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23 August 2000
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CERD
57th session
23 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Uzbekistan and the Holy See on their respective efforts to implement the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Among positive aspects in the report of Uzbekistan, the Committee cited the incorporation of the fundamental provisions of the International Bill of Human Rights into the Constitution. The Committee noted with concern that some isolated cases of inter-ethnic conflict had been reported in the country. It was concerned about the lack of domestic legislation for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers and at reported incidents of discrimination against them, especially with respect to their access to State social services.
The Committee recommended that Uzbekistan undertake legislative reform to safeguard the enjoyment, without any discrimination, by all segments of the population, of economic, social and cultural rights.
With respect to the report of the Holy See, the Committee noted the positive initiatives undertaken by the Holy See to promote and bring an end to the ethnic conflicts in the Balkans and the Great Lakes region. Noting the clarification outlined in the report concerning the involvement of ecclesiastics against the percepts of evangelical laws in the genocide in Rwanda, the Committee said the State party should cooperate fully with the national and international judicial authorities in connection with the Rwanda genocide.
Uzbekistan and the Holy See are among the 156 States parties to the Convention and as such they must submit periodic reports to the Committee on their efforts to give effect to the provisions of the treaty.
Before adjourning its morning meeting, the Committee briefly heard the introduction of a 37-page document on the Committee's contribution to the upcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it is scheduled to adopt its conclusions on the report of Norway which it considered last week.
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Country Reports Uzbekistan
Among positive aspects in the report of Uzbekistan, the Committee cited the incorporation of the fundamental provisions of the International Bill of Human Rights into the Constitution of Uzbekistan; the ratification of the six major human rights international instruments by the State party; its ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 111 concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation (1958); and the measures taken in the field of teaching, education, culture and information on human rights.
The Committee noted with concern that some isolated cases of inter-ethnic conflict had been reported; at the lack of domestic legislation for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers; and at reported incidents of discrimination against refugees, especially with respect to their access to State social services.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that Uzbekistan include in its next periodic report an assessment, together with information, on any difficulties encountered in implementing the Convention, and additional information with the view of providing the Committee with a better understanding of the status of the Convention in relating to national law; and that the results of the legislative review as well as information on the actions undertaken by the Ombudsman in the field of combatting racial discrimination be included in the next report.
Also, the Committee recommended that the State party pay particular attention to effective prevention and monitoring of possible areas of ethnic conflict; that legislation on asylum be enacted in accordance with the 1951 Convention on Refugees; that Uzbekistan undertake legislative reform to safeguard the enjoyment without any discrimination, by all segments of the population, of economic, social and cultural rights listed in article 5 of the Convention; and that educational programmes be extended in order to raise awareness of the population at large of all aspects related to racial discrimination.
The Holy See
The Committee, among its positive aspects, noted with satisfaction that the laws and teachings of the Catholic Church promoted tolerance, friendly coexistence and multi-racial integration and that Pope John Paul II had in a number of speeches openly condemned all forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia manifested through racial tensions and conflicts around the world; the positive initiatives undertaken by the Holy See to promote and bring an end to the ethnic conflicts in the Balkans and the Great Lakes region; the role of the Catholic Church in promoting education, particularly in the developing countries; and the opening up of Catholic schools to children from different religious creeds as well as the promotion of tolerance, peace and integration through education.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that the Holy See implement, as appropriate, the Convention, and invited the State party to provide it with information on the relation of article 4 to Canon Law and penal law in the State of the Vatican City. Noting the clarification outlined in the report concerning the involvement of ecclesiastics against the percepts of evangelical laws in the genocide in Rwanda, the Committee said the State party should cooperate fully with the national and international judicial authorities in connection with the Rwanda genocide.
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57th session
23 August 2000
Morning
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the reports of Uzbekistan and the Holy See on their respective efforts to implement the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Among positive aspects in the report of Uzbekistan, the Committee cited the incorporation of the fundamental provisions of the International Bill of Human Rights into the Constitution. The Committee noted with concern that some isolated cases of inter-ethnic conflict had been reported in the country. It was concerned about the lack of domestic legislation for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers and at reported incidents of discrimination against them, especially with respect to their access to State social services.
The Committee recommended that Uzbekistan undertake legislative reform to safeguard the enjoyment, without any discrimination, by all segments of the population, of economic, social and cultural rights.
With respect to the report of the Holy See, the Committee noted the positive initiatives undertaken by the Holy See to promote and bring an end to the ethnic conflicts in the Balkans and the Great Lakes region. Noting the clarification outlined in the report concerning the involvement of ecclesiastics against the percepts of evangelical laws in the genocide in Rwanda, the Committee said the State party should cooperate fully with the national and international judicial authorities in connection with the Rwanda genocide.
Uzbekistan and the Holy See are among the 156 States parties to the Convention and as such they must submit periodic reports to the Committee on their efforts to give effect to the provisions of the treaty.
Before adjourning its morning meeting, the Committee briefly heard the introduction of a 37-page document on the Committee's contribution to the upcoming World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it is scheduled to adopt its conclusions on the report of Norway which it considered last week.
Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Country Reports Uzbekistan
Among positive aspects in the report of Uzbekistan, the Committee cited the incorporation of the fundamental provisions of the International Bill of Human Rights into the Constitution of Uzbekistan; the ratification of the six major human rights international instruments by the State party; its ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 111 concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation (1958); and the measures taken in the field of teaching, education, culture and information on human rights.
The Committee noted with concern that some isolated cases of inter-ethnic conflict had been reported; at the lack of domestic legislation for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers; and at reported incidents of discrimination against refugees, especially with respect to their access to State social services.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that Uzbekistan include in its next periodic report an assessment, together with information, on any difficulties encountered in implementing the Convention, and additional information with the view of providing the Committee with a better understanding of the status of the Convention in relating to national law; and that the results of the legislative review as well as information on the actions undertaken by the Ombudsman in the field of combatting racial discrimination be included in the next report.
Also, the Committee recommended that the State party pay particular attention to effective prevention and monitoring of possible areas of ethnic conflict; that legislation on asylum be enacted in accordance with the 1951 Convention on Refugees; that Uzbekistan undertake legislative reform to safeguard the enjoyment without any discrimination, by all segments of the population, of economic, social and cultural rights listed in article 5 of the Convention; and that educational programmes be extended in order to raise awareness of the population at large of all aspects related to racial discrimination.
The Holy See
The Committee, among its positive aspects, noted with satisfaction that the laws and teachings of the Catholic Church promoted tolerance, friendly coexistence and multi-racial integration and that Pope John Paul II had in a number of speeches openly condemned all forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia manifested through racial tensions and conflicts around the world; the positive initiatives undertaken by the Holy See to promote and bring an end to the ethnic conflicts in the Balkans and the Great Lakes region; the role of the Catholic Church in promoting education, particularly in the developing countries; and the opening up of Catholic schools to children from different religious creeds as well as the promotion of tolerance, peace and integration through education.
The Committee recommended, among other things, that the Holy See implement, as appropriate, the Convention, and invited the State party to provide it with information on the relation of article 4 to Canon Law and penal law in the State of the Vatican City. Noting the clarification outlined in the report concerning the involvement of ecclesiastics against the percepts of evangelical laws in the genocide in Rwanda, the Committee said the State party should cooperate fully with the national and international judicial authorities in connection with the Rwanda genocide.
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