ABOUT DURBAN
The World Conference against Racism – held by the United Nations in Durban, South Africa, in 2001 – perversely earned notoriety as the setting for shocking attacks against Israel and Jews.
The conference’s Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) singled out only Israel – the world’s sole Jewish state, the Middle East’s sole pluralistic democracy – for implied characterization as racist. The NGO Forum at Durban went even further, defaming Israel as a “racist, apartheid state” guilty of “genocide” and “alien domination” of Palestinians, and urging discrimination only against those positively engaging with it. Jewish participants in Durban were subjected to verbal abuse and threats of physical harm. Rally signs and printed materials at Durban featured anti-Semitic symbols and canards, the glorification of Nazism and explicit incitement to terrorist violence against Israelis. Even U.N. officials were forced to decry the noxious anti-Semitism that overtook Durban.
Nonetheless, the U.N. held follow-up meetings reaffirming the DDPA – including the Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009, which was addressed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust-denier who had openly called to wipe Israel “off the map.” The U.N. Human Rights Council continues to have a standing agenda item dedicated exclusively to the propagation of the DDPA. And on September 22, 2021, the U.N. General Assembly commemorated Durban’s 20th anniversary with a “high-level summit.”
B’nai B’rith International – the world’s oldest and most widely known Jewish organization, which has led Jewish communal engagement with the U.N. since its creation and is distinguished by a membership globally – brought the largest Jewish delegations to the Durban conference and its follow-up meetings. B’nai B’rith ultimately walked out of Durban, as did the United States and Israel. B’nai B’rith also advocated for the world’s major democracies to boycott the Durban follow-up meetings, as many did, and organized high-level counter-programming upon Durban’s 10th anniversary in 2011 and 20th anniversary in 2021.
We have taken action by raising our voices in key U.N. forums, in published op-eds and in online programs; meeting with ambassadors from around the globe to build awareness of Durban’s toxic legacy; and planning events to provide a truthful and just response to misguided celebrations of Durban. The critical fight against anti-Semitism – like the genuine and necessary fight against all forms of racism – demands nothing less. As with the successful struggle to rescind an infamous 1975 U.N. resolution equating Zionism with racism, we are determined to ensure that bigotry never finds a platform in international institutions.
Please join us – and check this page for new Durban updates and resources.
Please join us – and check this page for new Durban updates and resources.
Shimon Peres, Nobel Peace laureate and future Israeli president, on Durban
- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat calls Israel “racist” at Durban, demands condemnation (2001)
- Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2001)
- B’nai B’rith delegate David Matas, senior legal counsel of B’nai Brith Canada, on his experience at Durban (2001)
- B’nai B’rith urges Durban intervention by U.N. secretary-general (2001)
- Voice of survivor silenced at Durban (2001)
- Open letter from Durban by B’nai B’rith President Richard Heideman (2001)
- Durban NGO Forum Declaration (2001)
- Secretary of State Colin Powell explains pullout from Durban (2001)
- Jewish caucus withdraws from Durban conference (2001)
- Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2001)
- Tom Lantos, Holocaust survivor and member of Congress, on his experience as a U.S. delegate at Durban (2002)
- John Lewis, civil rights icon and member of Congress, on Martin Luther King and Durban (2002)
Video highlights from Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speech at Durban Review Conference (2009)
Chants of “Zio-Nazi” at Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate, at Durban Review Conference (2009)
Honorary President Richard Heideman on the 10th anniversary of Durban (2011)
CEO Dan Mariaschin on the 10th anniversary of Durban (2011)
Opening of B’nai B’rith program on Durban 10th anniversary (2011)
Hannah Rosenthal, U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, at B’nai B’rith program (2011)
John Bolton, former U.S. undersecretary of state and permanent representative to the U.N., at B’nai B’rith program (2011)
Irwin Cotler, member of Parliament and former attorney general and justice minister of Canada, at B’nai B’rith program (2011)
Malcolm Hoenlein, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, at B’nai B’rith program (2011)
- B’nai B’rith condemns U.N. General Assembly vote to commemorate Durban 10th anniversary (2010)
- B’nai B’rith leaders across Latin America discuss Durban commemoration (2011)
- B’nai B’rith Durban counter-program features former U.N. ambassador (and future national security advisor) John Bolton, anti-Semitism envoy Hannah Rosenthal, U.S. Jewish leader Malcolm Hoenlein and former Canadian attorney general and justice minister Irwin Cotler (2011)
- B’nai B’rith mobilizes in advance of U.N. Durban 10th anniversary (2011)
Geneva representative Nurit Braun on B’nai B’rith’s call to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism (2020)
U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs Director David Michaels at B’nai B’rith-sponsored conference in Rwanda on incitement and genocide (2020)
CEO Dan Mariaschin in discussion with four past Israeli ambassadors to the United Nations (2020)
