Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

113th session(5–23 August 2024)

114th session(25 November–13 December 2024)

115th session(22 April–9 May 2025)

United Nations • N ew York , 2025

Not e

Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document.

ISSN 0252-1261

[15 October 2025]

Contents

Page

Letter of transmittal1

Chapter

I.Organizational and related matters3

A.States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination3

B.Sessions and agendas3

C.Membership3

D.Officers of the Committee4

E.Cooperation with the International Labour Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the regional human rights mechanisms4

F.Other matters5

G.Adoption of the annual report of the Committee5

II.Consideration of situations under the early warning and urgent action procedure6

A.Decision6

B.Statements8

C.Letters10

III.Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States Parties under article 9 of the Convention13

IV.Follow-up to the consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 9 of the Convention14

V.Consideration of communications received under article 11 of the Convention15

Follow-up to the recommendations of the ad hoc conciliation commission on the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel under article 11 of the Convention15

VI.Methods of work and rules of procedure17

VII.States Parties whose reports are seriously overdue18

A.Reports overdue by at least 10 years18

B.Reports overdue by at least five years19

C.Action taken by the Committee to ensure the submission of reports by States Parties20

VIII.Consideration of communications under article 14 of the Convention21

IX.Follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Durban Review Conference and promotion activities related to the Convention22

X.General recommendations24

A.General recommendation No. 37 (2024) on equality and freedom from racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health24

B.Joint general recommendations No. 38 and No. 39 of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination/general comments No. 7 and No. 8 of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on eradicating xenophobia towards migrants and others perceived as such24

C.General recommendation No. 40 on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and their treatment as chattel and the ongoing harm to and crimes against people of African descent24

XI.Consideration of copies of petitions, copies of reports and other information relating to Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories and to all other territories to which General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) applies, in conformity with article 15 of the Convention26

XII.Reprisals27

Letter of transmittal

29 August 2025

Mr. Secretary-General,

It is with pleasure that I transmit the annual report of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The report contains information on the 113th, 114th and 115th sessions of the Committee, held from 5 to 23 August 2024, 25 November to 13 December 2024 and 22 April to 9 May 2025 respectively.

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which has been ratified by 182 States, constitutes the normative basis upon which international efforts to eliminate racial discrimination should be built.

At its 113th, 114th and 115th sessions and during the intersessional periods, the Committee continued to deal with a significant workload, including in terms of the examination of State Party reports (see chap. III) and situations of several States Parties under its early warning and urgent action procedure (see chap. II). It also examined information submitted by several States Parties under its procedure for follow-up to concluding observations and the consideration of reports (see chap. IV).

At its 113th session, the Committee adopted its general recommendation No. 37 (2024) on equality and freedom from racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health. At its 115th session, the Committee adopted its revised rules of procedure.

At its 114th session, the Committee appointed a rapporteur for follow-up to the recommendations made by the ad hoc conciliation commission established by the Committee under article 12 of the Convention in relation to the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel under article 11 of the Convention.

Also at its 114th session, the Committee decided to lead a year-long commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention, starting on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, on 21 March 2025. The Committee prepared a concept note, delivered statements at several events and encouraged all stakeholders to take the initiative to advocate implementation of the Convention and to attend the high-level event to commemorate the anniversary, due to be held in Geneva on 4 December 2025. A specific web page has been set up to disseminate information about activities and events to mark the anniversary and to serve as a repository for multimedia and other resources and products linked to it.

The Committee continued to strengthen its cooperation with regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights, including the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and with United Nations human rights mechanisms, through its focal points and Secretariat.

Acting under its early warning and urgent action procedure to prevent and respond to serious violations of the Convention, the Committee adopted decision 2 (2024) of 12December 2024, concerning Israel and the State of Palestine. It issued two statements: statement 1 (2024) of 29 June 2024, concerning the situation of Rohingya who fled Myanmar to India; and statement 1 (2025) of 9 May 2025, concerning the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, also in follow-up to the work of the ad hoc conciliation commission. It also issued 22 public letters.

The Committee continued its work, with the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, on drafting joint general recommendations/general comments on eradicating xenophobia towards migrants and others perceived as such, for which global and regional consultations were held in 2024. The Committee also embarked on its work to draft a general recommendation on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and their treatment as chattel and the ongoing harm to and crimes against people of African descent, for which it issued a call for input and held a half-day of general discussion at its 115th session.

The Committee deeply regrets that the liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations, and the consequent cancellation of its session that was due to have been held in August 2025, gravely undermines the ability of the Committee to discharge its mandate. This crisis, if not contained, will further erode the functioning of the treaty body system as a whole and seriously compromise the Committee’s capacity to monitor implementation of the Convention and to follow up on the commitments stemming from the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. In our increasingly polarized world, in which racial discrimination is once again being openly promoted, in full knowledge of the potentially disastrous consequences, we appeal to you to ensure that the capacity of the Committee to conduct its important work is preserved to the fullest extent possible.

Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(Signed) Michał Balcerzak Chair of the Committee on the Eliminationof Racial Discrimination

His Excellency Mr. António GuterresSecretary-General of the United NationsNew York

I.Organizational and related matters

A.States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

1.As at 9 May 2025, the closing date of the 115th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, there were 182 States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which was adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 2106 A (XX) of 21 December 1965 and opened for signature and ratification in New York on 7 March 1966. The Convention entered into force on 4 January 1969 in accordance with the provisions of article 19 thereof.

2.As at the same date, 59 of the States Parties to the Convention had made a declaration under article 14 (1) of the Convention, recognizing the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications from individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of a violation by the State Party concerned of any of the rights set forth in the Convention.

3.Fifty-four States Parties have accepted the amendment to article 8 (6) of the Convention, adopted on 15 January 1992 at the fourteenth meeting of States Parties and endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/111 of 16 December 1992, relating to the funding of the Committee’s activities.

4.Lists of the States Parties that have made the declaration under article 14 and of those that have accepted the amendment to article 8 (6) of the Convention can be found on the website of the United Nations Treaty Collection.

B.Sessions and agendas

5.The Committee held three sessions during the period under review. The 113th session (3078th–3107th meetings), the 114th session (3108th–3137th meetings) and the 115th session (3138th–3165th meetings) were conducted from 5 to 23 August 2024, 25 November to 13 December 2024 and 22 April to 9 May 2025 respectively.

