Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Concluding observations on the combined sixteenth and seventeenth periodic reports of Guatemala *
1.The Committee considered the combined sixteenth and seventeenth periodic reports of Guatemala, submitted as a single document (CERD/C/GTM/16-17), at its 2715th and 2716th meetings (CERD/C/SR.2715 and CERD/C/SR.2716), held on 25 and 26 April 2019. At its 2731st and 2732nd meetings, held on 7 and 8 May 2019, it adopted the present concluding observations.
A.Introduction
2.The Committee welcomes the submission of the combined sixteenth and seventeenth periodic reports of Guatemala, submitted as a single document (CERD/C/GTM/16-17). The Committee also welcomes the frank dialogue with the State party’s high-level delegation, which represented all branches of its Government, and the additional information provided after the dialogue.
B.Positive aspects
3.The Committee welcomes the following legislative and policy measures taken by the State party:
(a)The adoption of the 2017–2025 policy on access to justice for indigenous persons and the establishment by the Public Prosecution Service of the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat to implement, monitor and evaluate the policy;
(b)The 2015 adoption of the national policy on midwives belonging to the four peoples of Guatemala by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
4.The Committee welcomes the completion in 2018 of the Twelfth National Population Census and the Seventh Housing Census, which, for the first time, allowed respondents to report their ethnicity and heritage on the basis of self-identification.
5.The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State party has extended an open, standing invitation to special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights Council to visit the country. In that connection, the Committee welcomes the visit made by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples in May 2018 and encourages the State party to ensure that all the recommendations contained in her report are duly implemented (A/HRC/39/17/Add.3).
6.The Committee welcomes the active involvement of Guatemalan civil society organizations, including authorities and organizations of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, and of the Office of the Human Rights Advocate in the reporting process through the submission of information in written and oral form to the Committee. The Committee urges the State party to continue to promote opportunities for engagement with civil society and to strengthen its cooperation with the Office of the Human Rights Advocate.
C.Concerns and recommendations
Data collection
7.While the Committee notes that self-identification was introduced in the Twelfth National Population Census and Seventh Housing Census and that the preliminary findings will be communicated over the course of this year, it is concerned at reports that the lack of sufficient information about how the categories should be applied may have impeded self-identification, chiefly by persons of African descent who do not identify as Garifuna and by other ethnic groups, such as the Roma. In addition, the Committee regrets the lack of socioeconomic and human rights indicators for assessing the living standards of the various ethnic groups and the achievements made with regard to the realization of rights under the Convention (art. 2).
8. The Committee wishes to remind the State party of the importance of reliable, up-to-date and complete statistical data on the demographic composition of the population for formulating public policies and programmes intended to protect vulnerable groups from racial discrimination and for assessing the implementation of the Convention with regard to the different groups in society. Accordingly, the Committee recommends that the State party promote systematic data collection, including data on ethnicity and heritage, by the relevant public institutions and that it develop socioeconomic and human rights indicators that are disaggregated by sex, age, region and urban or rural area, including the most remote areas. The Committee further recommends that the State party revise the categories used for self-identification with a view to gathering information on all the ethnic groups in the State party. The Committee draws the State party ’ s attention to its general recommendation No. 4 (1973) on reporting by States parties with regard to the demographic composition of the population.
Legislation
9.The Committee remains concerned at the fact that the process of debating and adopting proposed legislation designed to combat racial discrimination and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent has not moved forward (art. 2).
10. The Committee repeats its previous recommendation (CERD/C/GTM/CO/14-15, para. 9) and urges the State party to give priority in the legislative agenda to the discussion and adoption of bills, including the bills that were submitted to Congress pursuant to the Peace Agreements, that are intended to strengthen the fight against racial discrimination and to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent.
Institutional measures
11.The Committee is concerned that, despite the efforts that have been made, the institutions established to combat racial discrimination, including the Presidential Commission on Discrimination and Racism, and the institutions established to promote the rights of indigenous peoples, such as the Office for the Defence of Indigenous Women’s Rights, are unable to discharge their mandates effectively, address discrimination issues satisfactorily or protect the rights of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent owing to, inter alia, a lack of resources and capacity and insufficient participation by indigenous peoples and persons of African descent in these institutions (art. 2).
