RACIAL DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE DISCUSSES FOLLOW-UP TO WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

4 August 2004







The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning began its consideration of a draft document concerning follow-up action to the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in 2001 in South Africa.

The discussion took place in response to a request put forth to the Committee by the Inter-governmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Working Group had asked the Committee to provide it with its view on the effectiveness of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, including on its implementation, and to identify areas where related international standards might need additional support.

Presenting the draft document prepared in response to the request was Committee Expert Patricia Nozipho January-Bardil who said it was a reflection of what the Committee had done to contribute to the implementation of the Programme of Action and could be used as a guideline and useful tool to measure its implementation. She recalled that at its first session, two Committee Members addressed the Working Group and exchanged views on implementation strategies of the Programme of Action and the application of related international standards.

It was the general view of the Committee, Ms. January-Bardil noted, that there were enough instruments in place to address the problem of racial discrimination. However, the main obstacle to overcoming racial discrimination and achieving racial equality lay in the lack of political will, weak legislation and lack of implementation strategies and concrete action by States.

Among other things, the dissemination of racism on the Internet and education standards in addressing racism were areas which needed to be re-examined. Committee Experts supported the view that revised standards in these areas should be considered. The Committee also felt there was a need to enhance the visibility of its work in implementing the Programme of Action.

Ms. January-Bardil outlined the main points of the executive summary of the draft document under consideration to be submitted to the Working Group. Among other things mentioned in the draft document, the Committee recommended to States that they consider ratifying the 1990 International Convention for the Protection of Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and that the 1992 United Nations General Assembly Declaration on Minorities remained an important instrument for the protection of the rights of minorities. Segregation, as defined in the Convention, still occurred in various forms in many States, and States parties should be more focused in their efforts to deal with this problem.

Among other things, the draft document mentions that the Committee urges States parties to use the reporting process for their own benefit and that it is in their best interest. It also refers to the appointment by the Committee of a rapporteur to coordinate the Committee’s follow-up actions and to cooperate with country rapporteurs. Moreover, it refers to visits by the Committee to countries where it deemed it necessary after receiving information that violations of the Convention had occurred as complementary to its work. In that regard, the Committee suggests in the draft that consideration be given to the adoption of a protocol to the Convention permitting such visits. Several Committee Experts expressed their views that the Committee’s early warning and urgent action procedure could be linked to any proposed protocol on country visits.

The Committee will resume its discussion of the draft during its current session.

When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 5 August, it will begin studying, in closed meeting, communications from individuals claiming to be victims of racial discrimination. This will be followed by a public meeting to discuss its General Recommendation on the issue of non-citizens. At 3 p.m., the Committee will begin its consideration of the report of Belarus (CERD/C/431/Add.9).