Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Press releases Treaty bodies
COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS DECISION ON SITUATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ON HAITI
19 August 1998
Share
AFTERNOON
HR/CERD/98/57
19 August 1998
COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS DECISION ON SITUATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ON HAITI
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon adopted a decision on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating that the condition of the Roma population in that country required urgent attention and special measures by the authorities and international organizations.
The Committee also adopted its concluding observations on the situation of Haiti, urging the Government of that country to resume the dialogue with the Committee as soon as possible.
According to the decision on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Committee, among other things, underlined that the dialogue with the delegation had permitted it to observe that improvements had been seen in certain areas; noted the depth of the persisting division reflecting clear patterns of separation based on ethnicity; and stressed the importance of supporting and strengthening the Office of the Federal Ombudsman in its work for human rights and the rule of law.
The Committee also supported the idea of reviewing school books and other educational materials in order to rid them of falsifications of history or incitement of ill-will or contempt towards other peoples and ethnic groups; and viewed that the fate and the situation of the Roma population in Bosnia and Herzegovina required urgent attention and special measures by the authorities and international organizations.
The Committee stressed that the safe and voluntary repatriation of refugees and the return of displaced persons to their places of origin with the view to counteract the effects of the war and the so-called “ethnic cleansing” was of paramount importance. To achieve this, effective measures had to be taken in order to guarantee the full protection of all persons who returned and to find a durable solution to problems related to property rights. The Committee was of the view that countries of asylum should refrain from expediting repatriation programmes for refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina until such protection could be guaranteed.
On the situation in Haiti, which was considered under its review procedure for countries whose reports were seriously overdue, the Committee, among other things, regretted that Haiti had not responded to its invitations to participate in the meetings and to furnish relevant information; that social differences were very severe and had generated discrimination among the population; and that Haiti provide it with relevant information on the implementation of legislation prohibiting and sanctioning racial discrimination. The Committee urged Haiti to resume the dialogue with it as soon as possible.
Official, printed versions of the concluding observations on the report will be issued on Friday, 21 August, the final day of the Committee's three-week session.
The Committee also examined a draft decision on the situation in Rwanda and adopted some paragraphs of the document in which it expressed great concern over reports of ethnic violence occurring in the north-west of the country and along the Congolese border. The Committee is expected to adopt the draft text in its integrality tomorrow.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 20 August, it will continue adopting more concluding observations on reports it has already considered during this session.
HR/CERD/98/57
19 August 1998
COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS DECISION ON SITUATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ON HAITI
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon adopted a decision on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating that the condition of the Roma population in that country required urgent attention and special measures by the authorities and international organizations.
The Committee also adopted its concluding observations on the situation of Haiti, urging the Government of that country to resume the dialogue with the Committee as soon as possible.
According to the decision on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Committee, among other things, underlined that the dialogue with the delegation had permitted it to observe that improvements had been seen in certain areas; noted the depth of the persisting division reflecting clear patterns of separation based on ethnicity; and stressed the importance of supporting and strengthening the Office of the Federal Ombudsman in its work for human rights and the rule of law.
The Committee also supported the idea of reviewing school books and other educational materials in order to rid them of falsifications of history or incitement of ill-will or contempt towards other peoples and ethnic groups; and viewed that the fate and the situation of the Roma population in Bosnia and Herzegovina required urgent attention and special measures by the authorities and international organizations.
The Committee stressed that the safe and voluntary repatriation of refugees and the return of displaced persons to their places of origin with the view to counteract the effects of the war and the so-called “ethnic cleansing” was of paramount importance. To achieve this, effective measures had to be taken in order to guarantee the full protection of all persons who returned and to find a durable solution to problems related to property rights. The Committee was of the view that countries of asylum should refrain from expediting repatriation programmes for refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina until such protection could be guaranteed.
On the situation in Haiti, which was considered under its review procedure for countries whose reports were seriously overdue, the Committee, among other things, regretted that Haiti had not responded to its invitations to participate in the meetings and to furnish relevant information; that social differences were very severe and had generated discrimination among the population; and that Haiti provide it with relevant information on the implementation of legislation prohibiting and sanctioning racial discrimination. The Committee urged Haiti to resume the dialogue with it as soon as possible.
Official, printed versions of the concluding observations on the report will be issued on Friday, 21 August, the final day of the Committee's three-week session.
The Committee also examined a draft decision on the situation in Rwanda and adopted some paragraphs of the document in which it expressed great concern over reports of ethnic violence occurring in the north-west of the country and along the Congolese border. The Committee is expected to adopt the draft text in its integrality tomorrow.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 20 August, it will continue adopting more concluding observations on reports it has already considered during this session.