United Nations event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Durban Conference

On September 28, the United Nations is scheduled to hold a commemorative event marking the 25th anniversary of the Durban Conference during the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly. The original 2001 conference, held in South Africa, was intended to address global racism but became highly controversial due to allegations of antisemitism and the targeting of Israel.

According to the Israeli Permanent Mission to the UN, the 2001 event saw the distribution of antisemitic materials, including Nazi-style cartoons, at the NGO Forum. Consequently, Israel and the United States withdrew from the proceedings after participating nations failed to condemn anti-Israel rhetoric. Israel contends that the conference's legacy provided a framework for subsequent international campaigns against the state, including accusations of apartheid, legal challenges, and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Over the years, the Durban legacy has continued to influence international diplomatic relations. A growing number of countries have historically refused to participate in subsequent anniversary events, citing the antisemitic nature of the initial gathering. No further details regarding the specific proceedings of this upcoming UN session were provided in the source report.