UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : OHCHR Press conference: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Good morning, everyone.

Welcome to the press conference hosted by the

UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The committee today is going to present

its findings on seven countries including Belarus,

Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Iran, Iraq, Pakistan,

the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

Being with us today on the podium, we have Mr Beals,

chairperson of the committee,

and Mrs S

and M Vice Chair.

And we have two committee members Mr Di

and Mr K

and joining us today. Also, we have Mr Yun in the room as well.

They will first walk us through their recommendations and conclusions

and then they will be happy to take your questions.

So without further delay, I'll pass on the floor to the experts. Mr.

Chair, over to you.

Thank you very much.

Good morning.

My name is

Michael

Bach.

I'm the chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

My colleagues in the podium and in the audience have already been introduced.

But just let me briefly

do that again. Welcome. We have Ms Regina San,

a vice chair of the committee,

Mr

Bakari

Sidiki Di, a

committee member and also rapporteur of the Committee for Reprisals.

I welcome Mr Gun

Kut,

a member of the committee and the chair of the former ad hoc Conciliation Commission

concerning the Interstate communication of Palestine versus Israel.

And I welcome

Mr

Yong,

committee member and the rapporteur for Pakistan.

the committee will today conclude its 113th session,

which was very busy.

We have reviewed seven state reports We conducted dialogues with state parties,

delegations, but additionally,

we also adopted a general recommendation number 37 on racial

discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health.

This was an outcome of several years of intensive

discussions, preparations and I'm happy to say that this has been

adopted.

And also during this session,

the committee has released a report of the Ad Hoc Conciliation

Commission in the Interstate Proceedings State of Palestine versus Israel,

which originated in the

2018

Communication of the State of Palestine to

the Committee under article 11 of the convention

This morning,

we will present the findings summary of findings concerning the

State the states that we reviewed during the session.

I will present the findings on Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina in Pakistan.

Mr Diaby

will present the findings on Venezuela. He was the country rapporteur

for this country. Then

Mr

K

will present the findings on the United Kingdom

and Iraq. Mr. Kut was country rapporteur for Iraq.

I'm sorry for the United Kingdom. Yes, of course.

And Madame

will present the findings on Belarus and she was a count rapporteur for Belarus.

And then our presentations will be followed by questions and answers.

So once once again,

welcome to the press conference and we I think we may proceed to the

presentations

as regards the findings on Iran.

The committee voiced serious concerns over

reports of grave human rights violations

committed by law enforcement officers against

protesters belonging to ethnic and ethno

religious minority groups during November 2019, July 2021

and September 2022 protests,

particularly in the provinces predominantly inhabited

by these minority groups.

It urged Iran to

to immediately conduct impartial investigations

into allegations of violations and abuses of human rights committed by state

actors during these protests and to provide reparations to the victims.

The committee also expressed concern

over reports that ethnic and ethno

religious minorities

are over represented in the criminal justice system

and are disproportionately subjected to arbitrary detention and death sentences

for broadly defined offences under the Islamic Criminal Code

as well as for drug related offences.

It called on Iran to review its legal framework,

repeal vaguely worded criminal offences punishable by death,

ensure fair and due process for minority groups,

and establish a moratorium on the death penalty with the goal of abolishing it.

As regards the summary of findings concerning Pakistan,

the committee highlighted

escalated

incidents in Punjab and

Kyber Pak

Tung

from May to June 2024.

The committee also underscored its concern

over blasphemy accusations and subsequent mob lynchings

and the destruction of places of worship, particularly targeting ethnic and ethno

religious minorities.

The committee questioned the impunity

for these crimes, citing

few arrests and convictions.

The committee underlined the right to fair trial

of those accused of blasphemy,

highlighting its concerns over the treatment of suspects,

including deaths in police custody

and prolonged legal proceedings.

It urged Pakistan

to prevent and protect individuals as well as communities

against violent Reprisals to repeal its blasphemy laws,

ensure fair trials and prosecute all acts of violence.

