COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION

OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

Seventy- sixth session

15 February – 12 March 2010

LIST OF ISSUES TO BE TAKEN UP IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH PERIODIC REPORTS OF ICELAND (CERD/C/ ISL / 20 )

General information

Please provide information on measures taken to ensure the continued budgetary allocation of funds to the Icelandic Human Rights Centre, in light of the current financial crisis and the restructured system of funds application through the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A parliamentary resolution on Government policy on issues relating to immigrants was scheduled to be passed in spring 2008 (State party report, para. 15). Please provide updated information in this regard.

Please provide information on the initial programme of work of the newly formed Immigrant Council. Please include information related to its activities in the area of data collection and statistics and the selection criteria for the appointment of the immigrant member to the Council (State party report, para. 15).

Article 4

Please comment on reports alleging that private media in Iceland have recently broadcast programmes and statements with racist themes or undertones.

Please provide information on safeguards to prevent the misuse of information compiled by the database deCODE on human genome mapping for racist or discriminatory purposes.

Article 5

Please comment on the annual variations in the reception of “quota” refugees.

Please provide examples of cases in which the Director of Immigration has examined cases involving a residence permit application by an immediate family member below the required age of 24 years (State party report, para. 48).

Please comment on concern at the possibility that immigrants under 18 years of age may be forced to avoid deportation by leaving secondary school prior to its completion in order to fulfil the financial self-reliance requirement for a residence permit.

Please provide updated information on the Government plan to build up Icelandic language teaching facilities to improve immigrants’ language skills (State party report, para. 101).

Please elaborate on safeguards to avoid hardship in cases in which non-EEA migrants on temporary work permits are at risk of losing their residence rights if they leave their employer.

Please comment on the disproportionate rate of students with immigrant backgrounds who drop out of secondary school.

Since an appeal against an asylum decision does not necessarily suspend a deportation order, please explain how hardship can be avoided if unsuccessful asylum-seekers are at risk of being deported before a final decision has been issued.

Article 6

What measures have been taken or are envisaged to be taken to promote better representation of persons with an immigrant background in the police force?

Article 7

Please elaborate on measures taken to promote tolerance for racial diversity, especially among youths.

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