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COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OPENS FIFTY-THIRD SESSION
03 August 1998
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MORNING HR/CERD/98/33
3 August 1998
Committee Hears Statement by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning opened its fifty-third session by adopting its agenda and programme of work.
Enrique ter Horst, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the Committee that five States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination had filed objections to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the reservation made by Saudi Arabia regarding the application of the Convention.
During its three-week session, the Committee will examine reports submitted to it by Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Gabon, Jordan, Morocco, Nepal, Niger and Tonga. These nine countries are among the 150 States parties to the 1969 Convention.
The 18-member Committee will also consider, in closed session, communications from individuals claiming to be victims of racial discrimination from 25 States parties which have recognized the competence of the Committee to accept such claims.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will start its consideration of the report submitted by the Government of Croatia on how that country implements the provisions of the Convention. (For further information, please refer to the background release HR/CERD/98/32 of 28 July).
Statement by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
ENRIQUE TER HORST, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that the number of States parties which had ratified the Convention remained constant at 150. The Syrian Arab Republic had ratified the amendment to article 8 of the Convention, thus bringing the total number of ratifications to 24. However, 24 ratifications fell far short of the number needed for the amendment to enter into force, and much more progress needed to be made in this regard.
Mr. ter Horst said that Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway had filed objections with the Secretary-General to the reservation made by Saudi Arabia regarding application of the Convention. The reservation of Saudi Arabia stated that it would "implement the provisions of the Convention, providing these do not conflict with the percepts of the Islamic Sharia"
Mr. ter Horst said the Commission on Human Rights had adopted a resolution regretting the continued lack of interest and financial resources for the Programme of Action for the third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. It was also noted that very few activities planned for 1994 and 1995 had been carried out. The Commission also recommended that the activities of the Programme of Action be oriented to assist the preparatory process for the world Conference against Racism.
In connection with the World Conference against Racism, the Commission had decided to create an open-ended working group to meet at its next session to review proposals for the preparation of the World Conference, Mr. ter Horst went on to tell Committee members. The resolution invited the Committee to submit to the Commission and to the Preparatory Committee its ideas about what should be the objectives of the World Conference; to prepare a series of studies; and to actively take part in the preparatory process and the World Conference itself.
3 August 1998
Committee Hears Statement by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning opened its fifty-third session by adopting its agenda and programme of work.
Enrique ter Horst, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the Committee that five States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination had filed objections to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the reservation made by Saudi Arabia regarding the application of the Convention.
During its three-week session, the Committee will examine reports submitted to it by Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Gabon, Jordan, Morocco, Nepal, Niger and Tonga. These nine countries are among the 150 States parties to the 1969 Convention.
The 18-member Committee will also consider, in closed session, communications from individuals claiming to be victims of racial discrimination from 25 States parties which have recognized the competence of the Committee to accept such claims.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will start its consideration of the report submitted by the Government of Croatia on how that country implements the provisions of the Convention. (For further information, please refer to the background release HR/CERD/98/32 of 28 July).
Statement by the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights
ENRIQUE TER HORST, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that the number of States parties which had ratified the Convention remained constant at 150. The Syrian Arab Republic had ratified the amendment to article 8 of the Convention, thus bringing the total number of ratifications to 24. However, 24 ratifications fell far short of the number needed for the amendment to enter into force, and much more progress needed to be made in this regard.
Mr. ter Horst said that Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway had filed objections with the Secretary-General to the reservation made by Saudi Arabia regarding application of the Convention. The reservation of Saudi Arabia stated that it would "implement the provisions of the Convention, providing these do not conflict with the percepts of the Islamic Sharia"
Mr. ter Horst said the Commission on Human Rights had adopted a resolution regretting the continued lack of interest and financial resources for the Programme of Action for the third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. It was also noted that very few activities planned for 1994 and 1995 had been carried out. The Commission also recommended that the activities of the Programme of Action be oriented to assist the preparatory process for the world Conference against Racism.
In connection with the World Conference against Racism, the Commission had decided to create an open-ended working group to meet at its next session to review proposals for the preparation of the World Conference, Mr. ter Horst went on to tell Committee members. The resolution invited the Committee to submit to the Commission and to the Preparatory Committee its ideas about what should be the objectives of the World Conference; to prepare a series of studies; and to actively take part in the preparatory process and the World Conference itself.