The committee was alarmed by the mass

exodus under the Illegal Foreigners repatriation plan,

which saw 700,000 individuals,

including 101,000 between April and June

2024 deported or returned to Afghanistan.

The committee highlighted reports of harassment,

forced evictions

and the detention of 830,500 Afghans from September to December 2023

which have driven many to return to Afghanistan.

Out of fear,

the committee urged Pakistan to conduct individual assessments of refoulement

risks

and to mitigate risks faced by vulnerable groups,

including the risks of trafficking and exploitation of unaccompanied Children.

The committee expressed regret for the

lack of legislative and institutional framework

in line with international law,

recommending the ratification of the 1951

refugee convention and its 1967 optional protocol

Now. As regards the findings on Bosnia and Herzegovina,

the committee remained concerned about the persistent discrimination

and marginalisation of Roma,

which hinders the full enjoyment of rights under the convention.

Key issues include poor living conditions,

limited access to public services and formal employment, especially

for Roma women

in adequate healthcare and low education enrolment

and attendance rates for Roma Children.

The committee

urged the state party

to intensify efforts to address systemic racial discrimination against Roma.

It recommended improving Roma housing and

living conditions through genuine consultation,

ensuring access to employment and vocational training,

combating workplace discrimination

and increasing Roma Children's enrolment and attendance in education.

Additionally,

the committee called for accessible

and culturally appropriate healthcare services,

particularly for Roma women and girls.

The committee remains concerned that returnees continue to

face widespread discrimination and de facto segregation,

which hamper their full reintegration into their place of origin.

Despite some progress in the access to adequate housing,

returnees still struggle with education, employment,

healthcare and social protection,

and continue to face hate speech and physical

violence.

The committee

called on the State Party to ensure a

safe and sustainable return and reintegration of returnees,

adopt measures to combat discrimination,

improve access to essential services,

investigate and prosecute all incidents of hate speech and violence,

and provide reparations to victims.

That was the summary of findings concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina,

and now I would like to ask my colleague Mr Diaby

to present the findings on Venezuela.

Thank you chair.

The committee was seriously concerned about

the negative impact of mining in indigenous

lands and lives

of indigenous people.

It highlights the situation,

the national strategic development zone,

where

indigenous territories

where militaries

and military operations were carried out without due consultation,

as well as human rights abuse and violations

committed against indigenous people

by actors linked to state entities, including members of the national armed forces

and non state armed groups.

The committee urged Venezuela to refrain from depriving

military

military forces and conducting military operations

in indigenous territories.

We without prior

consultation

with the indigenous people concerned

and to establish effective accountability mechanism for possible

human rights violation

if the use of military forces

is strictly essential.

It also has the the State Party

to investigate

all allegations of abuse and violence committed

by military forces

or non state armed groups against indigenous people,

particularly indigenous women.

The committee arises

concern over alleged acts of violence,

trades and assassination attempts against human rights defenders,

including indigenous, Afro

and Afro descent leaders

and right defenders.

He called on Venezuela to immediately halt the persecution

of these human rights defenders,

prevents all acts of violence and threats

and attacks of their lives and physical integrity,

and investigate

all allegations of violence, intimidation

and defamation against them.

Thank you.

May I now ask Mister Gun

Kut to present a summary of findings concerning the United Kingdom and Iraq.

Yes, thank you Chair

the committees concluding Observations on the United Kingdom

contains main concerns and recommendations as

well as positive aspects in the implementation

of the International Convention on the Elimination

of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Among the concerns If you are highlighted here,

the committee expressed its concern about the persistence of hate crimes,

hate speech and xenophobic incidents on various

platforms and by politicians and public figures.

It is particularly concerned

about recurring racist acts

and violence against ethnic and ethno religious minorities, migrants,

refugees and asylum seekers by extremist far

right and white supremacist individuals and groups,

including the violent acts committed in late July and early August

2024.

In calling for action,

the committee urged the United Kingdom

to implement comprehensive measures to curb

racist hate speech and xenophobic rhetoric,

including from political and public figures.

