Published: 6 May 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
The UN plans to hold events marking the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Racism, called Durban IV; State Dept: US will not take part in Durban IV conference
Speaking at an Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce event in Melbourne on Thursday, PM Morrison said: “We will not associate Australia with one-sided and contentious language that singles out Israel or an event that champions such language.”
“This is entirely consistent with my Government’s very strong voting position on UN General Assembly resolutions, in the Human Rights Council and elsewhere. We will continue that same approach to Durban 4 later this year.”
The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomed the decision to boycott Durban IV. ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “The Prime Minister’s decision is a sign of leadership. It continues his government’s principled position of refusing to cooperate with the UN’s anti-Israel resolutions and activities. Mr Morrison’s decision is also a continuation of the principled position of the former Labor Government to boycott the two previous Durban conferences. Given the bipartisan consensus of the previous decisions, I look forward to a bipartisan consensus to emerge now.”
Mr Leibler continued, “Racism must be fought, and international events to highlight racism are important. But the Durban process was infected by antisemitism, which undermined its raison d’être.”
On Monday a State Department spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post that “The United States will not attend or participate in any events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action or the World Conference on Racism, which preceded it”.
