News
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Joint NGO Statement: URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THE UN TREATY BODIES
Public Statement by Civil Society Organisations on the Occasion of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Chairpersons of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies 12 June 2025 The undersigned civil society organisations issue this statement at a time of profound crisis of the UN, and the human rights mechanisms in particular. The international human rights treaties are an essential part of the UN’s human rights ecosystem and form the legal backbone of the international human rights system. The work of the Treaty Bodies is crucial in monitoring States parties’ implementation of international human rights treaties and in providing authoritative guidance on the fulfilment of obligations. Treaty Bodies deliver justice to individual victims, […]June 16, 2025 -
CERD 115th session summary: Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine
From 22 April to 9 May 2025, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 115th session. During the session, CERD reviewed and adopted concluding observations on the reports of Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine. Highlights of the session included: Follow-up reports for Croatia, Germany, Morocco, Uruguay and Tajikistan were reviewed. Work was done to develop a joint general comment/recommendation on addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impact on the rights of migrants, their families and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination. A half-day general discussion to develop its general recommendation on reparations for the injustices of the transatlantic trade in enslaved […]May 14, 2025 -
【Event Recap】Act Now! Time to adopt anti-discrimination law in Japan
To celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March), IMADR and the Japan NGO Network for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ERD-Net) organised the event on 19 March 2025. Approximately 100 people participated, including the general public, members of Parliament and the media. (Photo: “Act Now! Time to adopt anti-discrimination law in Japan”) ICERD and Japan In 1995, Japan acceded to ICERD under the following conditions: Without adjusting the domestic legal framework as to support the implementation of the Convention With reservation to Article 4 (a) and (b) on the prohibition of hate speech Without declaring its acceptance of the competence of […]March 26, 2025 -
CERD 114th session summary:Armenia, Ecuador, Greece, Kenya, Monaco and Saudi Arabia
From 25 November to 13 December 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 114th session. In this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on the reports of Armenia, Ecuador, Greece, Kenya, Monaco and Saudi Arabia as well as the list of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) on Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, and Seychelles. The Committee further adopted the follow-up report for Portugal. CERD also held joint in-person discussions with the Committee on Migrant Workers to develop a joint general comment/recommendation on addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impact on the rights of migrants, their families and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination in […]December 16, 2024 -
CERD 113th session summary: Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela
From 5 August to 23 August 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 113th session. In this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Venezuela. Additionally, the Committee adopted its general recommendation no. 37 on racial discrimination and the enjoyment of the right to health. CERD also held discussions with the Committee on Migrant Workers to develop a joint general comment/recommendation on addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impact on the rights of migrants, their families and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination. As a […]August 29, 2024 -
IMADR Submitted Contribution to General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/234
IMADR submitted inputs for General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/234. Despite the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at a global level, such racially-motivated acts have been rising in many societies, affecting every aspect of life. Therefore, the purpose of this input is to inform the preparation of the 2024 report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/234 that will be presented to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION A/RES/78/234 “A GLOBAL CALL FOR CONCRETE ACTION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE AND THE COMPREHENSIVE […]July 3, 2024 -
CERD 112th session summary: Albania, Mexico, Qatar, the Republic of Moldova and San Marino
From 8th April to 26th April 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 112th session. In this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on Albania, Mexico, Qatar, the Republic of Moldova and San Marino. Additionally, the Committee reviewed two follow-up reports submitted by France and Georgia. Under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure, the Committee adopted a Decision on Sudan in relation to the rise in ethnic violence due to uprising hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. It urged the Government to prevent further intensification of ethnic violence and racist hate speech. It also called on […]April 30, 2024 -
IMADR Submitted Contribution to the CERD- CMW Joint General Comment/ Recommendation
IMADR submitted inputs for the CERD- CMW Joint General Comment/ Recommendation. Nowadays, society has become more culturally diverse as human mobility becomes more active due to multiple social dimensions such as political, labour, and economic factors. On the other hand, xenophobia has been rising in many societies too, which impacts migrants, their families, and communities in various aspects of life. Therefore, this joint general comment/ recommendation aims to develop authoritative guidance for the State parties on public policies for addressing and eradicating xenophobia and its impacts on the rights of migrants, their families, and other non-citizens affected by racial discrimination. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CERD-CMW JOINT GENERAL COMMENT/RECOMMENDATION ON OBLIGATIONS […]April 23, 2024 -