The committee emphasised the need for thorough investigations

and strict penalties for racist hate crimes

and effective remedies for the victims and their families.

The committee also expressed

concern about

the disproportionate impact of police stop and search practises,

including strip searches on ethnic minorities, especially Children.

It also raised alarms

over the use of excessive and deadly force by law enforcement,

the lack of accountability

and the inadequate support for victims' families,

all of which disproportionately affect people of African descent and

other ethnic minorities.

It further highlighted concerns about institutional racism

within policing and the criminal justice system.

The committee urged the state party to set up an independent complaint mechanism

to investigate allegations of racial profiling, stop and search practises,

strip searches

and excessive use of

force by police.

It called for the prosecution and punishment of perpetrators

and stressed the need for victims and their families to access effective remedies.

Additionally, it recommended taking decisive action

to eliminate racial discrimination within policing

and the criminal justice system,

including its institutional dimension

now on Iraq.

And the concluding observation,

uh

raised a number of concerns

and among them,

the committee was concerned about reports that the decision to close

all camps for internally displaced persons by the end of 2024

could lead to forced and involuntary return of IDPs

from ethnic and

ethno

religious minority groups,

warning that many of these individuals would have

to return to areas severely damaged by armed conflict

with inadequate infrastructure.

The committee urged Iraq

to ensure that returns or resettlements are safe and genuinely voluntary.

He also recommended efforts to integrate

IDPs,

rebuild their communities

and restore essential services while combating

stigmatisation

and guaranteeing equal access to education, healthcare, employment and housing

as protected under the convention.

The committee also stated its concern

over delays in providing reparations to victims,

particularly women who have suffered grave human rights violations

and highlighted the absence of a

legislative framework for prosecuting war crimes,

crimes against humanity or genocide.

The committee urged the state party

to take swift action to support and adequately compensate women survivors,

including

speeding up the verification of pending application under the law on Yazidi

female survivors

and ensuring the process

does not

re traumatise them.

It also called for the prompt passage of a

bill by the Council of Representatives to criminalise genocide,

war crimes and crimes against humanity

and enable domestic courts to prosecute these crimes.

Thank you.

Thank you very much,

Mister K.

And now I would like to invite the committee's vice chair Ms Sema,

to present a summary of findings concerning Belarus.

Thank you. Chair for giving me the floor

with regard to Belarus.

The committee highlighted

its concerns about life threatening conditions

faced by migrants,

asylum seekers

and refugees

at the Belarusian border with the European Union.

Citing reports of excessive use of force,

arbitrary detention

and difficulties accessing asylum procedures,

the committee urged

Belarus to

take immediate action

to protect the lives

and safety

of those at the border,

prevent excessive use of force

and provide human rights training

to border guards

and law enforcement officials.

It also called for continued operation

with international organisations

and other stakeholders

to enhance human rights protections

and ensure

asylum procedures

meet international standards.

The committee was concerned by reports

that

members of national

and other minorities

face administrative and other restrictions

on their freedom of association

and enjoyment of their right to education,

religion,

language

and culture,

leading to

the dissolution of minority associations,

the closure of minority schools

and the cancellation

of cultural

events.

The committee urged Belarus

to effectively implement the law

on national minorities

to ensure that

members of national

and other minorities fully enjoy

their freedom of association

education

in national minority languages,

including Polish

and Lithuanian

culture

and freedom

and manifestation

of their religion.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr

Sanderman.

And now we can proceed to questions and answers.

Let me recall that we have five committee members here.

All of us were also country rapporteurs.

So we would invite questions about the

concluding observations about the dialogues that concern these states.

But also questions about the other activities of our committee.

If you might have such questions,

may I ask Vivian to moderate this part?

Yes. Thank you. Chair.

Uh, let's open the floor.

Uh, yes, for the room. Isabel, from the EFP. You have the first question. Thank you.

Good morning. Good morning. Members of the committee. Thank you for this briefing.

I would like, uh, my country of interest. Uh, this morning is, uh, Venezuela.

