Civil society groups have been unable to forge a final declaration or programme of action to fight racism after five days of intensive talks alongside a similarly fractious meeting of their governments. The Aug. 28-Sep. 1 NGO (non-governmental organisation) Forum, held in tandem to the Aug. 31-Sep. 7 World Conference Against Racism, was marred by disorganisation and irreconcilable disputes over the wording of the declaration and action plan.