[WCAR] CERD 65th session: Committee discusses follow-up to WCAR

UNITED NATIONS
Press Release
4 August 2004

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



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