12. In the light of its previous recommendation (CERD/C/GTM/CO/14-15, para. 25) and general recommendation No. 17 (1993) on the establishment of national institutions to facilitate the implementation of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Review and assess the effectiveness of its institutional framework for the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and for combating racial discrimination;
(b) Take the necessary steps, with the full and transparent participation of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, to restructure and strengthen the institutional framework, including the Presidential Commission on Discrimination and Racism and the Office for the Defence of Indigenous Women ’ s Rights;
(c) Ensure that the institutions responsible for combating racial discrimination and protecting the rights of indigenous persons are provided with appropriate human, technical and financial resources to function effectively and fully discharge their mandates.
Structural discrimination
13.The Committee is concerned by the ongoing effects of the historical and structural discrimination faced by indigenous peoples, including the Garifuna, and persons of African descent in the State party, which are evident in their high rates of poverty and social exclusion. The Committee is gravely concerned about the impact of discrimination on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, in particular the rights to food, to health and to education. The Committee regrets the lack of information on the share of public social spending devoted to the implementation of policies for indigenous peoples (arts. 2 and 5).
14. With reference to its general recommendations No. 23 (1997) on the rights of indigenous peoples, No. 32 (2009) on the meaning and scope of special measures in the Convention and No. 34 (2011) on racial discrimination against people of African descent, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Adopt a comprehensive national policy to combat racial discrimination and racism that effectively promotes social inclusion and reduces the high rates of poverty and inequality among indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, including through the adoption of special measures designed to eliminate structural discrimination against indigenous peoples;
(b) Take the necessary steps to reduce chronic malnutrition among indigenous children and to guarantee the right to adequate food for indigenous peoples;
(c) Ensure the accessibility, availability and quality of health care, taking into special consideration the needs, traditions and cultural specificities of indigenous peoples;
(d) Ensure the availability, accessibility and quality of education for indigenous children, including in their mother tongue, through the development of intercultural education plans in line with the objective of promoting and preserving the cultural identity of indigenous peoples, and step up its efforts to eradicate illiteracy among indigenous peoples, especially women;
(e) Assess public spending on policies for indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, paying due attention to differences and gaps between these groups and the rest of the population with a view to taking the necessary corrective measures and increasing the share of public social expenditure devoted to these groups.
Armed conflict and the Peace Agreements
15.The Committee remains concerned by the scant progress made in implementing the Peace Agreements, specifically the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and by the absence of a human rights and gender focus in the implementation of the National Reparations Programme. Notwithstanding the progress made in convicting perpetrators of serious human rights violations committed during the internal armed conflict, the Committee is concerned that, in some of the cases involving violations of the human rights of indigenous peoples, impunity persists and, where judicial proceedings have been initiated, they are often plagued by considerable delays, thereby hindering victims’ access to justice and reparation. The Committee is seriously concerned by bill No. 5377, which would amend the National Reconciliation Act to introduce a general amnesty for perpetrators of serious human rights violations committed during the internal armed conflict (arts. 2, 5 and 6).
16. The Committee urges the State party to:
(a) Intensify its efforts to conduct effective investigations with the aim of prosecuting and punishing those responsible for violations committed during the armed conflict;
(b) Adopt the necessary measures to ensure that indigenous peoples have access to effective and timely judicial remedies and comprehensive reparation based on an intercultural approach with a gender perspective and to implement the measures of reparation awarded by the courts;
(c) Enforce the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ensure that the National Reparations Programme is implemented on the basis of a human rights approach which incorporates a gender perspective and that it is assigned sufficient human, financial and technical resources;
(d) Consider withdrawing bill No. 5377 on the amendment of the National Reconciliation Act, as well as any other bill that would give rise to impunity or exempt perpetrators from liability for human rights violations they committed during the internal armed conflict.
