Check Against Delivery

Item 68 - Eliminationof racismandracialdiscrimination to Item 69 - Right of peoples self-determination

Introductorvstatement Mr. Craig Mokhiber New York Office Officer-in-Charge, for Office of the High Commissioner HumanRights

Assembly of 62ndSession the General Third Committee

200 7 November
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Ladiesand Gentlemen, Delegates, Distinguished Excellencies, "Elimination of underagendaitem 68 I have the honour to introducethe reportssubrnitted "Right of peoplesto self-determination'" racism and racial discrimination" and itern 69 nation of racism efforts ll arv-Gene rtoft submitted under intolerance obia and imination racial they Member Stateson variousmeasures "gr"d" item 68, focuseson infonnation receivedfrom implementationof and follow-up to the Durban hive undertakentoward the cornprehensive various developments (DDPA). The report summarises Declaration and Programmeof Action which have taken place during the year concerningthe implementationof the DDPA and the Conventionon the Elimination of all fonns of Racial Discrimination.While the initiatives number undertakenconstituteirnportantproglessin combatingracism effectively, an increased of assessment would allow for a more comprehensive of communicationsfrom stakeholders also to the The report refers progress achieved and challengesthat remain to be addressed. Working Group on the Durban follow-up of a study on iubinission to the Intergovemrnental complementary international standardsconducted by the Committee on the Elirnination of by Racial Discrimination and anotherstudy on the samesubjectby the five experlsselected the in its resolution 1/5upon requestby the Human Rights Council High Con-rmissioner alization of the R n the Univ retarv-G rt of under to Self-determination (4./621184). submitted unde asenda item 69. outlines Rights Council's considerationof the question emanating frorn the Human d--t"pt"*ts of self-determination,especially with regard to the human rights situation in the occupied by territories,the Comrnissionof Inquiry on Lebanon,established the Council Palestinian as the use of mercenaries a lrleans in August 2006, and the report of the Working Group on of violating human rights and impeding the exerciseof the rights of peoples to selfThe report also contains a summary of recent concluding observationsof determinati,on. the Human Rights Comrnittee and the Comrnittee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, based on their considerationof periodic reports submitted by Statesparties to the two Covenants in respect of the implementation of the right to self-determination guaranteedin article 1 of the Covenants. Thank you.