COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION SETS UP WORKING GROUP TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE IN RWANDA

Press Release
RD/863

COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION SETS UP WORKING GROUP TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE IN RWANDA

GENEVA, 11 March (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning set up a working group to contribute to a future constitutional conference in Rwanda. In assisting in the drafting of a constitution for Rwanda, the group would rely on the principles embodied in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, while drawing on the experiences of other multi-ethnic countries.

The establishment of the working group within the framework of the Committee's advisory role followed a proposal by a Committee member, Rüdiger Wolfrum, expert from Germany. Other Committee members suggested that if the group's experience in Rwanda proved fruitful, it could offer to assist other States.

Also this morning, the panel of experts charged with monitoring the implementation of the International Convention discussed its possible contribution to the implementation of the peace agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to a discussion paper drafted by Committee member Theodor van Boven, expert from the Netherlands, the legal basis for the Committee's involvement in the implementation of the peace agreement is contained in annex 6, article XIII, of the Dayton accord, which deals with cooperation with international human rights organizations and mentions the supervisory bodies established by the international human rights agreements, including the Committee.

The options contained in the discussion paper were:

-- Entrusting one of its members to consult with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the High Representative appointed under the Dayton accord, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other concerned bodies with a view to making recommendations as soon as possible for follow-up action by the Committee;

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-- Instituting a process of consultation with the authorities of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska on how the good offices of the Committee could be drawn upon in future efforts to promote understanding between races and ethnic groups and to build a society free from all forms of racial or ethnic segregation and discrimination;

-- Seeking, as soon as practically possible, a meeting between a Committee delegation and the newly established Commission on Human Rights for Bosnia and Herzegovina so as to place the Committee's experience at the disposal of the Commission; and

-- Inviting the successor republics of the former Yugoslavia to a special workshop to discuss possibilities of future cooperation among them on the promotion of the principles of equality and non-discrimination, particularly for ethnic communities, nationalities and minorities.

Committee members welcomed the text, but they raised questions regarding such issues as: the fact that the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska are not parties to the Convention; that the paper did not address the situation in Kosovo; how the Committee's contribution would be integrated in a comprehensive United Nations effort; and the financing of certain of the initiatives proposed.

The Committee will continue to discuss the paper during this session in light of the issues raised. The Committee's actions regarding Rwanda and the implementation of the Dayton accord will be at the top of the agenda when it receives the High Commissioner for Human Rights tomorrow afternoon.

At its afternoon session, the expert panel will examine information on the situation with relation to implementation of the Convention in Madagascar, whose regular report to the Committee is overdue.

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