E-CONNECT
E-CONNECT No.40
Feature story
CERD 107th session
From 8th to 30th August 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 107th session and reviewed implementation status of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Azerbaijan, Benin, Nicaragua, Slovakia, Suriname, United States of America, and Zimbabwe. The Committee also sent letters to Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Colombia under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure, and released a statement on the events at the Moroccan-Spanish border. On 23 August 2022, the Committee held its Day of General Discussion on racial discrimination and right to health as a part of drafting process of its General Recommendation N° 37. More>>
Passing away of Professor Mushakoji
Professor Kinhide Mushakoji has exerted himself for the fight against discrimination and played an instrumental role in developing IMADR. He served as its Secretary General, President of the IMADR Japan Committee, and later as the Co-Chair (till 2019). Professor Mushakoji passed away on 23 May 2022. A memorial service was organised by IMADR on 20 September 2022.
IMADR in the world
7th review of Japan on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
The UN Human Rights Comimttee (hereafter “the Committee”), the monitoring body of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), reviewed the situation of ICCPR implementation in Japan at its 136th session, held from 10 October to 4 November 2022. It was 7th review of Japan by the Committee and a number of persisiting and emerging human rights issues were addressed by the Committee. IMADR, as a part of the Japan NGO Network for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ERD-Net) has been engaging in the process throughout, among others by submitting alternative reports and participating in the briefings to the Committee. More>>
IMADR and its concerns
Extremism and Gender-based Violence in South Asia
IMADR Asia Committee has implemented a 2-year project titled “Upholding Rights of Minorities Beyond Borders – South Asia” with support from the European Union. It aimed to address violence against women and children in the context of religious extremism. As a result of this project, a collection of study findings were published, presenting how rising levels of religious extremism are affecting women and children in the region, in particular Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
IMADR at the UN
Oral statement at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council
The UN Human Rights Council, an inter-governmental body of the UN responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, held its 51st session in Geneva, Switzerland, from 12 September to 7 October 2022. During the session, the Council discussed a number of reports, among others submitted by its Special Procedures, and adopted resolutions. In this process, IMADR presented an oral statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, which raised the issue of caste discrimination and highlighted the situation and vulnerability of Dalit women and children. More>>
E-CONNECT No.38
We have issued E-CONNECT No.38 on 14 December, 2021.
Feature story
New! Child-friendly International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and its standards
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), IMADR and Child Rights Connect launched the child-friendly ICERD and its standards. Developed through consultations with children from various regions, the document is designed as a practical tool to promote awareness of the general public, especially children and youth, on the international human rights standards against racial discrimination including the State obligations. It is available in English, French and Spanish. More >>
CERD examined the situation of racial discrimination in Chile, Denmark, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand
On 3rd December, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) concluded its 105th session. Among many actions taken during the session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on Chile, Denmark, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand. It also sent letters to Australia, Kazakhstan and the United States of America under the Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure. IMADR compiled summaries of the country reviews and urgent letters. More >>
Role of civil society in conflict prevention and minority rights protection
At the 14th session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues, IMADR shared the initiatives at the international and national levels for minority rights protection in Sri Lanka. We encouraged the Special Rapporteur to explicitly recognize the role of civil society, particularly minorities themselves, in conflict prevention, as well as the need to prevent intimidation and reprisals, in his recommendations that will be presented at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022. More >>
IMADR in the world
New! TB-Net website and newsletter
TB-Net – NGO Network on UN Treaty Bodies, which IMADR is a founding member, launched the website. It provides useful information and resources for civil society across the world to engage with treaty bodies. You can also subscribe to TB-Net newsletters. More >>
IMADR and its concerns
UN expert calls for ‘inclusive society’ to end scourge of slavery in Sri Lanka
UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata, concluded the official visit to Sri Lanka on 3rd December. He shed light on links between labour exploitation and discrimination based on gender, age, ethnicity, caste, class and other grounds. He shared a concern on the situation of Malayaha Tamils in tea plantations. More >>
IMADR at the UN
CERD 106th session (April 2022)
In April 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will consider the situation of racial discrimination in Bolivia, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg and the United States of America. More >>
Publication
Summary Report – Racism in East Asia (2021)
The report is an outcome document of the 2021 series of webinars that examined the situation of racialized communities in Hong Kong, Japan and the Republic of Korea, with a focus on the area of refugee protection, education and the issue of hate speech. More >>