NGO Monitor criticizes impact of 2001 UN Durban Conference

Professor Gerald Steinberg of NGO Monitor discussed the long-term impact of the 2001 United Nations Durban Conference Against Racism. He argued that the NGO Forum during the conference allowed nations such as Iran, Russia, and China to manipulate human rights organizations to target Western interests, specifically the United States and Israel.

Steinberg noted that the conference series, which included a preliminary meeting in Tehran, resulted in the diplomatic isolation of Israel. He further suggested that this politicization has extended to domestic organizations in the United States, citing the Southern Poverty Law Center as an example of an entity that has shifted from fighting hate groups to acting as a political tool against conservatives.