Um, and I would like to I

have three questions.

I don't know if you want me to to put the, uh, them in a row or or one by one.

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we have a few questions online, and then

the next question will go to, uh, Emma Far Reuters.

Emma, you have the question.

We can't hear you, Emma.

Thank you.

Maybe we can go to the next question first,

Um, the next one will go to a FP.

Committee.

Urged the United Kingdom to implement comprehensive measures

to curb racist hate speech and xenophobic rhetoric,

including from political and public figures.

Um, it's just to ask,

what could those measures be?

And did you

identify

any particular politicians

who you found to be using racist hate speech? Thank you.

Thank you for this question. I think we just heard the second half of it.

Yes, Robin, we can't hear which country you are asking about.

Could you repeat it, please? Yes, please.

Thank you. Can you hear me now?

Yes. Yes.

Yeah, it was It was about Britain.

Uh, and the part that said about, uh,

the committee urging the UK to implement comprehensive measures

to curb racist hate speech,

including from politicians

and public figures. It was just to ask what those measures could be.

And did you identify any particular politicians who

you found to be using racist hate speech?

Thank you.

And let me refer this question to the count rapporteur for the United Kingdom.

Mister Kut,

Um, thank you for the question.

to begin with,

the committee

evaluates the information that is made available to it through several

sources

and reports.

So as a result of that,

we raise a concern,

and we ask the state party to address the concern

as it sees fit

to provide

a solution to the issues raised.

So it's up to the UK government

and the, uh

uh uh, uh

other jurisdictions within the UK

to find

the correct the right, the suitable measures to deal with these issues.

So, no, we do not have specific proposals. It's not up to the committee to come up with

what to do.

The committee asks the state party

to find

is suitable.

Uh uh uh uh, uh, Redress

to the situation

on the second part of the question.

No, we do not name names.

We raise the concern.

There is an obvious concern about hate speech by

prominent figures in the public.

And this is a problem

to be addressed and

solved by the state party.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Coo.

Emma from Reuters. You can have the question back.

I hope. I hope you can hear me. Um, it was just a follow up to Robbins.

Uh, I was wondering whether you think that

such hate speech by public figures played an

important role in fueling the summer riots.

Or what role it did play according to your assessment. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Well, according to the assessment of the committee,

not only in the UK, but everywhere else.

There is a direct connection

between the activities, actions of public figures

and racial discrimination.

The UK is not an exception.

And because we see several examples

in the case of the UK

that

the committee

came up with the

concern

and related recommendations

Yes, There is a direct link between

what the politicians

and public figures

say

and what happens afterwards.

Thank you.

Since we're on the UK, I'll give the next question to Amelia Guardian.

Uh, yes. Hello?

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Perfect. So it's again. It's a follow up to the to the same question.

Um, I, I hear you saying that you can't name names.

Um, I wonder whether, within the, um,

reports that were submitted to you by human rights organisations,

Um, whether any specific incidents of politicians expressing hate, um,

hate speech were raised I I wonder whether you had in mind comments from

SUELA. Braverman,

the the former home secretary,

about an invasion of migrants on the on the south Coast or

III.

I suppose you have just referred in your

previous answer to specific instances that caused concern.

And I'm really struggling to

understand which instances you were alerted to

thank you and once again refer it to Count Rapporteur.

Now, the committee,

um

actually is comparing

the situation as it stood in 2016 when

it

monitored

the UK case the last time.

And now

So

we are interested in

seeing what kind of improvements

have been achieved in the UK in

relation to our recommendations that were made

in

2016

and also

what new

concerns arose

in the meantime.

So in that sense, when we consider all the news items,

reports

and every kind of information,

including the state party's own report on own periodic report

and its annexes,

the committee concluded

that

there were a number of developments

that would raise our concern.

So

it is really not possible to

cite specific examples.

because it is also difficult to distinguish between

what is the most critical and what is less important and so on and so forth.