6.The provisional agendas of the 113th, 114th and 115th sessions (CERD/C/113/1, CERD/C/114/1 and CERD/C/115/1) were adopted by the Committee.

C.Membership

7.The membership of the Committee at the 113th, 114th and 115th sessions was as follows:

Name of member	Nationality	Term expires on 19 January
Nourredine Amir	Algeria	2026
Michał Balcerzak	Poland	2026
Pela Boker-Wilson	Liberia	2028
Chinsung Chung	Republic of Korea	2026
Bakari Sidiki Diaby	Côte d’Ivoire	2026
Régine Esseneme	Cameroon	2026
Jian Guan	China	2028
Ibrahima Guissé	Senegal	2028
G‏ün Kut	Türkiye	2026
Gay McDougall	United States of America	2026
Vadili Mohamed Rayess	Mauritania	2028
Verene Shepherd	Jamaica	2028
Chrispine Gwalawala Sibande	Malawi	2028
Stamatia Stavrinaki	Greece	2028
Mazalo Tebie	Togo	2026
Faith Dikeledi Pansy Tlakula	South Africa	2028
Abderrahman Tlemçani	Morocco	2028
Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen	Mauritius	2026

D.Officers of the Committee

8.At the 113th, 114th and 115th sessions, the Bureau of the Committee comprised the following Committee members elected to serve a two-year term (2024–2026):

Chair:Michał Balcerzak

Vice-Chairs:Régine Esseneme

Gay McDougall

Verene Shepherd

Rapporteur:Chinsung Chung

E.Cooperation with the International Labour Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the regional human rights mechanisms

9.At the Committee’s 113th, 114th and 115th sessions, the Committee continued to engage with various United Nations entities in carrying out its mandate.

10.The Committee continued to strengthen its cooperation with regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights, including the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and with United Nations human rights mechanisms, through its focal points and its secretariat. On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee issued joint statements with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance and with other United Nations human rights mechanisms. At its 115th session, the Committee decided to propose activities to strengthen cooperation with regional mechanisms, including commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention during the eighty-fifth ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, due to be held in Banjul in October 2025; a possible side event in the margins of that session for consultations on the draft general recommendation on reparations; and participation by regional mechanisms in the high-level event to commemorate the anniversary, due to be held in Geneva on 4 December 2025.

F.Other matters

11.At its 115th session, the Committee met with States Parties to the Convention. Representatives of more than 50 States Parties, the African Union, the Council of Europe and the European Union attended. The Committee updated the representatives on recent developments in its work, in particular the impact on the human rights treaty body system of the liquidity crisis in relation to the regular budget. The Committee called on States Parties to submit their reports in a timely manner and to accept its competence to receive and consider individual communications for alleged violations of the Convention under article 14. It further invited States Parties to participate in the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention.

12.At its 114th and 115th sessions, the Committee held private meetings with civil society organizations based in Geneva to brief them on its work and to discuss strengthening their engagement with it. The meetings were attended by representatives of large non‑governmental organizations working to support grass-roots human rights defenders.

G.Adoption of the annual report of the Committee

13.As a result of the cancellation of its session that was due to have been held from 11 to 29 August 2025, the Committee adopted its annual report to the General Assembly during the intersessional period.

II.Consideration of situations under the early warning and urgent action procedure

14.The Committee’s work under its early warning and urgent action procedure is aimed at preventing and responding to serious violations of the Convention. The Committee’s Working Group on Early Warning and Urgent Action Procedures was established at the sixty‑fifth session of the Committee, in August 2004. The work of the Committee and the Working Group is undertaken on the basis of the guidelines adopted by the Committee at its seventy-first session, in August 2007 (A/62/18, annex III).

15.Since 2003, the Committee has taken 293 measures under the early warning and urgent action procedure: 246 letters to States Parties and regional intergovernmental organizations and human rights mechanisms, 19 statements and 28 decisions. In terms of geographical regions, of those measures, 42 concerned States Parties from the African region, 72 concerned States Parties from the Asia-Pacific region, 17 concerned States Parties from the Eastern European region, 86 concerned States Parties from the Latin American and Caribbean region, 69 concerned States Parties from the Western European region and other States, 2 concerned the Council of Europe and the European Union and 5 concerned thematic issues relevant to all States Parties.

16.In the period from 1 January 2015 to 1 September 2025, the Committee sent 130 letters to States Parties and adopted 176 statements and 11 decisions. In terms of the indicators set out in the guidelines for the early warning and urgent action procedure, 14 statements were related or partially related to the presence of a pattern of escalating racial hatred and violence, five statements were related to the presence of significant and persistent patterns of racial discrimination and one statement was related to significant flows of refugees or displaced persons linked to racial discrimination. Eight decisions were related or partially related to the presence of a pattern of escalating racial hatred and violence, two decisions were related to encroachment on the traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples or forced removal of Indigenous Peoples from their lands for the purpose of exploitation of natural resources, one decision related to the presence of significant and persistent patterns of racial discrimination, one decision related to the adoption of new discriminatory legislation and one decision related to segregation policies and the de facto exclusion of members of a group from political, economic, social and cultural life.

17.During the 113th, 114th and 115th sessions of the Committee, the Working Group comprised the following members:

Coordinator:Ibrahima Guissé

Members:Bakari Sidiki Diaby

Jian Guan

Chrispine Gwalawala Sibande

Mazalo Tebie

Abderrahman Tlemçani

18.During the reporting period, the Committee adopted one decision, two statements and 22 public letters.

A.Decision

19.In its decision 2 (2024) of 12 December 2024, concerning Israel and the State of Palestine, the Committee recalled its statement 5 (2023) of 27 October 2023 and its decision 2 (2023) of 21 December 2023. It also recalled the report of the ad hoc conciliation commission on the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel under article 11 of the Convention (CERD/C/113/3, CERD/C/113/3/Add.1 and CERD/C/113/3/Add.2) and the recommendations contained therein, including its conclusions that the guarantee of self-determination for Palestinians was critical for sustainable peace between Israel and the State of Palestine and the full enjoyment of all the rights enshrined in the Convention by both communities, and that Israel, as the occupying Power, had the duty to ensure that there was no racial discrimination, precarity and lack of prospect for self-determination and had the utmost responsibility to protect civilians in the conduct of its military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

20.The Committee expressed alarm atthe flagrant disregard by Israel for its decisions and recommendations, the recommendations of the ad hoc conciliation commission, several binding orders on provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice, the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024 and the recommendations included in recent reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and other human rights mechanisms.