Incitement to racial discrimination and hatred
17.The Committee notes with concern that, under domestic law, the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, racially motivated acts of violence or incitement to commit such acts are not defined as punishable offences as is required under article 4 of the Convention. The Committee is concerned that indigenous peoples and persons of African descent have reportedly been the target of discriminatory discourse and acts, in some cases by State officials (arts. 2, 4 and 7).
18. The Committee once again reiterates its previous recommendations (CERD/C/GTM/CO/12-13, para. 7 and CERD/C/GTM/CO/14-15, para. 19) that the State party give full effect to its obligation under article 4 of the Convention to define incitement to racial discrimination and all racially motivated acts of violence as criminal offences, ensuring that such acts are sanctioned by penalties commensurate with their seriousness. In addition, the Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to prevent and combat incitement to racial discrimination and manifestations of racism in the media, especially social media, and to investigate and punish the perpetrators, irrespective of the position that they hold. The Committee recommends that the State party carry out public awareness-raising campaigns on respect for diversity and the elimination of racial discrimination. The Committee draws the State party ’ s attention to its general recommendations No. 15 (1993) on article 4 of the Convention and No. 35 (2013) on combating racist hate speech.
Prior consultation
19.The Committee is concerned that, despite the ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) and the issuance of relevant judgments by the Constitutional Court, the State party has yet to set up mechanisms to enforce the right of indigenous peoples, including the Garifuna, to be consulted with a view to obtaining their free, prior and informed consent regarding any legislative or administrative measures that could affect their effective enjoyment of their rights. The Committee regrets that policies and programmes on indigenous peoples have not been subject to appropriate consultation. The Committee is seriously concerned about the impact of economic development projects on the territories, resources and traditional ways of life of indigenous peoples and about the fact that consultations and human rights impact studies are not conducted by independent qualified bodies prior to the launch of such projects (arts. 2 and 5).
20. The Committee recalls that respect for human rights and the elimination of racial discrimination are a crucial part of sustainable economic development and that both the State and the private sector play a fundamental part in this regard. Accordingly, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Adopt the appropriate measures, in consultation with indigenous peoples, including the Garifuna, to guarantee their right to be consulted regarding any legislative or administrative measure that may affect their rights with a view to obtaining their free, prior and informed consent, taking into account the traditions and cultural characteristics of each people, including those related to decision-making;
(b) Guarantee due respect for the right of indigenous peoples to be consulted with a view to obtaining their free, prior and informed consent regarding economic, industrial, energy, infrastructure and natural resource development projects that may affect their territories and natural resources, ensuring that such consultations are conducted in a timely, systematic and transparent manner, with appropriate representation of the affected peoples;
(c) Ensure that, as part of prior consultation processes, impartial independent bodies carry out human rights impact studies that cover the potential social, environmental and cultural effects of economic and natural resource development projects in indigenous territories with the aim of protecting their traditional ways of life and livelihoods;
(d) Specify, in consultation with the indigenous peoples whose territories and resources are affected, the mitigation measures to be put in place, the compensation for damages or losses suffered to be provided and the share in the benefits to be obtained from such activities.
Lands, territories and natural resources
21.The Committee is concerned by the lack of protection of the collective property of indigenous peoples, in particular the lack of legal certainty and guarantees with regard to the titling, delimitation, demarcation and restitution of lands and territories traditionally occupied by indigenous peoples. It is gravely concerned at reports that indigenous peoples have been forcibly evicted from their territories without appropriate legal protection and, in some cases, through the use of excessive force (arts. 2 and 5).