U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs Director David Michaels video message on Durban and bigotry (2020)
B’nai B’rith program on International Holocaust Remembrance Day with U.N. Alliance of Civilizations high representative Miguel Ángel Moratinos, former foreign minister of Spain (2021)
B’nai B’rith discussion on anti-Semitism with U.N. special rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed, former foreign minister of the Maldives (2021)
Honorary President Richard Heideman and CEO Dan Mariaschin in discussion with Irwin Cotler, Canada’s special envoy for Holocaust remembrance and combating anti-Semitism, on 20 years since Durban (2021)
B’nai B’rith Geneva representative Nurit Braun’s intervention on Black-Jewish relations at the U.N. Human Rights Council (2021)
U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs Director David Michaels addresses Durban in U.N. Human Rights Council intervention (2021)
Yehuda Lancry, Israel’s U.N. ambassador during Durban, headlines French-language B’nai B’rith program (2021)
B’nai B’rith Latin America hosts Spanish-language program on Durban (2021)
B’nai B’rith co-sponsors event on how to defeat the Durban strategy, hosted bay Combat AntiSemitism Movement (2021)
DURBAN REVISITED:
Richard and Phyllis Heideman
DURBAN REVISITED:
A Conversation on Israel, Racism and the United Nations
DURBAN REVISITED:
Arizona State Rep. Alma Hernandez
DURBAN REVISITED:
John Bolton, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
DURBAN REVISITED:
Bernard-Henri Lévy, French Public Intellectual and Author
DURBAN REVISITED:
Natan Sharansky, Former Soviet Prisoner of Conscience
B’nai B’rith Revisited
DURBAN REVISITED:
Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism
DURBAN REVISITED:
Irwin Cotler, Canada’s Special Envoy for Combating Anti-Semitism
DURBAN REVISITED:
NY Times Columnist Bret Stephens
DURBAN REVISITED:
Promo
Richard Heideman at the Heritage Foundation on “The Bloody Price of Freedom: Israel’s Battle for Justice, Freedom & Commitment to Democratic Values” (2021)
DURBAN REVISITED
A Special Series by B’nai B’rith International in Partnership with JBS
WATCH ALL PROGRAMS at your convenience on Facebook & YouTube
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
DURBAN REVISITED: NY Times Columnist Bret Stephens
In partnership with JBS, B’nai B’rith International premieres a series of programs marking 20 years since the infamous U.N. conference on racism. In this first conversation, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens discusses Israel, Zionism and anti-Semitism with B’nai B’rith International CEO Dan Mariaschin.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: Irwin Cotler
Canadian human rights champion and former MP Irwin Cotler discusses Israel, Zionism and anti-Semitism with B’nai B’rith International CEO Dan Mariaschin for “Durban Revisited,” a series marking 20 years since the U.N.’s World Conference against Racism. Cotler shares his reflections on the conference, how the Durban legacy of hate continues and key lessons learned in combating anti-Israel sentiment.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism
Former Maldives Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed, South African activist Olga Meshoe Washington, academic Gerald Steinberg and Sherri Mandell, the mother of an Israeli terror victim, discuss anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism with B’nai B’rith International’s Director of U.N. Affairs David Michaels.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: Natan Sharansky, Former Soviet Prisoner of Conscience
B’nai B’rith International CEO Dan Mariaschin discusses Israel, Zionism and anti-Semitism with former Soviet prisoner of conscience Natan Sharansky as part of a series marking 20 years since an infamous United Nations conference on racism.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: Bernard-Henri Lévy, Public Intellectual and Author
As part of a series marking 20 years since an infamous United Nations conference on racism, B’nai B’rith International CEO Dan Mariaschin discusses Israel, Zionism and anti-Semitism with celebrated French public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: John Bolton, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton discusses Israel, Zionism and anti-Semitism with B’nai B’rith International CEO Dan Mariaschin as part of a series marking 20 years since an infamous United Nations conference on racism.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: An Interview with Arizona State Rep. Alma Hernandez
Arizona State Rep. Alma Hernandez speaks with B’nai B’rith International CEO Dan Mariaschin about her work fighting for more robust Holocaust education, rising anti-Semitism and the Durban Conference’s legacy of anti-Israel hatred 20 years on.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: A Conversation on Israel, Racism and the United Nations
B’nai B’rith International U.N. Director David Michaels discusses anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism with Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek, British Baroness Ruth Deech, former U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism Ellie Cohanim and Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
DURBAN REVISITED: Richard and Phyllis Heideman
B’nai B’rith Honorary President Richard D. Heideman, who led the Jewish caucus at the infamous 2001 U.N. Durban Conference and ultimately a walkout from it, along with his wife, International March of the Living President Phyllis G. Heideman, discuss the significance of the event that descended into a notorious anti-Semitic, anti-Israel hate-fest.