21.The Committee was appalled bythe brutal indiscriminate attacks on innocent women, children and men, mainly in the Gaza Strip, and the killing of more than 44,500 Palestinians, the injury of more than 105,000 and the reports of more than 10,000 missing or trapped under rubble; the near total and deliberate destruction of homes and other protected infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools; the displacement of approximately 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza; the unprecedented levels of starvation in Gaza, where more than 1.2 million people were facing emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity; and the killing of at least 343 aid workers, including 253 staff of the United Nations, 1,047 health workers, 88 civil defence staff while on duty, and 183 journalists and media workers. Serious concerns were thus raised regarding the obligations of Israel and other States Parties to prevent war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

22.The Committee expressed its deep concernabout the deteriorating human rights situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the previous year, in particular about reports that, on average, three Palestinian children were killed by Israeli forces in the region every week; about the increased use of military methods and weapons by Israeli forces that had resulted, inter alia,in the killing of more than 180 Palestinians in air strikes; about the more than 800 Palestinians killed and more than 6,000 injured by Israeli forces or settlers; and about the displacement of more than 6,300 Palestinians, including Bedouin and other herding communities.

23.The Committee noted that it was highly concernedabout the spread of violence and hostilities in other countries in the region, in particular about the large-scale air strikes by Israeli forces in Lebanon, resulting in the death of more than 4,000 people, the injuries of more than 16,000 and the displacement of more than 1.4 million during the conflict; about reports of more than 150 attacks on healthcare facilities, the death of 241 health workers and the injury of at least 292, limiting people’s access to critical health support; and about the recent incursions by Israeli forces into the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.

24.The Committee noted that it was disturbedthat the continued lack of compliance with and lack of accountability for violations of international law was undermining the law-based international order.

25.The Committee urged all parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip to institute an immediate and sustained ceasefire. It urged the release of hostages taken by Hamas and other armed groups and the release of Palestinians from the West Bank and East Jerusalem and Palestinian citizens of Israel who were being arbitrarily detained by Israel. It urged all parties to fully respect the ceasefire agreement signed in Lebanon on 27 November 2024.

26.The Committee called upon Israel to respect fully its obligations under international law, notably those arising from the Convention, and to ensure that all Palestinians throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory enjoyed, without discrimination, all rights under the Convention – especially the right to life, security of person and protection against violence or bodily harm, the right to freedom of movement and residence, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and the rights to housing, to medical care and to education – and full access to justice and reparation or satisfaction for any damage suffered.

27.The Committee urged Israel to implement immediately and effectively the orders on provisional measures issued on 26 January, 28 March and 24 May 2024 by the International Court of Justice in Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

28.The Committee called upon Israel and the State of Palestine to cooperate fully with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in his investigation on the situation in the State of Palestine.

29.The Committee called upon all State Parties to ensure that all those suspected of being responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as any other international crimes committed in the ongoing armed conflict, especially persons with command responsibility, were promptly brought to justice, including by respecting and complying with the arrest warrants issued on 21 November 2024 by Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court for the alleged commission of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

30.The Committee also called upon all State Parties to respect fully their international obligations, particularly those arising from the Convention, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and article 1 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, to cooperate to bring an end the violations taking place and to prevent war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, including by ceasing any military assistance if there was a clear risk that such assistance could be used in violation of international law.

B.Statements

Statement 1 (2024)

31.On 29 June 2024, the Committee issued statement 1 (2024), concerning the situation of Rohingya who fled Myanmar to India. The Committee recalled its letter dated 14 December 2018, sent under the early warning and urgent action procedure during its ninety‑seventh session, in which it had expressed concern about allegations that the Rohingya had been the target of hate speech and violence in India, including calls for deportation to Myanmar, and about the conditions of detention camps for migrants, and had expressed concern that the manifestations of racial discrimination against the Rohingya in India and their return to Myanmar – in violation of the principle of non-refoulement – would infringe their rights protected under the Convention. The Committee also recalled its general recommendations No. 30 (2004) on discrimination against non-citizens and No. 31 (2005) on the prevention of racial discrimination in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system.

32.The Committee called upon India to respect fully its international obligations arising from the Convention.

33.It called upon India to ensure that legislative guarantees against racial discrimination applied to non-citizens regardless of their immigration status and that laws and policies relating to immigration, deportation or other forms of removal of non-citizens did not discriminate, in purpose or effect, on the basis of race, colour or ethnic or national origin.

34.It called upon India to refrain from the forcible deportation and return of the Rohingya to Myanmar, where they would be at risk of being subjected to serious human rights violations and abuses, and to provide access to its territory for persons in need of international protection.

35.It urged India to ensure that the Rohingya had access to effective remedies, including the right to challenge deportation orders, and were allowed to pursue such remedies, and that the system of justice guaranteed the victim a court judgment within a reasonable period of time; to end racial discrimination against the Rohingya and to remove restrictions preventing them from enjoying their rights without discrimination, in particular with regard to access to employment, health and education, especially by ensuring the issuance of long-term visas and other identity documents; and to combat the spread of racist hate speech in the media, on the Internet and in social media, to firmly condemn any form of hate speech and distance itself from racist hate speech expressed by politicians and public figures, including members of Parliament and religious leaders, and to ensure that such acts were investigated and adequately punished.

36.It called on India to end the arbitrary mass detention of the Rohingya, to ensure that immigration detention was applied only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period, to provide detained Rohingya with legal safeguards and ensure their access to legal counsel, and to ensure that living conditions in places of detention were adequate and in accordance with international standards.

Statement 1 (2025)

37.On 9 May 2025, the Committee issued statement 1 (2025), concerning the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, under its follow-up procedure on the implementation of the recommendations of the ad hoc conciliation commission on the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel under article 11 of the Convention, and also under its early warning and urgent action procedure.

