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COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ON REPORTS OF ROMANIA, IRAQ
19 August 1999
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AFTERNOON
HR/CERD/99/58
19 August 1999
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon adopted concluding observations on reports of Romania and Iraq following discussion of the documents with delegations from the relevant Governments earlier in its four-week summer session.
In concluding observations on the report of Romania, the Committee expressed concern, among other things, about the absence in Romanian legislation of provisions making punishable acts of racial discrimination by individuals. It cited as positive efforts taken by the Government to make police more efficient and respectful of the rights of individuals in general and of minorities in particular.
In its concluding observations on the report of Iraq, the Committee, among other things, took note of a recent report of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which described the tragic situation of children, including the loss of many lives, as a result of international economic sanctions imposed against Iraq. It appealed to the international community, the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council to lift those provisions of the economic embargo which negatively affected the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
Romania and Iraq are among 155 States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and as such must submit periodic reports to the Committee on efforts to implement the treaty. Following its consideration of such reports, the Committee issues written observations and recommendations.
Before adjourning its afternoon session, the Committee began adopting concluding observations on a report of Chile on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, and is expected to complete that text tomorrow.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. Friday, 20 August, it will continue its adoption of concluding observations on reports presented and discussed during its summer session.
Concluding observations on report of Romania
The Committee noted with interest the establishment within the executive branch of Government of a department for the protection of national minorities. In connection with the Roma, note was taken of the establishment, within that department, of the National Office for Roma and of efforts made at the inter-ministerial level to coordinate policies in support of that minority.
The Committee welcomed the efforts of the Government to put into practice human-rights-education programmes, some of which were intended for law-enforcement officials. It also noted efforts to make the police more efficient and respectful of the rights of individuals in general and of minorities in particular.
The Committee expressed concern about the absence in Romanian legislation of provisions making punishable acts of racial discrimination by individuals. The fact that domestic legislation contained no clear prohibition of organizations which promoted or incited racial discrimination within the meaning of article 4 (b) of the Convention was also unsatisfactory to the Committee. The Committee said a continuing subject of concern was the existence of xenophobic attitudes and prejudices against certain minorities within Romanian society which had manifested themselves on numerous occasions in various mass media.
Concluding observations on report of Iraq
The Committee recognized the difficult economic and social situation prevailing in the country as a result of the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Gulf War and the economic sanctions imposed at the end of the Gulf War, which the Committee said had caused continuing human-rights suffering as well as destruction of part of the country's basic infrastructure. It said the situation had had a negative impact on the full implementation of human rights treaties, including the Convention.
The Committee also took note of a recent report of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which described the tragic situation of children, including the loss of many lives, as a result of the international economic sanctions. Those sanctions also affected areas inhabited by ethnic groups. And it joined appeals to the international community, the United Nations and in particular the Security Council for the lifting of those embargo provisions affecting the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
Among positive aspects in the report of Iraq, the Committee noted with interest that Iraq remained committed to a declaration of 1970 which recognized the ethnic, cultural and administrative rights of Kurdish citizens in the areas in which they constituted a majority, as well as to the Iraq Kurdistan Autonomy Act. It welcomed measures taken by the Government of Iraq to clarify the situation of persons, including foreigners, who had disappeared during the Gulf War. The Committee noted that an important number of refugees and other foreigners had been received and lived in Iraq.
Concern was expressed as to whether, in the conditions prevailing in the northern governorate, members of minorities were able to enjoy the rights accorded to them by legislation on autonomy and on cultural and linguistic rights. Concern was also expressed over allegations that the non-Arab population living in the Kirkuk and Khanaquin areas, especially the Kurds, Turkmen and Assyrians, had been subjected by local Iraqi authorities to measures such as forced relocation, denial of equal access to employment and educational opportunities, and limitations in the exercise of their rights related to the ownership of real estate.
The Committee also noted with concern that the situation prevailing in the northern governorate had caused much suffering and the forced displacement of a large part of the population, including members of ethnic groups living in the area.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that Iraq make all efforts to abide by its obligations under the Convention and other international human-rights treaties to respect and ensure the rights of all individuals within its territory; that a climate of peace and understanding be established among the different Kurdish factions and between Kurds and other persons living in the northern region; and that allegations concerning discrimination against members of ethnic minorities in the Kirkuk and Khanaquin areas be examined and the findings reported to the Committee.