WATCH on Facebook & YouTube
- U.N. Affairs Program Officer Oren Drori on “Zionism Is Beautiful” (2015)
- U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs Director David Michaels discusses Durban at U.N. High-Level Forum on Global Anti-Semitism (2016)
- President Charles Kaufman, Honorary President Richard Heideman and CEO Dan Mariaschin op-ed on forthcoming 20th anniversary of Durban (2020)
- U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs Director David Michaels op-ed on racism and anti-Semitism (2020)
- B’nai B’rith thanks Australia for announcing non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith praises Canadian non-participation in Durban (2021)
- President Charles Kaufman and CEO Dan Mariaschin commend U.S. decision not to participate in Durban commemoration (2021)
- B’nai B’rith op-ed on “Zionism-is-Racism” and Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith thanks United Kingdom for announcing non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith welcomes Hungary non-participation in Durban commemoration (2021)
- B’nai B’rith Resolution on Durban (2021)
- BBI commends the Netherlands for announcing non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith welcomes Austria’s non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith thanks Czech Republic for decision not to participate in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith praises Germany’s non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith praises France for non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith commends Bulgaria for declining participation in Durban summit (2021)
- B’nai B’rith representatives at Durban recount their harrowing experience (2021)
- B’nai B’rith welcomes Croatia’s non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith thanks Italy for non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith praises New Zealand for announcing non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith commends Cyprus for non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith thanks Greece for non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith welcomes Slovakia’s decision not to participate in Durban summit (2021)
- B’nai B’rith commends Slovenia for non-participation in Durban (2021)
- B’nai B’rith thanks Croatia for non-participation in Durban (2021)
- Sharansky, Lévy, Bolton, Stephens, Cotler Headline Televised B’nai B’rith Response to “Durban IV” (2021)
- B’nai B’rith Pans Reaffirming of Durban Declaration (2021)
Countries Not Participating In 2021 Durban Commemoration
CEO Dan Mariaschin video on B’nai B’rith work fighting hatred and bigotry (2010)
B’nai B’rith program with Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission coordinator on combating anti-Semitism (2020)
B’nai B’rith program with Elan Carr, United States special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism (2020)
CEO Dan Mariaschin discussion with Lord John Mann, advisor to the British government on anti-Semitism (2020)
B’nai B’rith program on racism and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
- International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of anti-Semitism and related material
- B’nai B’rith’s “None Shall Be Afraid” program on anti-Semitism
- Other B’nai B’rith programs promoting tolerance and diversity
B’nai B’rith responds to U.N. Zionism-is-Racism resolution (1975):
https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/11/archives/jewish-groups-are-bitter-over-the-vote-at-the-un.html?searchResultPosition=70
https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/12/archives/huge-rally-here-condemns-un-antizionism-move.html?searchResultPosition=68
https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/14/archives/notes-the-backlash-of-the-zionism-vote-notes-about-travel-dollar.html?searchResultPosition=63
- B’nai B’rith leads fight against anti-Semitism at U.N. (1984)
- President George H. W. Bush assails Zionism-is-Racism on eve of rescinding (1991)
- U.N. and Intercommunal Affairs Director David Michaels on racism and anti-Semitism (2020)
- ‘Durban20: Hate Revisited’ begins today (2020)
- President Op-ed in Inside Sources: Avoid Durban Déjà Vu (2021)
