The United Nations World Conference Against Racism that ended September 8 in Durban was tragically disappointing, says Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations liaison director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“Instead of focusing on the pressing problems of racism and other forms of intolerance that are endemic in our world today, the conference was hijacked by groups with their own agendas,” Gallagher continues. “The whole world has missed a historic opportunity to combat discrimination and intolerance, and it is desperately sad that the nations could not focus on the huge issues we face without politicizing the event.”

The conflict has exposed deep-seated differences that some believe has done more harm than good. While the final declaration is an attempt to promote a global consensus against racism, the conference will be remembered for its controversy and antagonism.

As U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan concluded, “It is unfortunate that one or two issues have dominated and that we did not have the kind of balanced discussion and exposure that one would have liked.”

Adventists were represented by the church’s president for southern Africa, Dr. V. S. Wakaba, though the church has not endorsed the conference’s actions or declarations.

Gallagher says the church’s perspective is one of “profound regret that this historic opportunity has been missed.”

“The gospel says that all people are my brothers and sisters,” he adds. “Racism is an evil denial of that truth. We will continue to do our part in breaking down the walls of intolerance and support honest efforts to remove the scourge of racism from our societies.”