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Notes at the Official
Launch of the WCAR logo
23 Febrary 2001
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 The WCAR, a UN Conference hosted by South Africa, will
be held in Durban at the International Convention Centre
(ICC) from 31 August to 7 September 2001. It is expected that approximately 12000
delegates and representatives from all UN Member States, the UN Secretariat, specialised
agencies and regional commissions, as well as other intergovernmental organisations and
NGOs will attend the Conference. National delegations to the Conference will be led by
foreign ministers or other senior ministers. The slogan for the Conference is "United
to Combat Racism."
1.2 The United Nations designated the three decades from
1973 to 2003 as decades of action to combat racism and racial discrimination. The First
World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (WCAR) was held in Geneva in
1978. The Second WCAR, held in Geneva from 1 to 12 August 1983, reviewed and assessed the
activities undertaken during the previous decade and formulated specific measures to
ensure the implementation of United Nations instruments to eliminate racism, racial
discrimination and apartheid.
1.3 In 1997, the UN General Assembly, against the backdrop
of growing concern about the rise globally in the incidents of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and in recognition of the challenges
and prospects for combating these phenomena, decided that a World Conference Against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance should be held by no
later than 2001.
1.4 In 1998, the UN General Assembly designated the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, as Secretary-General of the Conference.
In view of South Africa's experience in defeating institutionalised racism and the
processes put in place for a peaceful transition to democracy and reconciliation, Mrs
Robinson in 1999 approached South Africa to host the Third World Conference Against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. South Africa agreed to
the request.
1.5 The WCAR is a UN Conference taking place at a venue
other than a UN centre. UN practice confers on the host country the right to designate a
chairperson for a world conference of this nature, who will be Foreign Minister Dlamini
Zuma. As Secretary-General of the Conference, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is
responsible for the preparatory process and the Conference itself. The Chairperson will
work closely with the Secretary-General of the Conference to achieve both an effective
Conference and a declaration that contributes to the combating of racism. However, South
Africa will clearly shoulder a great deal of responsibility in ensuring that at the
conclusion of the Third World Conference a positive and forward looking declaration and
programme of action are adopted which reflect the concerns of all the regions. -
1.6 In spite of the positive strides that have generally
been made in terms of the development of human rights globally, incident of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance appear to be on the rise globally,
including the incitement of racial and religious prejudice and the concomitant violence
which often accompanies these manifestations. The continued growth in the various
manifestations of racism, especially in developed countries, has strongly underscored the
need for greater and more concentrated international efforts aimed at eradicating this
scourge, which still afflicts the majority of the worlds' nations and peoples at the dawn
of the 21st century.
1.7 For South Africa, the main issue is racism and the
legacy of apartheid which has re-enforced racism in all its forms. Following from the
successful national conference on racism, South Africa's hosting of this conference
presents a historical opportunity for South Africa to take a lead in the campaign against
racism in all its manifestations globally. This would be an opportunity for South Africa
to positively influence global positions and strategies for the implementation of
solutions in the fight against racism. In the context of Africa, and South Africa's
leading role in the region, this would be a welcome opportunity for Africa to influence
the nature of solutions and be positively involved in follow-up mechanisms beyond the
Conference.
1.8 It is the practice when such World Conferences are
convened, the NGO Community will also meet to discuss the topics for the conference. Their
events will take place in Durban from 28 August to I September 2001. Please direct your
enquiries in this regard to Mr Moshe More of SANGOCO and the Office of the High Commission
for Human Rights.
2. SYMBOLISM OF THE LOGO ADOPTED FOR THE WCAR
As host of the Third World Conference Against Racism (WCAR)
in Durban, the responsibility was placed on the South African Government to design a
Conference logo. The Government Communication and
Information System designed the logo and it was approved by the United Nations
Publications Board on 9 February 2001.
2.1 Slide I
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The Yin-Yang was chosen as the
basis/foundation for the design of the WCAR logo in order to embrace the logo of the
Anti-Apartheid Movement. It has historically been associated with racism issues by the
international community. The Yin-Yang is a Chinese
symbol reflecting the dual distribution of forces, comprising the active or masculine
principle (Yang) and the passive or feminine (Yin).
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| The Yin-Yang symbol
is bisected by a sigmoid line. The two parts formed are invested with a dynamic tendancy,
which would be wanting if the division were by a diameter. The light half represents the
Yang force (masculine) and the dark half denotes Yin (feminine). Each half depicts an arc
cut out of the middle of the opposing half in an effort to symbolise that every mode
contains within it the germ of its antithesis. |
2.2 Slide 2
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The second slide illustrates the artistic
movement added to the symbol this reflections a more dynamic society and one which
emphasises the diverse geographic, cultural and racial origins of humankind. The
segmentation of the Yin- Yang reflections on the world as an integrated global community. |
2.3 Slide 3
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Slide 3 illustrates an axis with the
wording "World Conference Against
Racism" as foundation to support the Yin-Yang as a
representation of the traditional globe. The axis, further more, is symbolic of direction
through the added implication of a compass that depicts the way forward. |
2.4 Slide 4
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The slide demonstrates that the individual
units of the evolved Yin- Yang are united by the symbolic reference to the globe. This
concept creates a stronger and more powerful emblem, which represents strength and unity. |
2.5 Slide 5
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This shows the logo with a warm orange
background, a reflection of the celebration of the human spirit. This underscores that
strength and unity on a universal scale is founded on such fundan1ental principles as
respect, tolerance and appreciation for differences of cultures and the traditions of
others. |
2.6 Slide 6
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The logo can be utilised in its pure form.
Slide 6, however, illustrates that the logo may be adapted to give it a modem
three-dimensional appearance. |
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