HR/CERD/99/58
19 August 1999
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon adopted concluding observations on reports of Romania and Iraq following discussion of the documents with delegations from the relevant Governments earlier in its four-week summer session.
In concluding observations on the report of Romania, the Committee expressed concern, among other things, about the absence in Romanian legislation of provisions making punishable acts of racial discrimination by individuals. It cited as positive efforts taken by the Government to make police more efficient and respectful of the rights of individuals in general and of minorities in particular.
In its concluding observations on the report of Iraq, the Committee, among other things, took note of a recent report of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which described the tragic situation of children, including the loss of many lives, as a result of international economic sanctions imposed against Iraq. It appealed to the international community, the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council to lift those provisions of the economic embargo which negatively affected the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
Romania and Iraq are among 155 States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and as such must submit periodic reports to the Committee on efforts to implement the treaty. Following its consideration of such reports, the Committee issues written observations and recommendations.
Before adjourning its afternoon session, the Committee began adopting concluding observations on a report of Chile on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis, and is expected to complete that text tomorrow.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. Friday, 20 August, it will continue its adoption of concluding observations on reports presented and discussed during its summer session.
Concluding observations on report of Romania
The Committee noted with interest the establishment within the executive branch of Government of a department for the protection of national minorities. In connection with the Roma, note was taken of the establishment, within that department, of the National Office for Roma and of efforts made at the inter-ministerial level to coordinate policies in support of that minority.
The Committee welcomed the efforts of the Government to put into practice human-rights-education programmes, some of which were intended for law-enforcement officials. It also noted efforts to make the police more efficient and respectful of the rights of individuals in general and of minorities in particular.
The Committee expressed concern about the absence in Romanian legislation of provisions making punishable acts of racial discrimination by individuals. The fact that domestic legislation contained no clear prohibition of organizations which promoted or incited racial discrimination within the meaning of article 4 (b) of the Convention was also unsatisfactory to the Committee. The Committee said a continuing subject of concern was the existence of xenophobic attitudes and prejudices against certain minorities within Romanian society which had manifested themselves on numerous occasions in various mass media.
Concluding observations on report of Iraq
The Committee recognized the difficult economic and social situation prevailing in the country as a result of the war with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Gulf War and the economic sanctions imposed at the end of the Gulf War, which the Committee said had caused continuing human-rights suffering as well as destruction of part of the country's basic infrastructure. It said the situation had had a negative impact on the full implementation of human rights treaties, including the Convention.
The Committee also took note of a recent report of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which described the tragic situation of children, including the loss of many lives, as a result of the international economic sanctions. Those sanctions also affected areas inhabited by ethnic groups. And it joined appeals to the international community, the United Nations and in particular the Security Council for the lifting of those embargo provisions affecting the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
Among positive aspects in the report of Iraq, the Committee noted with interest that Iraq remained committed to a declaration of 1970 which recognized the ethnic, cultural and administrative rights of Kurdish citizens in the areas in which they constituted a majority, as well as to the Iraq Kurdistan Autonomy Act. It welcomed measures taken by the Government of Iraq to clarify the situation of persons, including foreigners, who had disappeared during the Gulf War. The Committee noted that an important number of refugees and other foreigners had been received and lived in Iraq.
Concern was expressed as to whether, in the conditions prevailing in the northern governorate, members of minorities were able to enjoy the rights accorded to them by legislation on autonomy and on cultural and linguistic rights. Concern was also expressed over allegations that the non-Arab population living in the Kirkuk and Khanaquin areas, especially the Kurds, Turkmen and Assyrians, had been subjected by local Iraqi authorities to measures such as forced relocation, denial of equal access to employment and educational opportunities, and limitations in the exercise of their rights related to the ownership of real estate.
The Committee also noted with concern that the situation prevailing in the northern governorate had caused much suffering and the forced displacement of a large part of the population, including members of ethnic groups living in the area.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that Iraq make all efforts to abide by its obligations under the Convention and other international human-rights treaties to respect and ensure the rights of all individuals within its territory; that a climate of peace and understanding be established among the different Kurdish factions and between Kurds and other persons living in the northern region; and that allegations concerning discrimination against members of ethnic minorities in the Kirkuk and Khanaquin areas be examined and the findings reported to the Committee.
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