38.The Committee recalled its decision 2 (2024) of 12 December 2024, in which it had raised serious concerns regarding the obligations of Israel and other States Parties to prevent war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

39.The Committee expressed alarm at the intensification of military operations by Israeli forces across the Gaza Strip since early March 2025, including indiscriminate bombardment and expanded ground incursions, which had dramatically worsened the humanitarian crisis and severely endangered the civilian population and critical humanitarian infrastructure. It expressed concern about the rapid deterioration of the situation across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where patterns of destruction, mass displacement and settler violence increasingly mirrored those witnessed in Gaza, and about the continuing blockade imposed by Israeli authorities, the banning of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the systematic obstruction of life-saving humanitarian aid, particularly food and medicines. It expressed deep alarm that, as at 25 April 2025, the World Food Programme had exhausted its food reserves in Gaza and most of the water and electricity infrastructure had been destroyed or severely damaged, placing the civilian population – especially vulnerable groups such as children, women, older persons and persons with disabilities – at imminent risk of famine, disease and death.

40.The Committee reaffirmed the Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council during its open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, in which he had stressed the need for the entry of humanitarian assistance to be restored immediately, the safety of United Nations personnel and humanitarian partners to be guaranteed and United Nations agencies to be allowed to work in full respect of humanitarian principles. The Committee also reaffirmed resolution 55/28 of the Human Rights Council, in which the Council had demanded that Israel immediately lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip and all other forms of collective punishment and called for an immediate ceasefire. The Committee reiterated the recommendations of the ad hoc conciliation commission.

41.The Committee stressed the urgent need for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors.

42.It urged Israel to lift all barriers to humanitarian access, allow the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid and cease all action that obstructed the provision of essential services to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

43.The Committee urged all States Parties to fulfil their obligations by taking all appropriate measures, individually and collectively, to prevent further escalation of hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians.

44.It also urged all States Parties to respect fully their international obligations, particularly those arising from the Convention, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and article 1 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, to cooperate to bring an end to the violations taking place and to prevent war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, including by ceasing any military assistance if there was a clear risk that such assistance could be used in violation of international law.

C.Letters

45.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of Australia related to the situation of Indigenous children in the criminal justice system.

46.The Committee sent a letter dated 13 December 2024 to the Government of Bangladesh related to the situation of Indigenous Peoples in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

47.The Committee sent letters dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of Canada, related to arms exports by Canada, and to the Government of the United States of America, related to the transfer of arms and ammunitions and the provision of military assistance to Israel by the United States, and the impact thereof on the enjoyment by Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular in the Gaza Strip, of their rights under the Convention.

48.The Committee sent a letter dated 13 December 2024 to the Government of Canada related to the impact of the Line 5 crude oil pipeline on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and in the United States.

49.The Committee sent a letter dated 13 December 2024 to the Government of Canada related to the situation of the Secwepemc and Wet’suwet’en communities in relation to the Trans Mountain Pipeline and the Coastal Gas Link Pipeline projects in the Province of British Columbia.

50.The Committee sent a letter dated 23 August 2024 to the Government of Canada related to allegations on the lack of consultation with First Nations in relation to the allocation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relief funds in the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and the process of drafting and preparing the distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation.

51.The Committee sent a letter dated 13 December 2024 to the Government of Cameroon related to the situation of Bagyeli people in Océan Department.

52.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of France related to the impact of the Centrale Électrique de l’OuestGuyanais project on the Kali’na people in French Guiana.

53.The Committee sent a letter dated 13 December 2024 to the Government of Guyana related to the situation of the Indigenous Akawaio villages of Tassarene and Kangaruma, the Wapichan people and the Indigenous Carib community of Chinese Landing.

54.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of India related to the situation of the tribal and forest-dwelling Indigenous Peoples in India.

55.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of India related to the situation of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam State, in north-eastern India.

56.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of Jamaica related to the situation of the Maroon peoples.

57.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of Japan related to the construction of a new military base of the United States in the northern part of the island of Okinawa, including Henoko-Oura Bay, and its impact on the Indigenous Peoples of the Ryukyu Islands.

58.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of Japan related to the amendments of 2024 to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and its potential impact on non-citizens with permanent resident status living in Japan.

59.The Committee sent a letter dated 13 December 2024 to the Government of Namibia related to the planned extension of the seaport in Lüderitz and its impact on the rights of the Nama and Ovaherero ethnic groups.

60.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania related to the situation of the Maasai people in Ngorongoro and Loliondo.

61.The Committee sent letters dated 23 August 2024 and 12 May 2025 to the Government of Tunisia related to the situation of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers from sub-Saharan Africa.

62.The Committee sent a letter dated 12 May 2025 to the Government of the United States related the construction of the Thirty-Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea volcano in the State of Hawaii and its impact on the rights of the Native Hawaiian people.

63.The Committee sent letters dated 23 August 2024 and 12 May 2025 to the Government of the United States related to the situation of the San Carlos Apache tribe in the State of Arizona.

III.Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States Parties under article 9 of the Convention

64.At its 113th session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on the reports of Belarus (CERD/C/BLR/CO/24-25), Bosnia and Herzegovina (CERD/C/BIH/CO/14-15), Iran (Islamic Republic of) (CERD/C/IRN/CO/20-27), Iraq (CERD/C/IRQ/CO/26-27), Pakistan (CERD/C/PAK/CO/24-26), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (CERD/C/GBR/CO/24-26) and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (CERD/C/VEN/CO/22-24). The country rapporteurs and co-rapporteurs were as follows: for Belarus, Ms. Esseneme and Mr. Diaby; for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Chung and Mr. Guan; for the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Balcerzak and Mr. Sibande; for Iraq, Mr. Guissé and Mr. Amir; for Pakistan, Mr. Yeung Sik Yuen and Ms. Boker-Wilson; for the United Kingdom, Mr. Kut and Ms. Stavrinaki; and for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Mr. Diaby and Mr. Tlemçani.

