Vernellia R. Randall
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Article 7
requires States Parties to adopt measures in the fields of teaching,
education, culture and information to combat racial discrimination and
to promote racial and ethnic tolerance and friendship among nations and
groups, and to propagate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and this Convention. The President's
Initiative on Race actively educated the American people about the role
of race in our nation's history and its current impact on our society.
From the Initiative on Race, several publications were produced and
widely disseminated to community groups, educational institutions,
public officials and individuals in order to provide a more accurate
picture of the nature of racial issues. "Changing
America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being by Race and
Hispanic Origin" documents current differences in key indicators of
well-being: education, labor markets, economic status, health, crime and
criminal justice, and housing and neighborhoods. The information in this
publication provides a factual base on which to build dialogue about
race. "Pathways
to One America in the 21st Century: Promising Practices for Racial
Reconciliation" profiles community-based organizations focused on
furthering racial reconciliation in a variety of fields. This
publication is designed to be a reference tool to be used by Americans
who wish to work in partnership with others working to heal racial
barriers and close opportunity gaps. The "One
America Dialogue Guide" is a step-by-step educational resource on
ways to organize and conduct a cross-cultural dialogue in one's own
community. "One
America in the 21st Century: Forging a New Future" is the final
report to President Clinton by the Advisory Board to the President's
Initiative on Race. This comprehensive document is an account of the
Advisory Board's fifteen-month examination of race relations in the
United States. By exploring the historical basis for existing
perceptions and misperceptions of race in America, this report creates a
social context for productive dialogue on how to build One America. The
report also makes specific recommendations on how the government, the
corporate community, non-governmental organizations and private citizens
can take active steps to promote racial reconciliation. All four
publications are available in print and may be viewed and printed from
the White House website http://www.whitehouse.gov.
The President's
Initiative for One America continues to further the President's goals of
educating the American public about race. In October 2000, the
Initiative for One America and the Department of Education will organize
the third annual Campus Week of Dialogue. This year's theme: "Many
Paths, One Journey: Building One America" reflects the mission of
educating students on diversity-related issues and providing all
students the opportunity to succeed in a multi-racial society. The United
States also promotes the goals of Article 7 globally through the U.S.
Department of State, particularly the U.S. Information Service. Media
like World Net and Voice of America are used to broadcast news and
information programs on rule of law, tolerance and other topics related
to combating racism and to promote tolerance. These outlets give
overseas audiences direct access to experts and policy makers in the
United States concerned with issues related to race. The United
States also sends speakers to overseas missions to foster discussion on
issues important to multi-cultural societies. Similarly, the State
Department's Office of Public Diplomacy distributes publications to
target organizations ranging from host country governments to local
media and civil society groups such as NGOs. Moreover, the
United States promotes the interests identified by Article 7 through
various professional and education exchange programs. Through the
Professionals in Residence program, the Department of State sends
specialists to non-academic institutions such as foreign media
organizations and government ministries to promote the interests
identified in Article 7. The United States is also active in CIVITAS, an
international consortium for civic education which maintains a worldwide
network devoted to promoting informed and responsible citizenship. In
addition, the United States devotes substantial resources to the
Fulbright Scholar Program, providing enhanced educational opportunities
to U.S. and foreign scholars through grants and fellowships, and the
International Visitors Program, which brings foreign judges, lawyers,
NGO leaders and teachers to the United States for study tours and
professional conferences. In the fall of
1997, President Clinton identified the prevention and prosecution of
hate crimes as a priority issue for the nation and announced the
creation of a national initiative to examine the current state of race
relations in America. In response, the Attorney General established a
Hate Crime Working Group consisting of staff from all Justice Department
agencies. A major initiative of the Hate Crime Working group is to
expand and improve hate and bias crime data collection within the
Department of Justice. Through its
Office of Victims of Crime (OVC), the Department of Justice has taken
steps to adopt measures to combat discrimination and to promote
understanding among racial and ethnic groups. This is evidenced through
various measures and programs that are OVC funded In early 1998,
OVC coordinated with the Bureau of Justice Statistics to develop a
survey instrument to identify the number of Victims of Crime Act funded
victim assistance programs that serve hate and bias crime victims. OVC
conducted this informal survey in May, 1999. OVC provides
funding to the National Victim Assistance Academy which conducts annual
training sessions at five different locations throughout the United
States. Each year, the Academy reaches over 250 participants comprised
of state and federal personnel that work with crime victims. There is a
formal curriculum which includes a chapter on hate and bias crime. OVC, in
conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Administration, and the
International Association of Chiefs of Police, developed an eleven page
brochure entitled Responding to Hate Crimes: A Police Officer's Guide
to Investigation and Prevention. The brochure teaches law
enforcement officers how to identify and respond to hate crimes. This
grant project printed 450,000 copies of the brochure which are
anticipated for distribution to law enforcement agencies nationwide. OVC plays a
major role in the Justice Department Hate Crime Working Group's Hate
Crime Training for Law Enforcement. OVC assisted in development of four
training manuals and a student workbook. OVC assisted in the development
and delivery of special training for local trainers and to all of the
states, who in turn, are now reaching out to the local law enforcement
agencies to provide training on responding to hate crime. Hundreds of
local police departments have received this training in the last year. As
opportunities present themselves OVC provides training on hate crime,
hate crime victims' needs, cultural awareness, and, effective responses
to hate crime. This training has been provided at several national, and
local conferences and symposia reaching thousands of victim service
providers. OVC also
provides grant funding to such non profit organizations as the National
Multi-Cultural Institute which conducts training on cultural sensitivity
in dealing with crime victims. Approximately 150 people have been
trained this year. Additional training sessions are planned. The Department
of Interior operates several programs that promote education and
awareness of diverse students to the fields of science and natural
resources. For instance, at Chamizal National Memorial, Texas, the
National Park Service sponsors special programs and activities to
broaden understanding and to encourage perpetuation of cultural
heritages in the performing and graphic arts.
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