Racial discrimination: UN Committee to review Greece, UK, Paraguay, South Africa, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Pakistan

GENEVA (27 July 2016) – The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is meeting in Geneva from 2 to 26 August to review the following countries on these dates: Greece (3-4 Aug); UK (4-5 Aug); Paraguay (8-9 Aug); South Africa (9-10 Aug); Lebanon (10-11 Aug); Ukraine (11-12 Aug); Sri Lanka (15-16 Aug); Pakistan (16-17 Aug).
 
The above are among the 177 States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. They are required to submit regular reports to the Committee, which is composed of 18 international independent experts. 
CERD will also hear from NGOs and national human rights institutions. 

The public review of each State runs from 15:00 to 18:00 and then from 10:00 to 13:00 the following day. Live webcasts of the public sessions can be viewed at http://webtv.un.org/

More information including the States’ submitted reports, lists of issues, and information from civil society can be found here: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1073&Lang=en

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Liz Throssell - +41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org

Background

Members of CERD are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. More information on the Committee: http://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cerd

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 21 December 1965. More information on the Convention’s 50th anniversary here: http://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cerd/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial-discrimination-50-years-fighting-racism

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