22. In the light of its general recommendation No. 23 (1997) on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Committee urges the State party to:
(a) Establish an appropriate and effective mechanism for the filing of land claims and restitution of ancestral territories and lands and ensure the allocation of sufficient human, technical and financial resources for the mechanism ’ s proper operation;
(b) Ensure the protection of indigenous peoples ’ right to own, use, develop and exercise full control over their lands, territories and resources by, inter alia, providing the necessary legal recognition and safeguards in line with international standards;
(c) Provide sufficient protection against forced eviction while upholding the rights, customs, traditions and cultures of indigenous peoples by, inter alia, obtaining their free, prior and informed consent, reaching a prior agreement on just and fair compensation, providing the option of culturally appropriate relocation or, where possible, the option of return in keeping with article 10 of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and providing access to effective judicial remedies in the event of rights violations;
(d) Adopt measures, including legislative measures, to prevent the excessive use of force, ill-treatment and abuse of authority in respect of members of indigenous peoples by, inter alia, upholding the principle of proportionality and strict necessity in the recourse to force and conducting training for law enforcement officers on the use of force and the restoration of law and order using conventional mechanisms.
Xinka people
23.The Committee is concerned that the identity and culture of the Xinka people are under threat and that this has been exacerbated by the denial of the right to prior consultation in relation to the operations of the San Rafael mining company in the territory traditionally occupied by the Xinka (arts. 2, 5 and 7).
24. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary steps to protect and preserve the cultural identity of indigenous peoples, in particular the Xinka, by fostering an enabling environment for them in which they can preserve, develop, express and share their identity, history, culture, languages, traditions and customs.
Freedom of expression
25.The Committee remains concerned at the lack of progress towards the adoption of a legal framework on indigenous community-based media. It is especially concerned at reports of the prosecution of community radio operators (arts. 2, 5 and 7).
26. The Committee reiterates it previous recommendation (CERD/C/GTM/CO/14-15, para. 24) and urges the State party to adopt, with the participation of indigenous peoples, a legal framework on community-based media and to take the necessary steps to prevent the arbitrary use of provisions in the Criminal Code to prosecute operators of indigenous community radio stations.
Human rights defenders
27.The Committee notes the information provided by the State party regarding the formulation of a public policy on the protection of human rights defenders and the adoption by the Public Prosecution Service of Order No. 5-2018 on the investigation of offences against human rights defenders. Nevertheless, the Committee remains seriously concerned at the fact that human rights defenders, including indigenous and Afrodescendent leaders and rights defenders, are the target of acts of violence, threats and attacks on their life. It is especially concerned about cases in which criminal improper use is made of law procedures to criminalize defenders of the rights and territories of indigenous peoples, in particular those who oppose large-scale economic development projects in their territories. In addition, the Committee notes with concern the media smear campaigns being conducted against defenders of indigenous rights, including indigenous leaders (arts. 2 and 5).
28. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Conduct thorough, impartial and effective investigations into all reports of attacks on the life, physical integrity or freedom of human rights defenders, as well as acts of violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, bullying and defamation committed against indigenous leaders and defenders of indigenous and Afrodescendent rights;
(b) With the effective participation of civil society, including representatives of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, accelerate the formulation and adoption of a public policy on the protection of human rights defenders, ensuring that it includes effective protection mechanisms and strategies, takes into account cultural, regional and gender differences and is provided with sufficient human, technical and financial resources;
(c) Take effective and timely steps to prevent bullying, harassment, disparagement and criminalization of human rights defenders, in particular indigenous leaders and rights defenders, through, inter alia, information and awareness-raising campaigns focusing on the fundamental work that they perform with a view to fostering an environment of tolerance that enables them to carry out their activities free from any intimidation, threats and reprisals.
Political participation
29.The Committee remains concerned by the insufficient representation of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, especially indigenous women, in the country’s political life. The Committee regrets that the 2017 amendment of the Elections and Political Parties Act did not introduce provisions to foster the political participation of indigenous peoples, thereby adversely affecting their participation in the 2019 elections (arts. 2 and 5).
30. The Committee recalls its previous recommendation (CERD/C/GTM/CO/14-15, para. 16) and urges the State party to adopt, in consultation with indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, effective measures, including legislation, to ensure the full participation in public affairs of indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, especially women, in both decision-making positions and representative institutions. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure equality of opportunity for participation by indigenous peoples and persons of African descent, particularly women, at all levels of government service at both the local and national levels.
