Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Seventy- nint h session

8 August – 2 September 2011

Implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

List of themes to be taken up in connection with the fifth to twelfth periodic reports to Maldives (CERD/C/MDV/5-12)*

The following is a list of themes identified by the Country Rapporteur in connection with the consideration of the fifth to twelfth periodic reports of Maldives. The list is meant to guide the dialogue between the State party delegation and the Committee and does not require written replies. This is not an exhaustive list as other issues will be raised in the course of the dialogue.

1.Statistics on the composition of the population:

(a)Lack of disaggregated demographic data on the ethnic composition of the population, including non-citizens, to determine progress made in eliminating all forms of racial discrimination.

2.Legal and institutional framework, policy and programmes for the implementation of the Convention (arts. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6)

(a) Measures envisaged to review legislation or to enact an Anti-discrimination Act in line with the Convention (A/54/18, para. 316, CERD/C/MDV/5-12, p. 3, HRI/CORE/MDV/2010, paras. 188–190);

(b) Efforts to prevent discrimination for enrolment of students into public schools including an Education Act (HRI/CORE/MDV/2010, para. 38);

(c) Measures taken to strengthen the Human Rights Commission in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles) (HRI/CORE/MDV/2010, para.134, A/HRC/4/21/Add.3, para. 44);

(d)Efforts to remove discriminatory provisions in the Constitution and other laws providing that all Maldivians should be Muslims or excluding non-Muslims from public positions or from obtaining citizenship (HRI/CORE/MDV/2010, paras. 308–311, A/HRC/4/21/Add.3, paras. 43–45, CRC/C/MDV/CO/3, paras. 48–49).

3.Situation of non-citizens (arts. 2, 4, 5 and 6):

(a) Updated information on efforts to protect economic, social and cultural rights of migrant workers and to prevent discrimination against them (A/54/18, para. 319, HRI/CORE/MDV/2010, paras. 192–200 and 343, CERD/C/MDV/5-12, para. 6, p. 3);

(b) Update on allegations of discrimination against foreign nationals in prison or held in remand custody. Efforts envisaged to apply basic safeguards to all prisoners (CAT/OP/MDV/1, paras. 176–178);

(c) Further measures envisaged to combat human trafficking, particularly of non-citizens, largely affecting women and children (HRI/CORE/MDV/2010, paras. 194, 276–280, CEDAW/C/MDV/CO/3, paras. 21–22, CRC/C/MDV/CO/3, paras. 85–87, 90–96, CRC/C/OPSC/MDV/CO/1, paras. 22–23).

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