21 March－International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Do you know what 21st March is known for? It is the international day to call for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. It all started more than 60 years ago, on 21 March 1960 when police officers opened fire on a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa, killing 69 people¹. Let’s join and voice out, “Ｎo space for racism.” ▼ You can find more information below <Japanese version> ¹ OHCHR: https://www.ohchr.org/en/get-involved/stories/international-day-elimination-racial-discrimination.March 18, 2024 -
CERD 108th session summary: Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, France, Georgia, and Jamaica
From 14 November to 2 December 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 108th session. In this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, France, Georgia, and Jamaica. Additionally, the Committee examined two follow-up reports submitted by the Netherlands and Slovakia. Under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure, the Committee sent a letter to China in relation to the reports of human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China (XUAR). It urged the Government to investigate the complaints of human rights abuses and to release all persons arbitrarily arrested, among other measures. The Committee also […]December 20, 2022 -
CERD 107th session summary: Azerbaijan, Benin, Nicaragua, Slovakia, Suriname, United States of America, Zimbabwe
From 8th to 30th August 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 107th session. At this session, the Committee reviewed and adopted concluding observations on Azerbaijan, Benin, Nicaragua, Slovakia, Suriname, United States of America, and Zimbabwe. In accordance with its follow-up procedure, the Committee did not issue any follow-up letters. The Committee sent letters to Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Colombia under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure. The Committee also released a statement on the tragic events at the Moroccan-Spanish border. Furthermore, on 23 August 2022, the Committee held its Day of General Discussion on racial discrimination and right to health. The inputs […]September 6, 2022 -
CERD 106th session summary: Cameroon, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg
From 11th to 29th April 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) held its 106th session. During the session, the Committee reviewed and adopted its concluding observations on Cameroon, Estonia, Kazakhstan and Luxembourg. In accordance with its follow-up procedure, the Committee considered follow-up reports of Czech Republic, Ireland and Peru. Under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure, the Committee adopted a statement on the lack of equitable and non-discriminatory access to COVID vaccines. Under the individual communications procedure, the Committee adopted a decision on the communication 59/2016 concerning Sami petitioners versus Finland, concluding that the petitioner’s right to political participation was violated by some of the rulings of the Supreme Administrative […]May 10, 2022 -
Joint NGO submission to the UN Secretary General – Status of the human rights treaty body system
The UN Secretary-General is preparing a report to the UN General Assembly on the implementation of resolutions “Strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system” (A/RES/68/268) and on “Human right treaty body system” (A/RES/73/162). On this occasion, TB-Net, Amnesty International and the International Service for Human Rights made a joint submission for the report, focused on the following areas: Importance of the Treaty Body System COVID-19 Pandemic and the Treaty Body System Petitions Quality, Independent and Diverse Treaty Body Membership Download the submissionJanuary 28, 2022 -
CERD 106th session: Bolivia, Cameroon, Estonia, Kazakhstan and Luxembourg (April 2022)
At its 106th session from 11th to 29th April 2022, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) will carry out following activities. Periodic reviews: Bolivia (Plurinational State of); Cameroon; Estonia, Kazakhstan; and Luxembourg Assessment of follow-up report: Czech Republic and Peru Civil society organisations (CSOs) are encouraged to submit information on the situations of racial discrimination in these countries. Please get in touch with us if you are preparing an alternative report or planning one on the abovementioned countries. Contact us at: geneva[@]imadr.org (remove “[]” when you send e-mail). Practical information for civil society Deadline for alternative reports for the reviews and follow-up assessments: 21 March 2022 Deadline […]December 20, 2021 -
Publication: 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 version of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and its standards. This project bore out of the two organisations’ collaborations as members of TB-Net – NGO Network on UN Treaty Bodies. Developed through consultations with children from various regions, this child-friendly and everyone-friendly 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. With beautiful illustrations by Naida […]December 10, 2021 -
CERD 105th session summary: Chile, Denmark, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand
On the 3rd of December, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) concluded its 105th session. In this session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on Chile, Denmark, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand, and the list of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) on San Marino and Trinidad and Tobago. It adopted guidelines on the cooperation with NGOs and NHRIs. In accordance with its follow-up procedure, The Committee issued a follow-up letter to Montenegro. The Committee sent letters to Australia, Kazakhstan and the United States of America under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure. Under the individual communications procedure, the Committee adopted an opinion on Kotor vs. France (CERD/C/105/D/65/2018). It found […]December 9, 2021
