The 1st Regional Workshop on the Durban Review Conference 2009 will be held in Bangkok on 25-26 February 2008, organized by FORUM-ASIA and the International Movement against All Forms of Racial Discrimination (IMADR).

FORUM-ASIA and International Movement Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination (IMADR) will organise the 1st Regional Workshop on the Durban Review Conference (DRC) 2009. About 30 representatives of civil society organisations are expected to attend the event, which will be held from 25 to 26 February in Bangkok. They two organisations will facilitate civil society consultation and participation in response to the DRC.

The workshop aims to promote public awareness of the DRC within civil society in Asia, identify issues and challenges related to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). It also is designed to develop civil society advocacy strategies in the DRC process.

To implement the results of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2006 to recommend to hold a conference for its review in early 2009. The Human Rights Council was designated as the Preparatory Committee (Prep Com) of the DRC, and will hold its first substantive session from 21 April to 2 May 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The workshop is a follow-up to three civil society consultation meetings: the 1st Regional Workshop on Ethnic Minorities in Southeast Asia (Bangkok, 21-23 January 2008); and the 2nd and 3rd regional consultations of Solidarity for Asian People’s Advocacy Working Group on UN Human Rights (SAPA WG on UNHR) (Bangkok, 29-30 July 2007 and 31 January 2008). DRC was discussed as part of these meetings’ agenda.

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