Labour rights
31.The Committee is concerned at reports that indigenous workers are subject to substandard working conditions, especially in the agricultural sector and African palm plantations, do not enjoy their labour rights or have access to social security and are often the victims of labour exploitation or forced labour (arts. 2 and 5).
32. The Committee urges the State party to:
(a) Ensure that indigenous and Afrodescendent persons, chiefly those working in the agricultural sector, benefit from fair and satisfactory working conditions, both in law and in practice, including remuneration that makes it possible to attain decent living conditions for them and their families and access to social security;
(b) Prevent, investigate and prosecute all cases of forced labour and labour exploitation, ensure that victims have access to effective judicial remedies and receive adequate protection and redress, and ensure that those responsible are duly prosecuted and punished in accordance with the seriousness of their offence;
(c) Strengthen the labour inspectorate by ensuring that it has the necessary human, technical and financial resources to effectively discharge its mandate.
Situation of indigenous and Afrodescendent women
33.The Committee is concerned by the multiple forms of discrimination to which indigenous and Afrodescendent women are subjected, in particular with regard to access to employment, education and health. While the Committee notes the steps taken to improve the access of indigenous women and adolescents to sexual and reproductive health, it is concerned by, inter alia, the fact that the lack of cultural and linguistic relevance continues to hinder access to sexual and reproductive health services and information. Furthermore, the Committee is alarmed by the high rate of violence, including sexual violence, directed at indigenous women and the prevalence of impunity, in part owing to the difficulties faced by women in accessing justice.
34. In the light of its general recommendation No. 25 (2000) on gender-related dimensions of racial discrimination, the Committee urges the State party to:
(a) Intensify its efforts to combat the multiple forms of discrimination to which indigenous and Afrodescendent women are subjected, including by mainstreaming gender across all policies and strategies on racial discrimination;
(b) Take steps to ensure that indigenous and Afrodescendent women have access to education, employment and health care, taking into account cultural and linguistic differences;
(c) Ensure indigenous women ’ s access to culturally relevant sexual and reproductive health services, including by implementing the national policy on indigenous midwives;
(d) Take steps to prevent gender-based violence against indigenous and Afrodescendent women, thoroughly investigate all cases of such violence, including sexual violence, ensure that those responsible are duly punished and guarantee victims ’ access to justice and effective and culturally appropriate protection mechanisms.
Multiple forms of discrimination
35.The Committee takes note of the information provided on the measures adopted to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities. However, it regrets the lack of information as to the actual impact of these measures in reducing the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by indigenous and Afrodescendent persons with disabilities (arts. 1, 2 and 5).
36. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary steps to combat the multiple forms of discrimination faced by persons with disabilities, including by mainstreaming an ethnic dimension in the measures it takes to combat discrimination on the basis of disability.
Access to justice
37.The Committee notes the State party’s efforts to ensure access to justice for indigenous peoples; nevertheless, it is concerned by the fact that the lack of judicial independence, persistent racial discrimination in the justice system and the lack of cultural and linguistic relevance continue to prevent effective access to justice for indigenous peoples, especially women. The Committee is also concerned that, despite the legal recognition of the coexistence of the indigenous legal system, the bill on the indigenous legal system has yet to be adopted and that some institutions do not recognize this system. Lastly, the Committee is concerned by the fact that there have been so few court cases concerning racial discrimination (arts. 2 and 6).
38. With reference to its general recommendation No. 31 (2005) on the prevention of racial discrimination in the administration and operation of the criminal justice system, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Step up its efforts to ensure access to justice for indigenous peoples, uphold fundamental rights and due process guarantees, ensure access to prompt and effective judicial remedies and provide compensation to all victims of racial discrimination;
(b) Take the necessary steps to guarantee the independence of the judiciary as a means of safeguarding the enjoyment of human rights and combating racial discrimination by, inter alia, protecting the integrity of judges;
(c) Take the necessary steps to recognize and respect the indigenous justice system in keeping with international human rights law, including by means of the possible adoption of the bill on the indigenous justice system and the strengthening of cooperation and coordination between the authorities of the ordinary and indigenous justice systems;
(d) Eliminate racial discrimination in the justice system by providing training for police officers, prosecutors, lawyers, defenders, judges and justice system officials in order to raise their awareness about the negative effects of racial discrimination and to ensure the effective application of the Convention.