65.At its 114th session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on the reports of Armenia (CERD/C/ARM/CO/12-14), Ecuador (CERD/C/ECU/CO/25), Greece (CERD/C/GRC/CO/23-24), Kenya (CERD/C/KEN/CO/8-9), Monaco (CERD/C/MCO/CO/7-9) and Saudi Arabia (CERD/C/SAU/CO/10-11). The country rapporteurs and co-rapporteurs were as follows: for Armenia, Mr. Yeung Sik Yuen and Ms. Chung; for Ecuador, Mr. Tlemçani and Mr. Sibande; for Greece, Mr. Diaby and Ms. Tebie; for Kenya, Ms. Boker-Wilson and Ms. McDougall; for Monaco, Ms. Esseneme and Mr. Guan; and for Saudi Arabia, Ms. Stavrinaki and Mr. Guissé.

66.At its 115th session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on the reports of Gabon (CERD/C/GAB/CO/10), Kyrgyzstan (CERD/C/KGZ/CO/11-12), Mauritius (CERD/C/MUS/CO/24-25), the Republic of Korea (CERD/C/KOR/CO/20-22) and Ukraine (CERD/C/UKR/CO/24-26). The country rapporteurs and co-rapporteurs were as follows: for Gabon, Ms. Esseneme and Mr. Diaby; for Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Guan and Ms. Tebie; for Mauritius, Ms. Boker-Wilson and Mr. Sibande; for the Republic of Korea, Ms. Stavrinaki and Mr. Yeung Sik Yuen; and for Ukraine, Mr. Guissé and Ms. Chung.

67.The concluding observations adopted by the Committee at the 113th, 114th and 115th sessions are available at the Committee web page (https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty‑bodies/cerd) and the Official Documents System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org) under the symbols indicated above.

IV.Follow-up to the consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 9 of the Convention

68.During the period under review, Ms. Tlakula served as Rapporteur for follow-up to the consideration of reports submitted by States Parties.

69.At its sixty-sixth and sixty-eighth sessions, the Committee adopted terms of reference for the work of the Rapporteur for follow-up and the guidelines on follow-up to be sent to each State Party together with concluding observations.

70.At the 114th session (3133rd meeting) and 115th session (3160th meeting), Ms.Tlakula presented reports to the Committee on her activities as Rapporteur.

71.During the period under review, the Committee considered the follow-up reports of Croatia (CERD/C/HRV/FCO/9-14), Germany (CERD/C/DEU/FCO/23-26), Morocco (CERD/C/MAR/FCO/19-21), Portugal (CERD/C/PRT/FCO/18-19), Tajikistan (CERD/C/TJK/FCO/12-13) and Uruguay (CERD/C/URY/FCO/24-26).

72.The Committee continued the constructive dialogue with those States Parties by transmitting comments and requesting further information. The Committee also transmitted reminder letters to States Parties with overdue follow-up reports.

V.Consideration of communications received under article 11 of the Convention

73.Under article 11 of the Convention, if a State Party considers that another State Party is not giving effect to the provisions of the Convention, it may bring the matter to the attention of the Committee by submitting a communication. In 2018, the Committee received the first three such inter-State communications.

74.During the period under review, the activities of the Committee with regard to inter‑State communications received under article 11 of the Convention formed part of its work in follow-up to the report of the ad hoc conciliation commission on the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel.

Follow-up to the recommendations of the ad hoc conciliation commission on the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel under article 11 of the Convention

75.The ad hoc conciliation commission established concerning the inter-State communication submitted by the State of Palestine against Israel formally adopted its report on 19 February 2024. The report presents the findings and recommendations made by the ad hoc conciliation commission for a peaceful settlement, based on respect for the Convention, of the dispute between the State of Palestine and Israel over several issues of racial discrimination (see CERD/C/113/3, CERD/C/113/3/Add.1 and CERD/C/113/3/Add.2). On 29 February 2024, in accordance with article 13 (1) of the Convention, the Chair of the ad hoc conciliation commission, Mr. Kut, submitted the report to the Chair of the Committee. The ad hoc conciliation commission had thus fulfilled its mandate and ceased to operate.

76.In its conclusions, the ad hoc conciliation commission considered that the allegations raised by the State of Palestine needed to be urgently addressed, and that the implementation of its recommendations required the full support of all States Parties and international organizations. Its recommendations were directed to the Government of Israel, the State of Palestine, States Parties to the Convention, the Security Council, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and civil society organizations in both States Parties (CERD/C/113/3, paras. 38 and 51–56).

77.At its 114th session, at the recommendation of the ad hoc conciliation commission, the Committee appointed a rapporteur, Ms. Chung, to follow up on the recommendations of the ad hoc conciliation commission with States Parties and other stakeholders.

1.Statement

78.At its 115th session, the Committee adopted statement 1 (2025), concerning the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

79.In its statement, the Committee, inter alia, urged Israel to lift all barriers to humanitarian access, allow the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid and cease all action that obstructed the provision of essential services to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The Committee urged all States Parties to take all appropriate measures to prevent further escalation of hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians. It also urged all States Parties to respect fully their international obligations, particularly those arising from the Convention, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and article 1 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and to cooperate to bring an end to the violations of international law taking place.

2.Letters

80.At its 115th session, the Committee approved a number of follow-up activities proposed by the Rapporteur, including letters to be sent to Israel and the State of Palestine to request information on the concrete steps taken to implement the recommendations contained in paragraphs 51 and 52 of the report of the ad hoc conciliation commission.

81.On 19 May 2025, the Committee sent the letters to Israel and the State of Palestine, with a deadline for reply of 21 July 2025. On 29 July 2025, reminders were sent, with a deadline for reply of 29 September 2025.

82.On 18 June 2025, the Committee sent a letter to all States Parties to the Convention to request information on the steps taken in response to the recommendations contained in paragraph 53 of the report of the ad hoc conciliation commission, with a deadline for reply of 18 August 2025. As at 29 August 2025, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Spain had responded, affirming their support for the recommendations contained in paragraph 53.

83.On 25 July 2025, the Committee sent a letter to civil society organizations in Israel and the State of Palestine to request information on the steps taken in response to the recommendations contained in paragraph 56 of the report of the ad hoc conciliation commission, with a deadline for reply of 25 September 2025. The letter was posted on the Committee’s website, in the section concerning the inter-State communications, to enable other non-governmental organizations also to provide input.

