The successful conclusion of the World Conference against Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances in Durban this weekend is a victory for persistence and compromise on an extraordinarily difficult political terrain. The document adopted was in contention down to the very last minute, with slavery and a Middle East settlement being bargained in relation to one another until text was agreed on both. But it goes much further than that by giving the world's most marginalised, excluded and hated people a new basis on which to assert their dignity and rights.
This is the first time such an agreement has been reached covering the range of topics suggested by the conference's ponderous title. It consists of a declaration of principles and a programme of action against racism. Its strength lies in its universality. The test of its effectiveness will be how it helps empower the victims of racism and intolerance. Previous conferences in 1978 and 1983 failed to conclude because of the depth of disagreement, principally on the equation of Zionism and racism. Durban looked continually in danger following withdrawal by the United States and Israel on the same issue.
But in a significant political development the South African government, chairing the conference, produced a new draft on the Middle East more accept- able to the European Union states, which had also threatened to withdraw - and just about acceptable to the Arab group. This enabled a compromise to be reached on slavery, which has carried African states along, despite the absence of a formal apology from the former colonial powers. Thus each group of states had to weigh up their reservations about a compromise against the danger of collapsing the conference.
Inter-governmental bargaining conducted so openly is not a pretty sight, with so much of its business suffused by the very hurtful intolerance the conference is intended to confront. But it must be judged on its final outcome - and on that basis it represents real progress, justifying the determination to proceed. More has been gained than lost for the victims of racism and intolerance. The United States looks more isolated after this outcome, having eroded goodwill and leadership by withdrawing. The EU states have enhanced their international standing by participating to the end.
Although the principles and action programme are not binding legal commitments they will carry moral and political force in dealing with racism and intolerance. Low caste groups in India, Japan, south Asia and west Africa, numbering at least 250 million people, were discussed as never before at an international meeting. So were migrants and refugees, indigenous and Roma peoples, victims of anti-semitism and Islamophobia and hate speech on the Internet. Their position is stronger after the agreement in Durban.