It is essential that transparency towards civil society is maintained throughout the process. During the preparations for the World Conference we must try to grasp the whole picture of racism. Women, for instance, may have their own distinctive experience of double-discrimination based on ethnic origin combined with gender. Children of minority ethnic origin may not obtain a just start to their lives because of barriers to education. Minorities and indigenous peoples are almost by definition more vulnerable than the majority population to violations of their human rights, and in some cases to violence.
Racism is still a serious world-wide problem.
We should view this issue truly as one that concerns all of us. It is important that regional preparations are not viewed as separate processes but closely linked to the World Conference itself. In Europe a lot remains to be done. The Roma people, for instance, continue to face discrimination in various parts of Europe. Immigrant communities encounter xenophobia in a variety of situations and often feel excluded from our societies.