UN Racism Body Holds its 14th Session in Geneva: Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards meets from 22 July to 2 August

GENEVA (18 November 2024) - The United Nations Ad Hoc Committee on the elaboration of complementary standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is holding its 14th session from 22 July to 2 August 2024 in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Chamber (Room XX) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the two-week session, the Ad Hoc Committee aims to pursue its work towards the elaboration of a draft protocol criminalizing acts of racist and xenophobic nature as mandated by the Human Rights Council.

The Ad Hoc Committee also aims to examine closely issues and elements under paragraph 101 of the report of its 13th session (A/HRC/54/65), exchange views, discuss the Chairperson’s draft document, and adopt conclusions and recommendations.

Background 

The Ad Hoc Committee is an open-ended intergovernmental body which was established by Human Rights Council decision 3/103 of 2006. Its mandate is to elaborate, as a matter of priority and necessity, complementary standards in the form of either a convention or additional protocol(s) to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, filling the existing gaps in the Convention; and to provide new normative standards aimed at combating all forms of contemporary racism, including incitement to racial and religious hatred. The General Assembly and the Human Rights Council requested that the Chairperson–Rapporteur of the Ad Hoc Committee “ensure the commencement of the negotiations on the draft additional protocol to the Convention criminalizing acts of a racist and xenophobic nature.” The Committee has considered issues such as hate speech and hate crime, discrimination based on religion or belief, xenophobia, cybercrime, and preventative measures against racism. The Ad Hoc Committee held its first session in February 2008 and has subsequently met annually in Geneva. Membership is open to all Member States and observers. Participation also includes international organizations and non-governmental organizations. The Committee elects the Chairperson–Rapporteur annually. Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan (Djibouti) is the current Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards.

The Ad Hoc Committee’s plenary meetings are public. Documentation relating to the 14th session, including the agenda and programme of work, is available on the Committee’s webpage.