RACISM AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW The http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/cerd.htm International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which commits its signatory members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races, entered into force in 1969. The Convention defines racial discrimination as “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin, which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life”. To date 173 countries have ratified or acceded to the Convention, signifying a commitment to be legally bound by its terms. The implementation of the Convention is monitored by the http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cerd/ Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the first body created to review actions by States to fulfil their obligations under international human rights treaties. The Committee is composed of 18 independent experts representing different geographical regions and legal systems. Government representatives generally present a report to the Committee, discuss its contents with the Committee members, and respond to questions. The Committee may also consider alternative or shadow reports on the country from NGOs. The treaty body addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of “concluding observations,” which are made public. Along with the CERD and six other human rights treaty-monitoring committees, there are a number of other United Nations mechanisms which monitor and respond to human rights challenges, including the Human Rights Council and its Special Procedures. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/special/index.htm Special Procedures is the general name given to special rapporteurs, independent experts and working groups established by the Commission on Human Rights and assumed by its successor, the Human Rights Council, to address either country-specific situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. The 30 thematic mandates include a http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/rapporteur/index.htm Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The current mandate-holder is law experthttp://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/rapporteur/docs/CV-Diene.pdf  Doudou Diène of Senegal. Mr. Diène has undertaken missions to 19 countries to gather first-hand information and meet with the parties concerned, including Government and civil society. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) supports the work of these special procedure mandate-holders, who http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=92 reporttheir findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council, and the General Assembly, as requested. The UN system A rich body of international treaties, declarations, and mechanisms to prevent discrimination and uphold human rights has been developed and continues to grow. Other UN international instruments to protect against discrimination are: the Equal Remuneration Convention (1951) and the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (1958), adopted by the General Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO); the Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960) and the Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978) adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1981. Efforts to fight discrimination have been further strengthened over the past two years. In September 2007 the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. May 2008 saw the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. A new treaty body will be established soon to monitor compliance with this Convention. Finally, the anti-racism Review Conference of 2009 will give new impetus to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in 2001 at the http://www.un.org/WCAR/ World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. For more information, please contact Rupert Colville, OHCHR’s Spokesperson at +41 (0) 22 917 9767 or email: mailto:press-info@ohchr.org press-info@ohchr.org   IN2/RC2009/170608 ABOUT OHCHR The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a part of the United Nations Secretariat, has been given a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights. Headquartered in Geneva, the Office is also present in some 50 countries. Headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, a position established by the General Assembly in 1993 to spearhead the United Nations’ human rights efforts, OHCHR takes action based on the unique mandate given it by the international community to guard and advocate for international human rights law. For more information please visit http://www.ohchr.org www.ohchr.org On Human Rights Day 2007, the United Nations and OHCHR launched a year-long UN system-wide advocacy campaign to mark the http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), under the theme: “Dignity and justice for all of us”.