84.On 25 August 2025, the Committed sent a similar letter to the Security Council, regarding the recommendations contained in paragraph 54 of the report of the ad hoc conciliation commission, with a deadline for reply of 25 September 2025.

VI.Methods of work and rules of procedure

85.At its 106th session, in April 2022, the Committee established a task force, composed of three members, to review its rules of procedure and improve its methods of work. At its 114th session, the Committee resumed its second reading of the draft rules of procedure, from rule 68 to rule 107. On individual communications, the Committee aligned and harmonized its rules of procedure with other treaty bodies on issues such as friendly settlements, third‑party submissions and hearings. The revised rules of procedure incorporated new text on various matters, including the simplified reporting procedure, follow-up procedures, the early warning and urgent action procedure and general recommendations. At its 115th session, the Committee concluded the review of its revised rules of procedure, which it adopted at its 3165th meeting, on 9 May 2025 (CERD/C/35/Rev.4).

VII.States Parties whose reports are seriously overdue

A.Reports overdue by at least 10 years

86.As at 14 August 2025, the reports of the following States Parties were at least 10 years overdue:

Sierra LeoneFourth periodic report, overdue since 1976

LiberiaInitial report, overdue since 1977

GambiaSecond periodic report, overdue since 1982

SomaliaFifth periodic report, overdue since 1984

Papua New GuineaSecond periodic report, overdue since 1985

Solomon IslandsSecond periodic report, overdue since 1985

Central African RepublicEighth periodic report, overdue since 1986

SeychellesSixth periodic report, overdue since 1989

Saint LuciaInitial report, overdue since 1991

MalawiInitial report, overdue since 1997

EswatiniFifteenth periodic report, overdue since 1998

GuineaTwelfth periodic report, overdue since 2000

HaitiFourteenth periodic report, overdue since 2000

LesothoFifteenth periodic report, overdue since 2000

Syrian Arab RepublicSixteenth periodic report, overdue since 2000

TongaFifteenth periodic report, overdue since 2001

BangladeshTwelfth periodic report, overdue since 2002

BelizeInitial report, overdue since 2002

EritreaInitial report, overdue since 2002

Equatorial GuineaInitial report, overdue since 2003

Timor-LesteInitial report, overdue since 2004

ComorosInitial report, overdue since 2005

MaliCombined fifteenth and sixteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2005

Bahamas (The)Combined fifteenth and sixteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2006

Cabo VerdeCombined thirteenth and fourteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2006

Côte d’IvoireCombined fifteenth to seventeenth periodic reports, overdue since 2006

GhanaCombined eighteenth and nineteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2006

LibyaCombined eighteenth and nineteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2006

Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesCombined eleventh to thirteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2006

BarbadosCombined seventeenth and eighteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2007

Saint Kitts and NevisInitial report, overdue since 2007

United Republic of TanzaniaCombined seventeenth and eighteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2007

GuyanaCombined fifteenth and sixteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2008

MadagascarCombined nineteenth and twentieth periodic reports, overdue since 2008

NigeriaCombined nineteenth and twentieth periodic reports, overdue since 2008

Antigua and BarbudaCombined tenth and eleventh periodic reports, overdue since 2009

IndonesiaCombined fourth to sixth periodic reports, overdue since 2010

MozambiqueCombined thirteenth to seventeenth periodic reports, overdue since 2010

Democratic Republic of the CongoCombined sixteenth to eighteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2011

Guinea-BissauInitial report, overdue since 2011

CongoCombined tenth and eleventh periodic reports, overdue since 2012

PanamaCombined twenty-first to twenty-third periodic reports, overdue since 2013

EthiopiaCombined seventeenth to nineteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2013

YemenCombined nineteenth and twentieth periodic reports, overdue since 2013

MaltaCombined twenty-first and twenty-second periodic reports, overdue since 2014

GrenadaInitial report, overdue since 2014

Lao People’s Democratic RepublicCombined nineteenth to twenty-first periodic reports, overdue since 2015

B.Reports overdue by at least five years

87.As at 14 August 2025, the reports of the following States Parties were at least five years overdue:

Dominican RepublicCombined fifteenth to seventeenth periodic reports, overdue since 2016

FijiCombined twenty-first and twenty-second periodic reports, overdue since 2016

LiechtensteinCombined seventh and eighth periodic reports, overdue since 2016

Costa RicaCombined twenty-third and twenty-fourth periodic reports, overdue since 2018

Holy SeeCombined twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth periodic reports, overdue since 2018

North MacedoniaCombined eleventh to fourteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2018

Sao Tome and PrincipeInitial report, overdue since 2018

ParaguaySeventh and eighth periodic reports, overdue since 2018

Sri LankaCombined eighteenth and nineteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2019

SudanCombined seventeenth to nineteenth periodic reports, overdue since 2019

TürkiyeCombined seventh to ninth reports, overdue since 2019

C.Action taken by the Committee to ensure the submission of reports by States Parties

88.At its 111th session, in November and December 2023, the Committee decided to invite all States Parties to opt in to the simplified reporting procedure, in line with General Assembly resolution 68/268, on strengthening and enhancing the effective functioning of the human rights treaty body system, in particular paragraphs 1 and 2 on the simplified reporting procedure, and paragraph 9 on the harmonization of the working methods of treaty bodies. A note verbale to that effect was sent on 6 November 2023.

89.At its 113th session, the Committee reviewed the number of States Parties that had opted in to the simplified reporting procedure, and it discussed how to plan for upcoming sessions. Since more States Parties had opted in than the Committee had the capacity to provide with lists of issues prior to reporting within a reasonable time period, the Committee decided to prioritize States Parties whose reports were overdue by at least 10 years. Other States Parties would be requested to continue to submit their reports under the traditional procedure of reporting until the Committee had the capacity to implement the simplified reporting procedure for all States Parties. In 2024, all States Parties were duly notified of the procedure under which they were expected to report and the corresponding deadlines.

90.At its 114th session, the Committee adopted list of issues prior to reporting for Côte d’Ivoire (CERD/C/CIV/QPR/15-17), Malawi (CERD/C/MWI/QPR/1) and Seychelles (CERD/C/SYC/QPR/6).

