The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon closed its one hundred and thirteenth session after adopting concluding observations on the reports of Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Venezuela, which were reviewed during the session. The Committee also adopted its general recommendation no.37 on racial discrimination and the enjoyment of the right to health.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Committee adopted its general recommendation no.37 on racial discrimination and the enjoyment of the right to health. Michal Balcerzak, Committee Chairperson, said since 1972, the Committee had issued general recommendations to provide guidance to States parties in understanding the provisions of the Convention and to assist them in implementing the Convention fully. To date, the Committee had adopted 36 general recommendations, including on the understanding of the provisions of the Convention, on the protection of the rights of specific groups deemed more vulnerable to racial discrimination, and on issues of a procedural, institutional or policy nature.
Tina Stavrinaki, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for the elaboration of the general recommendation no. 37, said its adoption finalised a process which started with a thematic discussion in August 2022, with the participation of State parties, international and regional partners, civil society organizations and health provider associations. The Committee held four online regional forums, with participants from Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe and North America, and received comments from a wide range of stakeholders, highlighting the importance of the topic of general recommendation.
Ms. Stavrinaki said the general recommendation aimed to clarify the necessary measures under the Convention for eliminating racial discrimination and guaranteeing equal enjoyment of the right to health. It provided States with concrete examples to ensure equality and non-discrimination under the right to health. The adoption of the general recommendation was the starting point as it could enhance the impact of the Convention at the national level as an anti-racist, post-colonial and global instrument towards more equitable and inclusive enjoyment of the right to health.
Several Committee Experts took the floor to congratulate Ms. Stavrinaki and everybody involved in the process. They underscored the importance of the general recommendation and expressed hope that it would be referred to in all future Committee concluding observations.
Chinsung Chung, Committee Rapporteur, said at the public opening on 5 August, a speech was delivered by Guillaume Ngefa, Representative of the Secretary-General, who recalled the continued and profound relevance of the Committee and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination today, especially in the context of ongoing wars.
During the session, the Committee reviewed the reports of Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. The Committee's concluding observations would be made available on the session's webpage.
Ms. Chung said that under its early warning and urgent action procedure, the Committee adopted on 29 June 2024 a statement on the situation of Rohingya who fled Myanmar to India. The Committee endorsed letters to the States parties assessed under this procedure.
The Committee also discussed with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on Migrant Workers developing 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. The next stage would be global and regional consultations scheduled for September, October and November 2024.
The Rapporteur recalled that the ad hoc Conciliation Commission concerning the inter-state communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel had formally adopted its report on 19 February 2024. It was circulated to the States parties and released to the public yesterday. The report presented the findings of the Commission for a peaceful settlement of the dispute between the State of Palestine and Israel over several issues of racial discrimination based on respect for the Convention.
Finally, Ms. Chung said, the Committee adopted its annual report which would be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly later this year.
In closing, Mr. Balcerzak thanked the Committee Experts for all their work during the session, and for working towards the Committee's mandate of the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination wherever it occurred.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. Other documents related to the session can be found here.
The next session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is scheduled to take place from 25 November to 13 December 2024. During the session, the Committee will review the reports of Armenia, Ecuador, Greece, Kenya, Monaco and Saudi Arabia.
