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10 August 2000
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CERD
57th session
10 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Slovenia and Mauritius which were considered last week.
On the report of Slovenia, the Committee noted the specific measures taken for the promotion and protection of the human rights of the Roma population and the measures adopted to resolve the issue of citizenship of former citizens of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following the proclamation of the independence of Slovenia.
The Committee expressed concern that minority groups, such as Croats, Serbs, Bosnians and Roma, did not enjoy the same level of protection from the State party as the Italian and Hungarian minorities, and it recommended that Slovenia, in accordance with article 2 of the Convention, ensure that persons or groups of persons belonging to other minorities were not discriminated against.
On the report of Mauritius, the Committee, as part of positive aspects, noted the multi-ethnic composition of the country and the harmony in which its various ethnic groups lived, and said that the experience of Mauritius in dealing with its ethnic and racial problems was thus very instructive.
The Committee requested that the State party provide it with supplementary information about the rioting that had broken out between Creole groups and groups of Indian origin following the death of a popular singer at a police station. It also expressed concern that the existence of constitutional and legislative provisions prohibiting racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred and the absence of judicial decisions relating to such acts did not mean that there was no racial discrimination in Mauritian society.
Slovenia and Mauritius are among the 156 States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and as such they must present periodical reports to be considered by the Committee's 18 members.
Before adjourning its morning meeting, the Committee went into private session to consider communications received from individuals claiming to be victims of a violation by their respective States parties of any of the rights set forth in the Convention. Only States parties which declared that they recognized the competence of the Committee under article 14 of the Convention are concerned by the procedure.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the fourteenth periodic report of Sweden (document CERD/C/362/Add.5).
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Slovenia
Among positive aspects in the report of Slovenia, the Committee welcomed the efforts undertaken by the authorities since its independence in 1991 to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights; the appropriate measures taken by the State party to resolve the issue of citizenship of former citizens of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following the proclamation of the independence of Slovenia; and the specific measures taken for the promotion and protection of the human rights of the Roma population.
The Committee was concerned, among other things, about the status of the Convention vis-a-vis national legislation, especially with regard to cases of conflict with domestic laws and the possibility of invoking provisions of the Convention in courts; that minority groups, such as Croats, Serbs, Bosnians and Roma, did not enjoy the same level of protection from the State party as the Italian and Hungarian minorities; that the legislation presently in force did not seem to respond to all requirements of article 4 of the Convention, which were mandatory; that the efforts in sensitizing and training civil servants on human rights and racial discrimination issues were not sufficient; and that the temporary protection offered by Slovenia to refugees might be insufficient to guarantee their basic rights.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that Slovenia provide further information in its next periodic report on the status of the Convention in domestic law and on court cases in which the Convention had been invoked; that the State party, in accordance with article 2 of the Convention, ensure that persons or groups of persons belonging to other minorities were not discriminated against; that all appropriate measures be taken to inform the general public about existing judicial remedies for victims of racism and xenophobia in order to encourage them to use such remedies; that Slovenia strengthen its human rights sensitization and training programmes, especially with regard to law enforcement and military personnel; and that it review its policy on temporary protection of refugees in order to guarantee all their rights and facilitate their integration in Slovenian society.
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Mauritius
As part of positive aspects in the report of Mauritius, the Committee noted the multi-ethnic composition of the country and the harmony in which its various ethnic groups lived, and said that the experience of Mauritius in dealing with its ethnic and racial problems was thus very instructive; and it welcomed the announcement of the forthcoming adoption of the Equal Opportunities Act aimed at the implementation of article 5 of the Convention, and the introduction of a Public Security Act punishing any act or conduct inciting to racial hatred, in conformity with article 4 of the Convention.
The Committee was concerned that the existence of constitutional and legislative provisions prohibiting racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred and the absence of judicial decisions relating to such acts did not mean that there was no racial discrimination in Mauritian society; Among its recommendations, the Committee requested that the State party provide it with supplementary information about the rioting that had broken out between Creole groups and groups of Indian origin following the death of a popular singer at a police station; that the State party provide further information on the functioning of the Human Rights Commission and the Committee on Poverty; and that Mauritius consider the possibility of making the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention recognizing the competence of the Committee to receive communications.