VIII.Consideration of communications under article 14 of the Convention

91.Under article 14 of the Convention, individuals or groups of individuals who claim that any of their rights under the Convention have been violated by a State Party and who have exhausted all available domestic remedies may submit written communications to the Committee for consideration. As at 29 August 2025, a total of 59 States Parties had recognized the competence of the Committee to consider such communications.

92.Consideration of communications under article 14 of the Convention takes place in closed meetings, in line with rule 98 of the Committee’s rules of procedure. All documents pertaining to the work of the Committee under article 14 are confidential.

93.Since 1984, as at 29 August 2025, the Committee had registered 92 complaints, concerning 23 States Parties. Of those, 22 communications had been declared inadmissible and the Committee had discontinued its consideration of 4. The Committee had adopted final decisions on the merits of 46 complaints and declared and found violations of the Convention in 25 of them. Twenty communications were pending consideration.

94.At the Committee’s 113th, 114th and 115th sessions, the working group on communications comprised the following members:

Coordinator:Stamatia Stavrinaki

Members:Régine Esseneme

Jian Guan

Yeung Kam John Yeung SikYuen

Pela Boker-Wilson

95.At its 115th session, the Committee considered a communication whose admissibility had been challenged by the State Party concerned. After its deliberations, the Committee concluded that the communication raised substantive issues under article 5 (a), (b) and (d) (i) and (vii) of the Convention. The Committee therefore considered that the communication was admissible. It would continue its consideration of the communication at a future session.

96.The Committee discontinued its consideration of three communications: L.J. et al. v. Norway (CERD/C/115/D/67/2018), regarding the construction of a power station on the authors’ lands, because the issue addressed in the communication had become moot following a settlement agreement between the parties; I.R. v. Switzerland (CERD/C/115/D/76/2021), regarding the deportation of the author, because, since the author had travelled to and applied for asylum in another country, both parties had agreed to discontinue the communication; and J.N. and E.R. v. Norway (CERD/C/115/D/77/2021), concerning the alleged failure by the State Party to protect the authors against the dissemination of propaganda advocating racial hatred, violence and incitement to such acts, because the authors had requested such discontinuance, without specifying a reason.

IX.Follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Durban Review Conference and promotion activities related to the Convention

97.The Committee considered the question of follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Durban Review Conference at its 113th, 114thand 115th sessions. In addition, members of the Committee actively promoted the Convention.

98.At its 114th session, the Committee decided to initiate a campaign in 2025 to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention. The Committee launched the campaign on 21 March 2025, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, with a view to highlighting the achievements of the past 60 years and identifying effective and concrete ways to overcome structural and emerging challenges to realizing the Convention’s goal of a world free of racial discrimination. A high-level event would be held in Geneva on 4 December 2025, during the Committee’s 116th session, to commemorate the anniversary.

99.Mr. Balcerzak participated in several events as Chair of the Committee, including presenting the annual report of the Committee to the General Assembly in New York and participating in the meeting of the chairs of the treaty bodies and meetings of the chairs of United Nations anti-racism mechanisms. On the occasion of the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in March 2025, Mr. Balcerzak delivered statements before the General Assembly in New York and the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He participated in the fourteenth session of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Human Rights Council on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. He also participated in a conference organized by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, held in Oslo in April 2025, on the domestic impact of the human rights treaty bodies.

100.Ms. Shepherd spoke at and participated in several events related to education, decolonial justice, reparations and the fight against trafficking in persons and racial discrimination. She represented the Committee at the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, held in New York in April 2025, and spoke as an expert at several side events.

101.Ms. Chung participated in webinars related to the work of the Committee and the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention. During the Committee’s 115th session, she attended a forum organized by the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

102.Ms. Stavrinaki, the rapporteur for general recommendation No. 37 (2024), spoke on racial discrimination and the right to health in several forums, including a community of practice of the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities, organized by the World Health Organization and held in December 2024, on how the general recommendation could be used by countries. In February 2025, she conducted an online seminar on the process of lodging individual complaints with the United Nations human rights treaty bodies.

103.Mr. Diaby was elected Chair of the Africa Working Group of Global Action against Mass Atrocity Crimes, and was accompanied by other Committee members to meetings on the prevention of genocide, held in Geneva in December 2024 and April 2025.

104.Ms. Tlakula attended the second tripartite judicial dialogue on cooperation between United Nations human rights mechanisms and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States and the East African Court of Justice, held in Arusha, in the United Republic of Tanzania, in September 2024. Ms. Tlakula continued to follow closely the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on behalf of the Committee.

105.Mr. Guissé continued his work as the Committee’s focal point for the draft joint general recommendations/general comments on xenophobia, being prepared with the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. He also participated in the thirty-eighth African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa in February 2025, on the theme of reparatory justice and racial healing.

106.Ms. McDougall continued her work as the rapporteur for draft general recommendation No. 40 on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and their treatment as chattel and the ongoing harm to and crimes against people of African descent. She organized a side event at the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. On behalf of the Chair of the Committee, Ms. McDougall participated in a coordination meeting of the chairs of United Nations anti‑racism mechanisms, held in New York in October 2024.

107.Ms. Tebie spoke as an expert at the forum organized during the Committee’s 115th session by the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

X.General recommendations

A.General recommendation No. 37 (2024) on equality and freedom from racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health

108.The Committee completed its work on the general recommendation on racial discrimination and the right to health, under the guidance of the rapporteur for the general recommendation, Ms. Stavrinaki. At its 113th session, the Committee adopted general recommendation No. 37 (2024) on equality and freedom from racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health.

B.Joint general recommendations No. 38 and No. 39 of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination/general comments No. 7 and No. 8 of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on eradicating xenophobia towards migrants and others perceived as such

109.At its 113th session, the Committee conducted the first reading of the draft joint general recommendations/general comments, under the guidance of the Rapporteur, Mr. Guissé. Revised drafts were prepared, for the Committee’s review at its 114th session, on the basis of the in-person global, regional and thematic expert consultations that were held between September and November 2024 in Geneva, Bangkok, Brussels, Dakar and Panama City and in Toronto, Canada, and Texas, United States.

