COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS CONCLUSIONS ON DENMARK, LIECHTENSTEIN AND TURKMENISTAN

CERD
60th session
22 March 2002
Morning




The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on how Denmark, Liechtenstein and Turkmenistan are implementing the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
The Committee adopted the remaining concluding observations and recommendations on the fifteenth periodic report of Denmark in which it commended the State party for having instituted programmes, such as the Danish language training programme for unemployed persons with insufficient knowledge of the Danish language; however, it was concerned about the disproportionately high level of unemployment among non-citizens, despite overall improvements among foreigners.
The Committee said it was concerned about reports of a considerable increase in cases of widespread harassment of people of Arab and Muslim background since 11 September 2001; and it recommended that Denmark monitor that situation carefully.
Among positive aspects in the initial report of Liechtenstein, the Committee expressed appreciation of the fact that the State party had amended relevant national legislation to be in line with the Convention; and expressed satisfaction with measures undertaken by the State party to address the phenomenon of right-wing extremism, which was reported to be on the increase in the country.
The Committee noted that the State party was supporting efforts made by non-governmental organizations to help foreigners to integrate into society; it recommended that the State party continue to lend its support to such organizations in their work of integrating foreigners into society.
Also this morning, the Committee adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the situation in Turkmenistan which was considered in the absence of a report from that State party, noting with concern that Turkmenistan, which acceded to the Convention in 1994, had not yet reported to the Committee.
The Committee expressed deep concern about grave allegations of human-rights violations in Turkmenistan, both in civil and political, as well as social, economic and cultural domains; and in connection to article 5 of the Convention. The Committee said it wished to receive information from the State party.
The Committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. to finalize its three-week session by adopting its conclusions on the situation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and dealing with other business.

Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Denmark
The Committee adopted its remaining conclusions on the fifteenth periodic report of Denmark.
The Committee commended the State party for having instituted programmes, such as the Danish language training programme for unemployed persons with insufficient knowledge of the Danish language; however, it was concerned about the disproportionately high level of unemployment among non-citizens, despite overall improvements among foreigners; and Denmark was reminded that although it was not obliged to provide work permits to foreign residents, it should guarantee that foreigners who had obtained a work permit were not discriminated against in their access to employment.
The Committee said it was concerned about reports of a considerable increase in cases of widespread harassment of people of Arab and Muslim background since 11 September 2001; and it recommended that the State party monitor that situation carefully, take decisive action in protecting the rights of victims and in dealing with perpetrators, and report on that matter in its next periodic report.
Further, the Committee was concerned about the introduction of new stringent asylum and refugee regulations; and encouraged the State party to maintain its standards, in particular in deciding the status of refugees on merit.
The Committee reiterated its previous concern regarding the delay in resolving the claims of the Inughuit with respect to the Thule Air Base; it noted with concern claims of the denial by Denmark of the identity and continued existence of the Inughuit as a separate ethnic or tribal entity; and recommended that the State party include information in its next periodic report concerning those issues.
And the Committee requested the State party to take into account the relevant parts and recommendations of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action when implementing the Convention in the domestic legal order, and to include in its next periodic report information on the action plans or other measures it had taken to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the national level.

Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Liechtenstein
Among positive aspects in the initial report of Liechtenstein, the Committee expressed appreciation of the fact that the State party had amended relevant national legislation to be in line with the Convention. It expressed satisfaction with measures undertaken by the State party to address the phenomenon of right-wing extremism, which was reported to be on the increase in the country; and the efforts undertaken by the State party to ensure the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers in society.
With regard to its concerns and recommendations, the Committee noted that, while a Police Treaty between the State party and its neighbouring countries provided for police cooperation concerning right-wing groups promoting racial discrimination, there did not seem to be particular training of law-enforcement officers in that field; the Committee recommended that the State party attempt to develop such training courses for law enforcement officers, which would increase the State party's capacity to combat effectively all forms of racial discrimination.
The Committee noted that the State party was supporting efforts made by non-governmental organizations to help foreigners to integrate into society; it recommended that the State party continue to lend its support to such organizations in their work of integrating foreigners into society.
The Committee requested the State party to provide, in its next periodic report, information on access to social security and health care by non-nationals.
It also requested the State party to take into account the relevant parts and recommendations of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action when implementing the Convention in the domestic legal order, and to include in its next periodic report information on the action plans or other measures it had taken to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the national level.

Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Situation in Turkmenistan
After reviewing the situation in Turkmenistan in the absence of a report from that State party, the Committee noted with concern that Turkmenistan, which acceded to the Convention in 1994, had not yet reported to the Committee. It wished to draw to the attention of the State party that reporting was an obligation under article 9 of the Convention, and that non-compliance in that regard would create serious obstacles to the effective functioning of the monitoring system set up by the Convention.
The Committee expressed deep concern about grave allegations of human-rights violations in Turkmenistan, both in civil and political, as well as social, economic and cultural domains; and in connection to article 5 of the Convention. The Committee expressed its wish to receive information from the State party.
The Committee was also concerned about alleged discrimination affecting persons belonging to minorities in the field of employment, education, as well as freedom of thought, conscience and religion; it said it had received information alleging that the State party's present policy of promotion of Turkmen identity had led to discrimination against non-ethnic Turkmen.
The Committee drew the attention of the State party to the provisions of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, according to which the Convention was the principal international instrument for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and States were urged to cooperate with the Committee in order to promote the effective implementation of the Convention.
It strongly urged the Government of Turkmenistan to avail itself of the technical assistance offered under the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the aim of drawing up and submitting as soon as possible a report drafted in accordance with the reporting guidelines.
And it decided that a communication should be sent to the Government of Turkmenistan setting out its reporting obligations under the Convention, and urging that the dialogue with the Committee start as soon as possible.



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