But there are There are so many credible reports,

as I said, including the state party's own,

uh,

periodic report

that, uh, you know, there is no doubt that the issue is a serious one.

in the UK.

Thank you.

Let's keep the flow going on the UK. Um, the next question. Go to New York.

New York Times.

Yeah. Good morning. Thank you. Um, are you following up your comments?

A lot of the issues that you've identified in this report are in fact, then, uh,

nothing new.

Uh, we're talking about institutional racism, for example,

in the police and the criminal justice system.

I wonder whether you conclude

that the UK has been making AAA good faith effort

to implement recommendations and whether you've seen progress or aggression,

Uh, on these issues. Um, And on one particular detail,

your report alludes to, um,

the Children of, uh, migrants and asylum seekers who have gone missing.

How extensive is that problem?

Do you have, uh, uh a significant body of evidence on on the scale. Thank you.

Please. Mr Good.

Uh, yes. Thank you for the question.

Well, uh,

when you look at the concluding observations as a whole,

there is a section on positive aspects.

So

there are

certain areas that the

authorities of the state party

acted in good faith and

achieved certain results in line with our recommendations

that were contained in the previous concluding observations.

And this is you will see in the concluding observations

a number of areas that we have seen progress.

And when we see progress, we note them and we note them in appreciation.

But this doesn't prevent us to

further voice our concern

and ask our further action by the state party by the UK in this case.

So if you

if you look closely at the formulation of the concerns and the recommendations,

you will see that

in certain areas

the committee is satisfied.

But yet

it wants to make sure that

further positive action

is

followed up.

So this is in general

what the situation is in the UK case. And this is the gist of our report.

Anyway, this spirit of our concluding observations

as to the Children,

he, um

we had

reports we received reports

including the

national human rights institutions, contributions

enough information

about the seriousness of the situation to raise it in

the concluding observations and make a recommendation about it.

But during the dialogue, the state party reassured us that they are

taking care

of the situation.

And this is also

somewhat reflected in the concluding observations.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Coo.

Um, the next question will go to Voice of America. Lily.

Hello. Hope you can hear me now.

Yes. Uh, my question is about Iran.

Uh, how does the committee plan to ensure that Iran

follows through on the

coms for impartial

investigations and legal reforms?

Given the country's track record of

non-compliance with international human rights obligations.

Thank you for this question since I was a country rapporteur for Iran.

Allow me to address it

well, actually, in each concluding observations,

the committee indicates also the specific issues that

we

request the state party to

follow up on within one year.

And apart from that,

we also list specific paragraphs as paragraphs

of particular importance or issues of particular importance

and the issue.

The issues concerning the,

uh

improvements or the recommendations on

the

persecutions and the deficiencies in

the administration of justice,

as well as the aftermath of the protests.

They were listed as those requiring follow up very shortly,

the committee expressed grave concerns about it.

We received indeed also numerous submissions

concerning the aftermath of the protests.

Now, as regards to how the committee proceeds and follows up

well, within one year, we would wait and we would expect the state party to

provide us with certain additional

information.

And also we

try also to be

up to date with all what is happening.

Apart from that, the committee will obviously also be vigilant.

And let me also say that apart from the process of

reviewing state reports apart, from,

conducting dialogues with states

periodically.

The committee also

has some other parts of its mandate that it tries to

fulfil. And part of it is what we call early warning and urgent action procedure.

I'm just mentioning it.

The committee cannot trigger this procedure itself, but it can

respond to some situations

if it receives

a communication indicating a

situation of grave concern. A situation where

some urgent reaction is necessary because the periodical review

it is a regular dialogue with state party.

But obviously we can only we have capacity to

conduct such dialogues in every four or five or six years. But anyway,

the committee

stays very much interested in

the follow up. And what happens with our recommendations?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Chair. I believe the discussion will continue on Iran.

The next question is from Iran International

Baria, you have the next question.

Hello? I hope you can hear me now.

Good morning to you.

This is a follow up to Lily's question. My colleague's question.

How hopeful are you?