110.At its 114th session, the Committee, in addition to two private meetings on the drafts, held two joint plenary meetings with the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. A task force worked during the intersessional period to revise the drafts based on the discussions at those meetings.

111.At its 115th session, the Committee undertook a second reading of the revised drafts. A joint task force will work during the intersessional period to further revise the drafts in line with the guidance provided by the two Committees, with the aim of presenting revised versions to the Committees for review and possible adoption in 2025.

C.General recommendation No. 40 on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and their treatment as chattel and the ongoing harm to and crimes against people of African descent

112.At its 113th session, the Committee decided to prepare a new general recommendation on reparations, and appointed Ms. McDougall as the Rapporteur.

113.At its 114th session, the Rapporteur led a discussion on the legal framework and scope of the general recommendation. She emphasized the pivotal importance of the Convention in international law governing the elimination of racial discrimination, and the need for the general recommendation to clarify the Committee’s understanding of State obligations under the Convention with respect to reparations. The Committee decided to commence the preliminary work, starting with a call for input.

114.At its 115th session, the Committee convened a half-day of general discussion as a first step towards preparing its general recommendation on reparations, with the participation of many stakeholders, including States and civil society organizations. The half-day of general discussion was aimed at stimulating debate and building on the contributions received during the call for input. It was organized around two panel discussions, on the following themes: “Reparations and international law: legal frameworks, obligations and enforcement” and “The legacy of chattel slavery: structural racism and institutional accountability”.

115.On the basis of the input and the half-day of general discussion, the Committee proceeded to work on a first draft of the general recommendation, with a view to its possible adoption in 2025

XI.Consideration of copies of petitions, copies of reports and other information relating to Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories and to all other territories to which General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) applies, in conformity with article 15 of the Convention

116.Article 15 of the Convention empowers the Committee to consider copies of petitions, copies of reports and other information relating to Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories and to all other territories to which General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) applies, as transmitted to it by the competent bodies of the United Nations, and to submit to the General Assembly its expressions of opinion and recommendations in this regard.

117.Accordingly, at the request of the Committee, the Committee’s focal point on article 15 of the Convention, Mr. Sibande, examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2024 (A/79/23) and copies of the working papers on the 17 Territories prepared by the Secretariat for the Special Committee (see CERD/C/115/3) and reported thereon to the Committee at its 115th session, in May 2025.

118.The Committee notes that since its previous report, none of the 17 Non‑Self‑Governing Territories have become independent.

119.The Committee took note of several human rights issues arising in these Territories that hindered the full enjoyment of all rights under the Convention, especially in the administrative, legislative, judicial and socioeconomic spheres. The Committee will raise those issues with the States Parties that administer those Territories during its consideration of their reports under the Convention. The Committee expressed appreciation that most administering Powers had committed to ensuring the human rights of the populations within their jurisdictions, especially their right to self-determination.

120.The Committee calls on the administering Powers to intensify their efforts to address the socioeconomic inequalities in Non-Self-Governing Territories, especially those in the Caribbean and in French Polynesia, and Guam, which are affected by the climate crisis, mining and military exercises. The Committee associates itself with the calls on the relevant administering Powers to settle the question of the political status of Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and Western Sahara.

121.The Committee calls for more consistency in the extension of human rights protection to, and application of the Convention in, the Non-Self-Governing Territories and urges the administering Powers to investigate and address complaints of racial discrimination in the relationship between the Powers and the Territories, particularly in American Samoa, Guam and the British overseas territories.

122.The Committee reiterates that the right to self-determination is an inalienable right of the people in Non-Self-Governing Territories, and it remains the fundamental principle with regard to decolonization and a fundamental human right under the Charter of the United Nations, the relevant human rights conventions and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

XII.Reprisals

123.The Committee takes a zero-tolerance approach to intimidation and reprisals and has adopted guidelines on steps that it will take in this regard. At its 112th session, the Committee appointed Mr. Diaby as focal point on reprisals.

124.In its concluding observations on the combined twenty-second to twenty-fourth periodic reports of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (CERD/C/VEN/CO/22-24), adopted at its 113th session, the Committee expressed concern about reports of acts of intimidation and reprisal against representatives of civil society organizations and human rights defenders, which had had a chilling effect on the participation of civil society representatives in meetings with the Committee. Specifically, the Committee expressed serious concern about allegations that Yendri Velásquez – a human rights defender and coordinator of a civil society organization defending the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, intersex and queer persons – was detained for several hours on 3 August 2024while he was passing through immigration control at Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas to travel to Geneva to participate in meetings with the Committee in connection with the 113th session. The Committee also expressed serious concern about the cancellation of Mr. Velásquez’s passport and those of other human rights defenders.

125.During the dialogue, the Committee’s focal point on reprisals and the Chair of the Committee raised allegations of acts of intimidation and reprisal against persons and organizations that cooperated with the Committee, inquiring explicitly about the case of Mr. Velásquez and highlighting the zero-tolerance policy of the United Nations on reprisals (CERD/C/SR.3081, paras. 7, 26 and 70, and CERD/C/SR.3082, paras. 20 and 63). The Committee regretted that the delegation did not provide further information.

126.In its concluding observations, the Committee reminded the State Party that it strongly condemned all acts of intimidation or reprisal directed at human rights defenders or civil society organizations because they had cooperated with the Committee. The Committee urged the State Party: (a) to act with due diligence and take effective measures to prevent all acts of bullying, harassment, intimidation, and threats directed at human rights defenders and civil society representatives because they had cooperated with the Committee or other regional and international mechanisms for the protection of human rights, and thoroughly investigate such allegations; (b) to take the measures necessary to ensure that human rights defenders, in particular civil society leaders, were not arbitrarily subjected to restrictions preventing them from attending and participating in meetings and work carried out by international mechanisms for the protection of human rights and, in particular, the Committee; and (c) to send detailed information on the investigations conducted into the allegations of Mr. Velásquez’s arbitrary detention and the guarantees of non-repetition established.

127.As a further protection measure, the Committee, in its concluding observations, requested the State Party to provide, by 20 August 2025, information on its implementation of the recommendations on cooperation with civil society and human rights defenders, including detailed information on the investigations into Mr. Velásquez’s arbitrary detention and the measures ensuring non-repetition established. The requested information was not received by that date.