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23 August 2000
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CERD
57th session
23 August 2000
Afternoon
Exchanges Views on Miscellaneous Issues on Methods of Work
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Norway on how that country implemented the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
The Committee noted as a positive aspect changes in policies for the reception of asylum seekers and refugees and the institution of an Appeals Board which should improve present protection; and it expressed satisfaction that Norway was funding projects to develop strategies to discourage young people from supporting racist groups.
The Committee expressed concern over reports of racial discrimination in access to places of service to the general public, notably restaurants and discotheques, and over reports that the criminal law did not always provide effective protection. It recommended that Norway give full effect to its obligations to the right to housing.
As one of the 156 States parties to the Convention, Norway is obligated to supply the Committee with summaries of the measures it has taken to implement the provisions of the treaty.
Also this afternoon, the Committee exchanged views on miscellaneous issues concerning its methods of work.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 24 August, it will hold an informal meeting to discuss a draft document on its contribution to the forthcoming World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination before adopting conclusions on the report of Ghana which it considered yesterday. The Committee is scheduled to conclude its current four-week session on Friday, 25 August.
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Norway
The Committee cited as positive aspects the adoption of the Human Rights Act in anticipation that it would contribute to the implementation of the Convention; the establishment of the Centre for Combatting Ethnic Discrimination; the implementation of the Plan of Action for Human Rights as well as the Plan of Action for Recruiting Persons with an Immigrant Background to the State Sector for the period 1998 to 2001; the changes in policies for the reception of asylum seekers and refugees and the institution of an Appeals Board which should improve present protection; the funding by the State party of projects to develop strategies to discourage young people from supporting racist groups; and the action in apologizing to the Roma for injustice they suffered in the past.
The Committee said it was concerned that the Convention was not incorporated into a single Norwegian Human Rights Act as the other conventions and that the absence of an explicit prohibition of racial discrimination in the Constitution increased that concern; that racist organizations had not been prohibited; about reports of racial discrimination in access to places of service to the general public, notably restaurants and discotheques; and about reports that the criminal law did not always provide effective protection.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that the body charged with drafting the Human Rights Act be further encouraged to introduce the provisions of the Convention into the new statue; that Norway give full effect to its obligations under article 5(e) (iii) of the Convention, which was the right to housing; and that consideration be given to the introduction of provisions within other branches of its legislation to supplement the provisions of the criminal code.
Norway was invited in its next report to provide further information on the functioning and first results of the Appeals Board for Asylum and Immigration Cases; the outcome of the judicial proceedings that had taken place further to the introduction in primary and lower secondary education of the subject "Christian knowledge and religious and ethical education"; and the steps taken to facilitate employment of minorities in the public sector.
Discussion on Miscellaneous Issues
At its fifty-sixth session, the Committee had decided to request the General Assembly to hold its fifty-eighth session at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 8 to 26 January 2001. The Committee justified its decision by the fact that some States parties, in particular the developing countries, maintained diplomatic missions in New York but not in Geneva, and that some of those States encountered financial and other difficulties in attending meetings in Geneva.
A representative of the Secretary-General, Soussan Raadi, told the Committee that if no decision was reached before the end of November to hold the meeting in New York, the session would take place in Geneva. Unless the General Assembly decided otherwise, the implementation of the Committee's decision would entail an additional provision of $86,000 over and above the resources included in the relevant section of the programme budget for the current biennium. Further, it would represent a charge against the contingency fund which as such would require a related additional appropriation.
On another issue, the Committee said it wished to record that the extension of its fifty-fifth and fifty-seventh sessions to four weeks had enabled it to consider more reports from States parties and thereby had prevented any accumulation of unconsidered reports. It had also made possible the convening of a thematic discussion on racial discrimination against the Roma.
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57th session
23 August 2000
Afternoon
Exchanges Views on Miscellaneous Issues on Methods of Work
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the report of Norway on how that country implemented the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
The Committee noted as a positive aspect changes in policies for the reception of asylum seekers and refugees and the institution of an Appeals Board which should improve present protection; and it expressed satisfaction that Norway was funding projects to develop strategies to discourage young people from supporting racist groups.
The Committee expressed concern over reports of racial discrimination in access to places of service to the general public, notably restaurants and discotheques, and over reports that the criminal law did not always provide effective protection. It recommended that Norway give full effect to its obligations to the right to housing.
As one of the 156 States parties to the Convention, Norway is obligated to supply the Committee with summaries of the measures it has taken to implement the provisions of the treaty.
Also this afternoon, the Committee exchanged views on miscellaneous issues concerning its methods of work.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 24 August, it will hold an informal meeting to discuss a draft document on its contribution to the forthcoming World Conference against Racism and Racial Discrimination before adopting conclusions on the report of Ghana which it considered yesterday. The Committee is scheduled to conclude its current four-week session on Friday, 25 August.
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Report of Norway
The Committee cited as positive aspects the adoption of the Human Rights Act in anticipation that it would contribute to the implementation of the Convention; the establishment of the Centre for Combatting Ethnic Discrimination; the implementation of the Plan of Action for Human Rights as well as the Plan of Action for Recruiting Persons with an Immigrant Background to the State Sector for the period 1998 to 2001; the changes in policies for the reception of asylum seekers and refugees and the institution of an Appeals Board which should improve present protection; the funding by the State party of projects to develop strategies to discourage young people from supporting racist groups; and the action in apologizing to the Roma for injustice they suffered in the past.
The Committee said it was concerned that the Convention was not incorporated into a single Norwegian Human Rights Act as the other conventions and that the absence of an explicit prohibition of racial discrimination in the Constitution increased that concern; that racist organizations had not been prohibited; about reports of racial discrimination in access to places of service to the general public, notably restaurants and discotheques; and about reports that the criminal law did not always provide effective protection.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that the body charged with drafting the Human Rights Act be further encouraged to introduce the provisions of the Convention into the new statue; that Norway give full effect to its obligations under article 5(e) (iii) of the Convention, which was the right to housing; and that consideration be given to the introduction of provisions within other branches of its legislation to supplement the provisions of the criminal code.
Norway was invited in its next report to provide further information on the functioning and first results of the Appeals Board for Asylum and Immigration Cases; the outcome of the judicial proceedings that had taken place further to the introduction in primary and lower secondary education of the subject "Christian knowledge and religious and ethical education"; and the steps taken to facilitate employment of minorities in the public sector.
Discussion on Miscellaneous Issues
At its fifty-sixth session, the Committee had decided to request the General Assembly to hold its fifty-eighth session at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 8 to 26 January 2001. The Committee justified its decision by the fact that some States parties, in particular the developing countries, maintained diplomatic missions in New York but not in Geneva, and that some of those States encountered financial and other difficulties in attending meetings in Geneva.
A representative of the Secretary-General, Soussan Raadi, told the Committee that if no decision was reached before the end of November to hold the meeting in New York, the session would take place in Geneva. Unless the General Assembly decided otherwise, the implementation of the Committee's decision would entail an additional provision of $86,000 over and above the resources included in the relevant section of the programme budget for the current biennium. Further, it would represent a charge against the contingency fund which as such would require a related additional appropriation.
On another issue, the Committee said it wished to record that the extension of its fifty-fifth and fifty-seventh sessions to four weeks had enabled it to consider more reports from States parties and thereby had prevented any accumulation of unconsidered reports. It had also made possible the convening of a thematic discussion on racial discrimination against the Roma.
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