[WCAR] CERD 65th session: Committee continues to discuss follow-up to World Conference Against Racism

UNITED NATIONS
Press Release
16 August 2004


The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon
continued its discussion on 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
which was held in 2001 in Durban, South Africa.

The draft document was prepared in response to the request from the
Inter-governmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the
Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The discussion was a direct
result of the request to look at complementary standards to enhance the
effectiveness of the International Convention on the Elimination of all
Forms of Racial Discrimination and to determine how the instrument could be
strengthened, said Committee Expert Patricia Nozipho January-Bardil.

As per the discussed portions of the text, the Committee identified the
Convention as the key issue in combating contemporary forms of racism and
urged all States to ratify it in the immediate future. The Committee also
encouraged States to consider ratifying other existing instruments, namely
the International Convention for the Protection of Migrant Workers and
Members of their Families and the Convention on the Status of Refugees. The
document recalled that segregation existed in many States and called for
its eradication as a matter of priority.

Among other things, the Committee urged States parties to strengthen their
legislation to ensure it was compliant with the Convention and that all
forms of dissemination and incitement to racial hatred be punished,
including through the Internet. The document also stated the Committee's
view that the adoption of an international declaration on cultural rights
describing the content of these rights would be a useful tool for the work
of the Committee. Furthermore, in the light of the fundamental importance
of human rights education to the elimination of racial discrimination, the
Committee urged the Working Group to give due consideration to the need for
a new convention on human rights education.

When the Committee reconvenes in public session at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, 17
August, it will hold a thematic discussion with Juan Mendez, the
Secretary-General's Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide. At 3
p.m., it will hold a similar discussion with Miloon Kothari, the Special
Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on adequate housing.


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