Human Rights

HRI and Rightslink are pleased to present a screening of the recent documentary film THE BATTLE OF DURBAN II: ISRAEL, PALESTINE & THE UNITED NATIONS (www.thebattleofdurbanii.com). The film examines how the longstanding, seemingly intractable conflict between Israel and Palestine disrupted two successive United Nations World Conferences --leaving hundreds of millions of victims of racism and discrimination voiceless, and their stories unheard.

Instead of considering genocide in Darfur, ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, the plight of Dalit "outcastes" in South Asia, the status of homosexuals and women, or other examples of racism and discrimination worldwide, each conference (the first, at the turn of the century, in Durban, South Africa; the second in 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland) instead devolved into disarray and discord, charges and counter-charges, with Palestinian sympathizers denouncing Israel as a "racist, apartheid state" and supporters of Zionism responding with allegations of anti-Semitism and UN "demonization" of Israel.

The documentary features an incendiary appearance by controversial Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which led to strident protests and a walkout by the European Union -- as well as interviews with top UN officials and Ambassadors, key representatives of civil society, leaders in the America's human rights, Jewish, African-American and progressive communities, and victims of racism around the world.

Dinner will be served.