This chapter discusses the aims and challenges of the Durban Conference against the background of the two earlier world conferences on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The author was closely involved in all three conferences. The chapter shows that civil society was determined to push for racial justice in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the outcome document. However, in the preparatory process, and at the Conference itself, there was political pushback from powerful governments, particularly on issues such as compensation for slavery and the grievances of particular peoples and groups. Through patient efforts, the Durban Conference was able to take the global struggle for racial justice forward to some extent. This chapter traces some of the promises of Durban for whose implementation continuing struggles are under way.