57th session
10 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Slovenia and Mauritius which were considered last week.
On the report of Slovenia, the Committee noted the specific measures taken for the promotion and protection of the human rights of the Roma population and the measures adopted to resolve the issue of citizenship of former citizens of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following the proclamation of the independence of Slovenia.
The Committee expressed concern that minority groups, such as Croats, Serbs, Bosnians and Roma, did not enjoy the same level of protection from the State party as the Italian and Hungarian minorities, and it recommended that Slovenia, in accordance with article 2 of the Convention, ensure that persons or groups of persons belonging to other minorities were not discriminated against.
On the report of Mauritius, the Committee, as part of positive aspects, noted the multi-ethnic composition of the country and the harmony in which its various ethnic groups lived, and said that the experience of Mauritius in dealing with its ethnic and racial problems was thus very instructive.
The Committee requested that the State party provide it with supplementary information about the rioting that had broken out between Creole groups and groups of Indian origin following the death of a popular singer at a police station. It also expressed concern that the existence of constitutional and legislative provisions prohibiting racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred and the absence of judicial decisions relating to such acts did not mean that there was no racial discrimination in Mauritian society.
Slovenia and Mauritius are among the 156 States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and as such they must present periodical reports to be considered by the Committee's 18 members.
Before adjourning its morning meeting, the Committee went into private session to consider communications received from individuals claiming to be victims of a violation by their respective States parties of any of the rights set forth in the Convention. Only States parties which declared that they recognized the competence of the Committee under article 14 of the Convention are concerned by the procedure.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will take up the fourteenth periodic report of Sweden (document CERD/C/362/Add.5).
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Slovenia
Among positive aspects in the report of Slovenia, the Committee welcomed the efforts undertaken by the authorities since its independence in 1991 to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights; the appropriate measures taken by the State party to resolve the issue of citizenship of former citizens of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following the proclamation of the independence of Slovenia; and the specific measures taken for the promotion and protection of the human rights of the Roma population.
The Committee was concerned, among other things, about the status of the Convention vis-a-vis national legislation, especially with regard to cases of conflict with domestic laws and the possibility of invoking provisions of the Convention in courts; that minority groups, such as Croats, Serbs, Bosnians and Roma, did not enjoy the same level of protection from the State party as the Italian and Hungarian minorities; that the legislation presently in force did not seem to respond to all requirements of article 4 of the Convention, which were mandatory; that the efforts in sensitizing and training civil servants on human rights and racial discrimination issues were not sufficient; and that the temporary protection offered by Slovenia to refugees might be insufficient to guarantee their basic rights.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that Slovenia provide further information in its next periodic report on the status of the Convention in domestic law and on court cases in which the Convention had been invoked; that the State party, in accordance with article 2 of the Convention, ensure that persons or groups of persons belonging to other minorities were not discriminated against; that all appropriate measures be taken to inform the general public about existing judicial remedies for victims of racism and xenophobia in order to encourage them to use such remedies; that Slovenia strengthen its human rights sensitization and training programmes, especially with regard to law enforcement and military personnel; and that it review its policy on temporary protection of refugees in order to guarantee all their rights and facilitate their integration in Slovenian society.
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Mauritius
As part of positive aspects in the report of Mauritius, the Committee noted the multi-ethnic composition of the country and the harmony in which its various ethnic groups lived, and said that the experience of Mauritius in dealing with its ethnic and racial problems was thus very instructive; and it welcomed the announcement of the forthcoming adoption of the Equal Opportunities Act aimed at the implementation of article 5 of the Convention, and the introduction of a Public Security Act punishing any act or conduct inciting to racial hatred, in conformity with article 4 of the Convention.
The Committee was concerned that the existence of constitutional and legislative provisions prohibiting racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred and the absence of judicial decisions relating to such acts did not mean that there was no racial discrimination in Mauritian society; Among its recommendations, the Committee requested that the State party provide it with supplementary information about the rioting that had broken out between Creole groups and groups of Indian origin following the death of a popular singer at a police station; that the State party provide further information on the functioning of the Human Rights Commission and the Committee on Poverty; and that Mauritius consider the possibility of making the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention recognizing the competence of the Committee to receive communications.