers with regard to popular
education;
• Examine the role and potential of the media in combating
racial stereotypes and prejudice through public information
campaigns aimed at sensitizing communities;
• Identify and share good practices applicable to countries of
South and Southeast Asia in integrating human rights, and non-
discrimination in particular, in the development and implementation
of policies and national plans of action.
The core objectives of the Seminar are to:
• Formulate strategies and recommendations designed to assist
Governments and civil society in using primary, secondary education,
and human rights education and awareness-raising to overcome racism,
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance consistent
with the Durban Programme of Action provisions;
• Identify means toward an effective follow-up on the
strategies and recommendations resulting from the seminar.
III. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
A. Experts
Eight to ten experts, including members of United Nations human
rights bodies and mechanisms, professionals in the fields of
education and the media including community-based teachers,
education specialists from private and public institutions, media
professionals, United Nations specialized agencies, national
institutions, intergovernmental regional organizations, regional
organizations and NGOs concerned with education and the media, will
be invited to prepare and present background papers on the topics to
be addressed by the seminar. The seminar will close with the
adoption of conclusions and recommendations.
B. Date and venue
The seminar will be held on 4 to 6 July 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand at
UN ESCAP.
C. Participants
The main participants in the seminar will be senior Government
officials and policy makers whose functions are closely related to
the two subjects of the seminar, namely education and awareness-
raising, representatives of national human rights institutions and
NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as
well as those that had been accredited to the World Conference, and
whose work is related to the seminar's topics. Participants will be
invited to relate their national experience or speak on specific
subjects.
Since the seminar will address a variety of policy issues,
Governments are requested to appoint senior representatives with
appropriate decision-making responsibilities to participate at the
seminar.
-----------
To receive a copy of the registration Form for the Regional Expert
Seminar for South and Southeast Asia, please contact:
Téléfax: (41 22)-917 9050
Télégrammes:UNATIONS, GENEVE
Téléx: 41 29 62
Téléphone: (41 22) 917 9121
Internet www.unhcr.ch
E-mail: mmornet @ohchr.org
REFERENCE: Health/Gob
or
Sandra Aragón-Parriaux
NGO liaison officer
Anti-Discrimination Unit
OHCHR
Tel: 00 41 22 917 93 93
Fax: 00 41 22 917 90 50
Sandra Aragon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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