Source description last updated: 10 November 2020

In brief: The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is a United Nations body of independent experts that considers reports submitted by state parties as to their compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

Coverage on ecoi.net:

State reports, Concluding Observations as well as reports submitted by NGOs and national human rights institutions.

Covered monthly on ecoi.net, for countries of priorities A, B and C (all available countries).

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the [United Nations] body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its State parties.” (Website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Introduction, undated)

It was “established in 1970 under the terms of article 8 of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.” (Website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Working Methods, undated)

“The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is composed of 18 independent experts who are persons of high moral standing and acknowledged impartiality. Consideration must also be given to equitable geographical distribution and to the representation of the different forms of civilization as well as of the principal legal systems. Members are elected for a term of four years by States parties in accordance with article 8 of the Convention.” (Website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Membership, undated)

“All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented. States must report initially one year after acceding to the Convention and then every two years. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of ‘concluding observations’. [...]

The Committee meets in Geneva and normally hold three sessions per year consisting of three-four-three weeks per year.” (Website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Introduction, undated)

Funding:

UN budget

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: all state parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Thematic focus: racial discrimination and state actions to combat it (situation of ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum-seekers; incitement of racial hatred; state policies, legislation and justice etc.)

Methodology:

“States parties are [...] requested to ensure that the reports correspond strictly to the provisions of the Convention and that they are drafted in accordance with the guidelines adopted by the Committee. States parties are invited to submit reports that are as succinct and concise as possible. [...]

Country rapporteurs, in presentations held orally before the Committee, “must highlight aspects relevant to the fulfilment of the obligations arising under the Convention, and also those where shortcomings or deficiencies are apparent. They will also put questions aimed at supplementing the information received and ensuring greater clarity or precision with respect to the information received.”

In addition to the country rapporteur’s comments and questions, the Committee may present separate oral analysis and comment on the state report received, to which the state party representative at the Committee meeting is “invited to reply as precisely as possible, although some questions may need to be referred back to the Government concerned for consultation [...]

The members of the Committee are advised to review carefully the draft concluding observations presented by the country rapporteur and to pass on their amendments or suggestions to the rapporteur, who is responsible for revising the text. [...] Once the text of the concluding observations/recommendations has been approved by the Committee, the secretariat will forward them to the State party concerned and then to other interested parties. The meetings of the Committee to adopt the concluding observations will be held in private.” (Website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Working Methods, undated)

Languages of publication:

English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese

Further reading / links:

OHCHR – Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Fact Sheet No. 30, The United Nations Human Rights Treaty System - An introduction to the core human rights treaties and the treaty bodies, undated
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/docs/OHCHR-FactSheet30.pdf
 
All links accessed 10 November 2020.