Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Eighty-third session

12–30 August 2013

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes relating to the combined sixteenth to eighteenth periodic reports of Chad (CERD/C/TCD/16-18)

Note by the Country Rapporteur *

Summary

At its seventy-sixth session, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided (A/65/18, para. 85) that the Country Rapporteur would send a short list of themes to the State party concerned with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s report. This document contains a list of such themes. This is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

1.Legal and institutional framework, policies and programmes for implementing the Convention (arts. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7)

(a)Legislation which defines racial discrimination as an offence punishable by law as required under articles 1 and 4 of the Convention. Updated information on the progress of the bill that would prohibit discriminatory practices and on the amendment of the Criminal Code and the Civil Status Act to bring them into line with the Convention (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, paras. 14 and 16; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 40–44, 50, 70 and 75);

(b)Further information concerning the legal proceedings against the perpetrators of the violations committed during the events of February 2008, particularly the status of the Chadian Government’s case against X for war crimes and crimes against humanity (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, para. 10; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 22 to 28);

(c)Information on the invocation and application of the Convention’s provisions by the State party’s courts. Absence of complaints about discrimination on the grounds of descent or national or ethnic origin (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, para. 19; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 66 and 67);

(d)Information on cases of racial or ethnic discrimination registered by the National Office of the Ombudsman, which serves as an intermediary between the authorities and the general public (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, para. 13; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 38 and 39);

(e)Updated information on the adoption of the bill designed to enable the National Commission on Human Rights to operate in conformity with the Paris Principles (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, para. 12; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, para. 37);

(f)Further information on the activities of the national training school for judges and on awareness-raising campaigns focusing on the application of the Convention and the prohibition of discrimination based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, paras. 11 and 20; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 34, 67 and 68);

(g)Further information on the implementation of the national human rights action plan for 2012–2015 as part of the State party’s efforts to prevent racial and ethnic discrimination and ensure respect for diversity (CERD/C/TCD/16-18, para. 48).

2.Economic, social and cultural rights of ethnic groups and other marginalized groups (art. 5)

(a)Measures taken or to be taken to eliminate descent-based discrimination, including the exclusion of marginalized castes. Updated information on the bill that would prohibit this practice in line with the Convention (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, para. 15; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 45–49);

(b)Information on multiple discrimination against women members of descent-based communities (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, para. 17; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 51–55);

(c)Information on the ability of different sections of the population to exercise their economic, social and cultural rights without being subjected to discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin. Efforts made to reduce ethnic and regional disparities in access to education, housing, health and employment, in particular with regard to access to positions of responsibility and posts in the public service;

(d)Information and statistics on groups identifying themselves as indigenous peoples of Chad. Detailed information on the promotion of respect for the economic, social and cultural rights of nomads, particularly the Bororo and Toubou people.

3.Situation of non-nationals (arts. 5 and 6)

(a)Measures taken to effectively combat sexual violence against women in refugee camps (CERD/C/TCD/CO/15, para. 18; CERD/C/TCD/16-18, paras. 56–65);

(b)Information on integration and non-discrimination with regard to non-nationals, particularly migrants and refugees.