That Iranian state showed the goodwill that you asked in a year to get back to you

because, as you uh,

committee recommends that Iranian state to conduct

an effective and impartial investigation to the

violations of human rights committed in the context of all those recent protests.

Hopeful that you

or to, uh, that Iranian, uh,

state to manifest the goodwill and those investigations

which you are recommended could be impartial. As you are aware that, uh,

they didn't let any independent bodies con to conduct such an investigation

and the collaboration with the UN human rights mechanism were quite minimal.

How hopeful are you? They do collaborate and get back to you in a year time.

As you suggested,

that was the question.

Thank you.

Well,

OK.

We believe that

state parties

consider

seriously

obligations under international law. We very much

wish that they do so and this is obviously a certain point of departure

sometimes. Indeed,

it's not easy to expect.

It's not easy to be hopeful, so to say,

but nevertheless,

on the

positive side,

the delegation

appeared

to talk with the committee.

It responded to some issues and concerns.

Numerous questions were asked and very specific recommendations were

submitted. Now

I

cannot

predict how the situation evolves.

I can only assure you about our committee's continuing interest and

I can

ensure that we will not just close the file and return to it in five or seven years.

I don't know

how and when the delegation, the state party responds.

But I very much hope that if they consider seriously

their international obligations, they should do so.

Also, let me note in passing that

as you are aware, our committee is not the only

body in the UN system that takes much interest in

human rights situation in Iran.

You are also aware that there are some

findings, for instance, made by the independent fact finding mission.

And that's public record reports are available.

So I'm just mentioning to say that

the third committee does not act in isolation, that we are part of the ecosystem.

And we

believe that

this ecosystem together well, with all actors involved,

including civil society, has a chance

to produce some change.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a few, um, written questions.

The first one about Belarus.

why hasn't the committee commented on the racial

discrimination of Belarusian ethnic from the Olympics committee?

See, we play,

uh,

at the, um

uh

so,

uh,

Belarus.

So,

Olympics

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you

said,

MM

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Thank you.

And then, um

I have another question on Pakistan.

Uh,

that's about, um

the question is

it seems to be like a reflecting, um, development in Pakistan.

On one hand,

the committee praised about the National Human

Rights Commission getting an A grade.

And on the other hand, that's the mob Lynching and other violence against ethnic

minorities are

rising. So how are these conflicting developments exist?

Thank you. And let me refer this question to the country rapporteur for Pakistan, Mr

Yong Y.

Thank you for your question.

Now, when it comes to the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan,

it's a fairly

recent institution which got the status

which got the A status fairly recently.

Uh,

I think it's

all things being equal.

The National Human Rights Commission is doing a wonderful job.

In fact, we've

We've asked

that that commission,

we do

it with, uh,

with extra facilities when it comes to finance

as well, because it's got

a

a wide compass

to deal with.

In fact,

let's say one thing which comes out in our

dealings with the National Human Rights Commission from what we heard

from them,

uh, is there openness and readiness?

They've come forward,

that commission, they've come forward with,

burning issues in their countries.

so that,

um

it's a fact that there are

so many problems, uh, outstanding

of still going on

in

Pakistan.

But I believe that to the credit of the National Human Rights Commission,

they are fully alive to those

and

they are giving, I think,

sufficient attention with their means.

And, uh, they've

played

a leading role, in

fact, before us

in coming up

with so many of those hot issues.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yun.

I don't see any more hands online.

So, Mr Chair, would you like to conclude the press conference?

Thank you very much.

Let me thank you for

all questions. And we obviously are also ready to respond to more of them

in the following days or weeks.

Let me thank my colleagues who joined me and we were able

to address specific questions today.

Let me also recall that the next

session of the committee is scheduled from 25

November to 13 December and the committee will review

reports and will conduct dialogues with Armenia, Ecuador, Greece, Kenya,

Monaco and Saudi Arabia.

So we have one more session and most likely we will also

invite you for a press conference at the end of the session,

probably on December 13th.

So I thank you again very much

and have a good day.

OHCHR Press conference: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) - 23 August 2024