COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS TEXTS ON LAOS AND LATVIA

Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination
63rd session
21 August 2003
Morning






The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning adopted a decision on the situation in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic which it considered under its review procedure, as well as its observations and recommendations on the fourth and fifth periodic reports of Latvia on how that country implements the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.

On the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Committee urged the State party to halt immediately acts of violence against the Hmong population and to ensure that these persons have access to adequate food and medical care. The Committee urged the State party to urgently submit a special report including on measures taken to prevent further serious, massive or persistent patterns of racial discrimination and in any way a report as due and requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to draw the attention of the competent United Nations bodies to the particularly disturbing human rights situation in the country and to request them to take all appropriate measures in this regard.

With regards to Latvia, the Committee welcomed the ongoing efforts of the State party to introduce legislative reform in accordance with international standards, and was encouraged by the efforts of the State party to support and facilitate the process of naturalization through legal measures and targeted projects.

The Committee was concerned that the legal provisions defining racial discrimination were not in full conformity with the International Convention, and in this context recommended that the State party pursue its efforts with regard to the preparation of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law and of amendments to the Labour Law, and that the State party fully incorporate the definition of racial discrimination as stipulated in the Convention into its legislation.

Among other things, the Committee also recommended that the State party intensify its efforts to adopt and improve legislation with the aim of providing effective protection and remedies against any acts of racial discrimination, including the right to seek reparation for discrimination. It also recommended that the State party pursue its efforts to combat prejudices and promote understanding and tolerance though a broad range of measures targeting both professionals working with and for persons belonging to, minority groups, as well as the general public.

When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m. this afternoon, it will continue to adopt its final observations and recommendations on the situation in countries which it has reviewed during this session.


Decision on the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

The Committee deeply regretted that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had failed to honour its obligations under article 9 of the International Convention; expressed its grave concern at the information it had received of serious and repeated human rights violations in that country; was extremely disturbed to learn that some members of the Hmong minority had been subjected to severe brutalities; deplored the measures taken by the Lao authorities to prevent the reporting of any information concerning the situation of the Hmong people; and stressed that owing to the absence of a State delegation, it was unable to have an exchange of views with the State party.

In the light of this information, the Committee urged the State party to halt immediately acts of violence against the Hmong population; urgently called upon the State party to guarantee free movement for these persons and their access to adequate food and medical care; requested the State party to take all possible measures to ensure the release as soon as possible of the Hmong who took part in an investigation conducted by foreign journalists; and requested the Lao authorities to urgently submit a special report containing information on the issues raised above and on measures taken to prevent further serious massive or persistent patterns of racial discrimination and in any way a report as due.

The Committee also requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to draw the attention of the competent United Nations bodies to the particularly disturbing human rights situation in the country and to request them to take all appropriate measures in this regard, including to dispatch a mission to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic with a view to assisting the State party in honouring its obligations to protect human rights and to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, and to request the programmes, institutions and specialized agencies of the United Nations to take appropriate measures to provide humanitarian assistance to the members of the Hmong people.


Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Latvia

The Committee welcomed the ongoing efforts of the State party to introduce legislative reform in accordance with international standards, and was encouraged by the efforts of the State party to support and facilitate the process of naturalization through legal measures and targeted projects. It also welcomed the National Programme for Society in Latvia adopted in February 2001 and the establishment in 2002 of a post of Minister for Special Assignments for Society Integration Affairs tasked with coordinating anti-discrimination, minority, and social integration policies. The Committee also welcomed the Supreme Court ruling declaring unconstitutional a section of the Law on Radio and Television, which restricted the airtime of languages spoken by minorities in Latvian private media.

The Committee was concerned that the legal provisions defining racial discrimination were not in full conformity with the International Convention. The Committee recommended that the State party pursue its efforts with regard to the preparation of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law and of amendments to the Labour Law, and urged the State party to fully incorporate the definition of racial discrimination as stipulated in the Convention into its legislation. The Committee also recommended that the State party ensure that the State Language Law did not result in unnecessary restrictions, which could have the effect of creating or perpetuating ethnic discrimination.

The Committee also recommended that the State party review its domestic legislation and that it adopt specific legislation on organized and other propaganda activities which promote and incite racial discrimination, irrespective of the legal status of the group or organization. The Committee recommended that the State party further study the underlying reasons for the low rate of naturalization applications, with a view to devising strategies targeting specific groups of potential applicants. The Committee urged the State party to reduce the list of occupations restricted to citizens and to keep it under review with a view to ensuring that the enjoyment of the right to work was not unduly limited. The Committee also encouraged the State party to remain attentive and flexible to the needs and abilities of the persons primarily affected and concerned by the reform of the educational system.

The Committee recommended that the State party intensify its efforts to adopt and improve legislation with the aim of providing effective protection and remedies against any acts of racial discrimination, including the right to seek reparation for discrimination. It also recommended that the State party pursue its efforts to combat prejudices and promote understanding and tolerance though a broad range of measures targeting both professionals working with and for persons belonging to minority groups, as well as the general public.






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