The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recently published its findings after reviewing the state of racial discrimination and associated human rights issues in seven countries: Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. The Committee’s report underscores persistent and emerging challenges in these nations and offers recommendations to align them with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Belarus: Migrant Rights and Minority Protections
The CERD’s findings on Belarus reveal a grim reality for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees at the Belarusian border with the European Union. Reports of excessive force, arbitrary detention, and restricted access to asylum procedures paint a troubling picture of human rights violations. The Committee urged Belarus to take immediate measures to safeguard the lives and safety of those at the border, calling for human rights training for border guards and law enforcement officials.
Additionally, the Committee expressed concern over the restrictions imposed on national and other minorities in Belarus, particularly regarding their freedom of association, education, religion, language, and culture. The dissolution of minority associations, the closure of minority schools, and the cancellation of cultural events indicate systemic discrimination. The CERD urged Belarus to effectively implement laws protecting minority rights, ensuring that these communities can fully enjoy their cultural and religious freedoms.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Discrimination Against Roma and Returnees
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Committee highlighted the persistent discrimination and marginalization faced by the Roma community. The Roma, particularly women, endure poor living conditions, limited access to public services and employment, inadequate healthcare, and low education enrollment and attendance rates for children. The CERD called for intensified efforts to address these systemic issues, recommending genuine consultation with the Roma community to improve housing, employment, and healthcare services.
Returnees in Bosnia and Herzegovina also face significant challenges, including widespread discrimination and de facto segregation that hinder their reintegration. Despite some progress in housing access, returnees continue to struggle with education, employment, healthcare, and social protection. The Committee urged the State to adopt measures to combat discrimination, improve access to essential services, and ensure the safety and reintegration of returnees.
Pakistan: Blasphemy Laws and Refugee Crisis
Pakistan’s review by the CERD brought to light the increasing incidents of violence related to blasphemy accusations, particularly in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Committee expressed concern over the mob lynchings and destruction of places of worship targeting ethnic and ethno-religious minorities, often with little to no legal repercussions for the perpetrators. The CERD emphasized the need for Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws, ensure fair trials, and prosecute all acts of violence related to these accusations.
The Committee also addressed the mass exodus of individuals under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan, which saw hundreds of thousands of people, including Afghans, deported or forced to return to Afghanistan. The CERD highlighted the harassment, forced evictions, and detentions faced by these individuals, urging Pakistan to conduct individual assessments of refoulement risks and protect vulnerable groups from trafficking and exploitation.
Iran: Human Rights Violations Against Minority Protestors
Iran’s review focused on the severe human rights violations committed against ethnic and ethno-religious minority groups, particularly during protests in November 2019, July 2021, and September 2022. The CERD called for immediate and impartial investigations into these violations, emphasizing the need for reparation for victims.
The Committee also expressed concern over the disproportionate representation of minorities in Iran’s criminal justice system, including arbitrary detention and death sentences for broadly defined offenses. The CERD urged Iran to review its legal framework, repeal vaguely worded criminal offenses, and establish a moratorium on the death penalty with the goal of its eventual abolition.
Iraq: Challenges for Internally Displaced Persons and Minority Rights
The CERD’s findings on Iraq highlighted the potential risks associated with the government’s decision to close all camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) by the end of 2024. The Committee warned that this could lead to forced and involuntary returns, particularly for ethnic and ethno-religious minorities, to areas severely damaged by armed conflict. The CERD urged Iraq to ensure that returns are safe and voluntary, recommending efforts to integrate IDPs, rebuild communities, and restore essential services.
The Committee also raised concerns about delays in providing reparations to victims of grave human rights violations, particularly women. It emphasized the need for a legislative framework to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, urging Iraq to take swift action to support survivors and ensure justice for victims.
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United Kingdom: Institutional Racism and Discriminatory Policing
The United Kingdom’s review by the CERD shed light on the persistence of hate crimes, hate speech, and xenophobic incidents, particularly against ethnic and ethno-religious minorities, migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers. The Committee expressed concern over the rise of extremist far-right and white supremacist groups, calling on the UK to implement comprehensive measures to curb racist hate speech and xenophobic rhetoric.
The CERD also criticized the disproportionate impact of police stop-and-search practices on ethnic minorities, especially children, and raised alarms over the use of excessive force by law enforcement. The Committee urged the UK to establish an independent complaint mechanism to investigate allegations of racial profiling and excessive use of force, recommending decisive action to eliminate institutional racism within policing and the criminal justice system.
Venezuela: Indigenous Rights and Human Rights Defenders
The CERD’s findings on Venezuela focused on the negative impact of mining on indigenous lands and the livelihood of indigenous people. The Committee expressed serious concern over the militarization of indigenous territories and the human rights abuses committed by State and non-State actors. The CERD urged Venezuela to refrain from deploying military forces in indigenous territories without prior consultation and to establish accountability mechanisms for human rights violations.
The Committee also highlighted the alarming situation faced by human rights defenders in Venezuela, particularly indigenous and Afro-descendant leaders. The CERD called on Venezuela to halt the persecution of these defenders, prevent violence and threats against them, and investigate all allegations of violence and intimidation.
Global Implications and the Path Forward
The CERD’s findings underscore the ongoing challenges of racial discrimination and human rights violations in various parts of the world. From the harsh realities faced by migrants at the Belarusian border to the systemic discrimination against Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the persecution of minorities in Pakistan and Iran, the report paints a stark picture of the global state of human rights.
The recommendations provided by the Committee offer a pathway toward addressing these issues, but their implementation requires political will, international cooperation, and sustained efforts at the national level. The global community must heed the CERD’s call for action, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religion, can enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms.
References
- UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Reports
- Latest news articles and reports from reputable sources
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
