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07 August 2000
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CERD
57th session
7 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning continued its discussion on the forthcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
On the basis of a proposal presented by the convenor of the contact group on the World Conference, the Committee discussed how to contribute to the success of the meeting which will be held in South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
Among the proposals of the contact group is a suggestion that the Committee should develop and submit specific recommendations on the outcome of the World Conference such as the full ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the universal acceptance of article 14 by the year 2003; and the creation of a UN inter-agency task force, or independent expert task force that would focus on main streaming the programme of action against racism throughout the UN system.
The proposals also emphasized the principles which the Committee should stress such as the need to highlight new and more efficient mechanisms for prevention, including early warning mechanisms. In addition, it should emphasize the need to highlight economic issues as causes and consequences of racism and racial discrimination, stressing the importance of the relation between States, democracy and equitable development. A special effort must be made through the World Conference process to obtain a consensus in terms of the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development. Further, the Committee should emphasize the gender dimensions of racial discrimination and the need to integrate gender throughout all policies and programmes aimed at combatting racism.
An expert suggested that the new forms of slavery and immigration should be discussed by the World Conference with emphasis on the current shipment of people to developed countries. The expert said people were shipped to serve as slaves in European countries from poor counties in the name of immigration, The recent case of 58 Chinese immigrants who had suffocated to death in a van in Denver, the United Kingdom, was a tragic example. That shipment of persons was comparable to that of the Afro-Americans to the United States, said the expert.
The representative of the Secretary-General, who was present in the room, told the Committee that its contribution to the World Conference in a written form should reach the Secretariat of the Conference before the end of January 2001.
The Committee decided to send letters to regional preparatory meetings on the World Conference to invite Committee members residing in their respective regions. The involvement of Governments in covering travel expenses of the experts was not accepted by the Committee on the basis that it would be against their independence.
In addition to the contact group, the Committee also decided to set up three thematic working groups, whose composition would be announced this afternoon.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the fourth periodic report of the Czech Republic (document CERD/C/372/Add.1).
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57th session
7 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning continued its discussion on the forthcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
On the basis of a proposal presented by the convenor of the contact group on the World Conference, the Committee discussed how to contribute to the success of the meeting which will be held in South Africa from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
Among the proposals of the contact group is a suggestion that the Committee should develop and submit specific recommendations on the outcome of the World Conference such as the full ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the universal acceptance of article 14 by the year 2003; and the creation of a UN inter-agency task force, or independent expert task force that would focus on main streaming the programme of action against racism throughout the UN system.
The proposals also emphasized the principles which the Committee should stress such as the need to highlight new and more efficient mechanisms for prevention, including early warning mechanisms. In addition, it should emphasize the need to highlight economic issues as causes and consequences of racism and racial discrimination, stressing the importance of the relation between States, democracy and equitable development. A special effort must be made through the World Conference process to obtain a consensus in terms of the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development. Further, the Committee should emphasize the gender dimensions of racial discrimination and the need to integrate gender throughout all policies and programmes aimed at combatting racism.
An expert suggested that the new forms of slavery and immigration should be discussed by the World Conference with emphasis on the current shipment of people to developed countries. The expert said people were shipped to serve as slaves in European countries from poor counties in the name of immigration, The recent case of 58 Chinese immigrants who had suffocated to death in a van in Denver, the United Kingdom, was a tragic example. That shipment of persons was comparable to that of the Afro-Americans to the United States, said the expert.
The representative of the Secretary-General, who was present in the room, told the Committee that its contribution to the World Conference in a written form should reach the Secretariat of the Conference before the end of January 2001.
The Committee decided to send letters to regional preparatory meetings on the World Conference to invite Committee members residing in their respective regions. The involvement of Governments in covering travel expenses of the experts was not accepted by the Committee on the basis that it would be against their independence.
In addition to the contact group, the Committee also decided to set up three thematic working groups, whose composition would be announced this afternoon.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the fourth periodic report of the Czech Republic (document CERD/C/372/Add.1).
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