Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
117th session
Summary record of the 3225th meeting*
Held at the Palais Wilson, Geneva, on Friday, 1 May 2026, at 3 p.m.
Chair:Mr. Kut
Contents
Closure of the session
The meeting was called to order at 3.40 p.m.
Closure of the session
Ms. Shepherd, speaking on behalf of the Committee’s Rapporteur, Ms. Pousa Caride, said that the Committee’s 117th session had been attended by all but one of its members.
At the formal opening, a statement had been delivered by Ms. Wan-Hea Lee, Chief of Section 1 of the Human Rights Treaties Branch of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In her remarks, Ms. Lee had underscored the urgency of the Committee’s mandate amid a global regression in human rights marked by the erosion of the rule of law and the growing use of force. She had highlighted, as the world marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the gap that remained between international commitments and lived realities; emphasized the Committee’s role in holding States Parties accountable and advancing normative guidance; and noted the importance of action taken by the Committee under its inter-State communication and early warning and urgent action procedures.
During the session, the Committee had reviewed and adopted concluding observations on the reports of six States Parties: Burkina Faso, Cuba, Cyprus, Serbia, Slovenia and Uzbekistan. The Committee appreciated the valuable information contributed by all delegations, civil society organizations and human rights defenders and by the national human rights institution of Slovenia. The Committee had adopted one list of issues prior to reporting for Tonga and had reviewed follow-up reports submitted by Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Qatar and Turkmenistan. In addition, the Committee had held a meeting with States Parties on 30 April 2026 in Geneva, and was grateful to all representatives of States Parties who had attended and contributed to that event.
The Committee had continued its work on a draft general recommendation on reparations for the harms and continuing violations inflicted by colonialism, racialized chattel slavery and the trafficking of enslaved Africans. It had also agreed upon the themes and order of consideration of its next three general recommendations, which would address communities subjected to discrimination on the basis of work and descent; Indigenous Peoples; and racism in sport.
Under its early warning and urgent action procedure, the Committee had adopted three statements, considered 16 submissions from civil society organizations and replies from States Parties, and endorsed three letters to be addressed to States Parties.
The Committee had adopted four decisions on individual communications during the session, finding violations in three cases and discontinuing its consideration of one case. The Committee had also adopted guidelines on third-party submissions received during its consideration of individual communications, in accordance with rule 112 of its rules of procedure.
Owing to the current financial situation, the dates of forthcoming treaty body sessions, including the Committee’s 118th session, had not yet been confirmed. All stakeholders were invited to keep visiting the Committee’s web page for up-to-date information.
Despite limitations, uncertainties and challenges, the positive impact of the Committee’s work should not be forgotten. The Committee played an essential role in, for example, raising awareness of the need to prevent hate speech and violence. It would continue to raise standards and to insist on freedom from racial discrimination as one of the most fundamental freedoms of all human beings.
The Chair said that the Committee had worked hard to fulfil its mandate and could be proud of its achievements during the session. After the customary exchange of courtesies, he declared the 117th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination closed.
The meeting rose at 3.50 p.m.