Racism delegate: Some progress, but more needed

McDougall

DURBAN, South Africa (CNN) -- Officials representing governments around the world -- including Cuban leader Fidel Castro and several African heads of state -- gathered in Durban, South Africa, this week for a United Nations anti-racism conference.

Gay McDougall, a human rights advocate and member of the U.N. Committee for the Elimination of Racism, talked Saturday with CNN's Donna Kelley about racism worldwide, the Durban conference and her project, in particular.

MCDOUGALL: We have chosen, through a massive outreach operation, 24 individuals from every region of the world to talk about their personal experiences of racial discrimination. They are articulate people who are here to give voice to some very compelling and inspiring stories.

KELLEY: Tell us a couple of those stories.

VIDEO CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault reports on the conflict between Arabs and Jews at the racism conference (August 31) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) The lingering legacy of apartheid: CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Annan and Mbeki appeal to delegates from more than 150 nations (August 31) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   EXTRA INFORMATION In depth, racism around the world Facing hate     RESOURCES Message Board: UN conference against racism     AUDIO CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault explains the big challenges facing the summit 2.79MB / 266 sec WAV sound Why Israel rejects the racism conference 2.38MB / 3 mins, 41 secs WAV sound    QUICKVOTE Will the world racism conference make a difference? Yes No View Results

MCDOUGALL: For example, there is a woman from Colombia, an Afro-Colombian who has been displaced by the drug war there. There is (a person) from China that has faced discrimination there ... A woman who has just been released -- or escaped, I should say -- from slavery in Niger. A farm worker, a black farm worker from South Africa. It's quite a range of stories.

But taken as a whole, I think it tells the picture of what racism is in this new 21st century.

KELLEY: And how do you think it is in the 21st century? Is it better or worse? Is any progress being made?

MCDOUGALL: I don't think you can be here in Durban, South Africa, and think about what it was like here 10 years ago and conclude that there has not been substantial, very important, concrete gains in the fight against racism worldwide. South Africa gives us all hope.

KELLEY: Where are some of the worst places still?

MCDOUGALL: Well, there are worst places all over the world. I think it's very hard to compare … misery, pain, racial discrimination. That's not the important thing. The important thing is to find ways that we can all sort of join together and build strategies that are going to beat this thing worldwide.

KELLEY: And you're the only American to serve on the committee, so what do you think the United States and the United Nations can do to help make some progress?

MCDOUGALL: First of all, we have got to focus in on the issues and we've got to make a commitment to this struggle -- and to doing everything possible … We have all got to realize that it's in our best interest. Whether you're in the racially oppressed group or not, it is important to release the human spirit all around the world (by ending) discrimination. It's in all of our best interest.

KELLEY: The United States, Canada and Israel did not send high-level delegations because of the language … from the Palestinians condemning Israel. Jesse Jackson had gone and said that Mr. Arafat had agreed to a statement but didn't sign it, but then at the opening day conference Mr. Arafat had gone on with language that might not be what the United States was objecting to. Can you update us?

MCDOUGALL: The language in the text that has been agreed upon -- that has been debated and agreed upon -- simply does not contain any offensive language. It's the draft, it's the part that has not been discussed yet, the part that's not been agreed upon (that's at the center of the controversy). And at the very least to me, that … demonstrates that the process is working.

In terms of Reverend Jackson's breakthrough, I think he did make a breakthrough with Yasser Arafat. I was not there, but I've seen the statement that was written. My understanding is that (this issue) has bedeviled this conference for the last 11 months, and the next morning we all got up and we turned on our television sets to CNN and we saw that there was another tragedy and disaster in the Middle East. And that has kept passions inflamed through this whole conference process. It has diverted attention, and it has really sort of knocked us off of our main objective and focus here.