D.Other recommendations
Ratification of other treaties
39. Bearing in mind the indivisibility of all human rights, the Committee encourages the State party to consider ratifying those international human rights treaties that it has not yet ratified, such as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty; the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. In addition, the Committee recommends that the State party consider ratifying the Inter-American Convention Against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance and the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance.
Amendment to article 8 of the Convention
40. The Committee recommends that the State party ratify the amendment to article 8 (6) of the Convention that was adopted on 15 January 1992 at the fourteenth meeting of States parties to the Convention and endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/111.
Declaration under article 14 of the Convention
41. The Committee encourages the State party to make the optional declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention whereby it would recognize the Committee ’ s competence to receive and consider individual communications.
Follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
42. In the light of its general recommendation No. 33 (2009) on the follow-up to the Durban Review Conference, the Committee recommends that, when implementing the Convention in its domestic legal order, the State party give effect to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in September 2001 at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, taking into account the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, adopted in Geneva in April 2009. The Committee requests that the State party include in its next periodic report specific information on action plans and other measures taken to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the national level.
International Decade for People of African Descent
43. In the light of General Assembly resolution 68/237, in which the Assembly proclaimed 2015 – 2024 to be the International Decade for People of African Descent, and Assembly resolution 69/16 on the programme of activities for the implementation of the Decade, the Committee recommends that the State party continue its efforts to prepare and implement a suitable programme, measures or policies, in collaboration with organizations of peoples of African descent, including the Garifuna people. The Committee requests that the State party include in its next report detailed information on the concrete measures adopted within that framework, taking into account its general recommendation No. 34 (2011) on racial discrimination against people of African descent.
Consultations with civil society
44. The Committee recommends that the State party continue consulting and increasing its dialogue with civil society organizations working in the area of human rights protection, in particular those working to combat racial discrimination, in connection with the preparation of the next periodic report and the follow-up to the present concluding observations.
Dissemination of information
45. The Committee recommends that the State party make its reports available and accessible to the general public as soon as they are submitted and that it disseminates the present concluding observations in the official language and in other languages commonly used in the State party.
Common core document
46. The Committee encourages the State party to update its common core document, which dates from 2 February 2012, in accordance with the harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties, in particular those dealing with the preparation of a common core document, as adopted at the fifth inter-committee meeting of the human rights treaty bodies, held in June 2006 (HRI/GEN/2/Rev.6, chap. I). In the light of General Assembly resolution 68/268, the Committee urges the State party to observe the limit of 42,400 words for such documents.
Follow-up to the present concluding observations
47. In accordance with article 9 (1) of the Convention and rule 65 of its rules of procedure, the Committee requests the State party to provide, within one year of the adoption of the present concluding observations, information on its implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 10 (legislation) and 16 (a), (c) and (d) (armed conflict and the Peace Agreements) hereinabove.
Paragraphs of particular importance
48. The Committee wishes to draw the attention of the State party to the particular importance of the recommendations made in paragraphs 14 (structural discrimination), 20 (prior consultation) and 22 (lands, territories and natural resources) and requests the State party to provide detailed information in its next periodic report on the concrete measures taken to implement those recommendations.
Preparation of the next periodic report
49. The Committee recommends that the State party submit its combined eighteenth to twentieth periodic reports, as a single document, by 17 February 2022, taking into account the reporting guidelines adopted by the Committee at its seventy-first session (CERD/C/2007/1) and addressing all the points raised in the present concluding observations. In the light of General Assembly resolution 68/268, the Committee urges the State party to observe the limit of 21,200 words for such documents.