Section 63p. 63

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW COMPENDIUM VOLUME I

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall

transmit certified copies of the present Covenant to all

States referred to in article 26.

International

Convention

on

the

Elimination of All Forms of Racial

Discrimination

March 7, 1966

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION

OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION *

The States Parties to this Convention ,

Considering that the Charter of the United Nations is

based on the principles of the dignity and equality

inherent in all human beings, and that all Member States

have pledged themselves to take joint and separate

action, in co-operation with the Organization, for the

achievement

of one of the purposes of the United

Nations which is to promote and encourage universal

respect

for

and

observance

of

human

rights

and

fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to

race, sex, language or religion,

Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and

equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled

to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without

distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or

national origin,

Considering that all human beings are equal before the

law and are entitled to equal protection of the law against

any

discrimination

and

against

any

incitement

to

discrimination,

Considering that the United Nations has condemned

colonialism

and

all

practices

of

segregation

and

discrimination associated therewith, in whatever form

and wherever they exist, and that the Declaration on the

Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and

Peoples

of

14

December

1960

(General

Assembly

resolution

1514

(XV)

has

affirmed

and

solemnly

proclaimed the necessity of bringing them to a speedy

and unconditional end,

Considering that the United Nations Declaration on the

Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 20

November 1963 (General Assembly resolution 1904 (XVIII)

solemnly affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating

racial discrimination throughout the world in all its forms

and manifestations and of securing understanding of and

respect for the dignity of the human person,

Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial

differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable,

socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no

justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in

practice, anywhere,

Reaffirming that discrimination between human beings

on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin is an

obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations among nations

and is capable of disturbing peace and security among

peoples and the harmony of persons living side by side

even within one and the same State,

Convinced

that

the

existence

of

racial

barriers

is

repugnant to the ideals of any human society,

Alarmed by manifestations of racial discrimination still in

evidence in some areas of the world and by governmental

policies based on racial superiority or hatred, such as

policies of apartheid , segregation or separation,

Resolved to adopt all necessary measures for speedily

eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and

manifestations,

and

to

prevent

and

combat

racist

doctrines

and

practices

in

order

to

promote

understanding

between

races

and

to

build

an

international community free from all forms of racial

segregation and racial discrimination,

Bearing

in

mind

the

Convention

concerning

Discrimination

in

respect

of

Employment

and

Occupation

adopted

by

the

International

Labour

Organization

in

1958,

1 and the Convention against

Discrimination

in

Education

adopted

by the United

Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

in 1960. 2

Desiring to implement the principles embodied in the

United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All

Forms of Racial Discrimination and to secure the earliest

adoption of practical measures to that end,

Have agreed as follows:

PART I

ARTICLE 1

1. In this Convention, the term "racial discrimination" shall

mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference

based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin

which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing

the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal

footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in

the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field

of public life.

2.

This

Convention

shall

not

apply

to

distinctions,

exclusions, restrictions or preferences made by a State

Party

to

this

Convention

between

citizens

and

non-citizens.

3. Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as

affecting in any way the legal provisions of States Parties

concerning

nationality,

citizenship

or

naturalization,

provided that such provisions do not discriminate against

any particular nationality.

4.

Special

measures

taken

for

the

sole purpose of

securing

adequate advancement of certain racial or

ethnic groups or individuals requiring such protection as

may be necessary in order to ensure such groups or

individuals equal enjoyment or exercise of human rights

and fundamental freedoms shall not be deemed racial

discrimination, provided, however, that such measures do

not, as a consequence, lead to the maintenance of

separate rights for different racial groups and that they

shall not be continued after the objectives for which they

are taken have been achieved.

ARTICLE 2

1.

States

Parties

condemn

racial

discrimination

and

undertake

to

pursue

by

all appropriate means and

without delay a policy of eliminating racial discrimination

in all its forms and promoting understanding among all

races, and, to this end:

(a) Each State Party undertakes to engage in no act or

practice of racial discrimination against persons, groups

of persons or institutions and to ensure that all public

authorities and public institutions, national and local,

shall act in conformity with this obligation;

(b) Each State Party undertakes not to sponsor, defend or

support

racial

discrimination

by

any

persons

or

organizations;

(c) Each State Party shall take effective measures to

review governmental, national and local policies, and to

amend, rescind or nullify any laws and regulations which

have

the

effect

of

creating

or

perpetuating

racial

discrimination wherever it exists;

(d) Each State Party shall prohibit and bring to an end, by

all appropriate means, including legislation as required by

circumstances,

racial

discrimination

by

any

persons,

group or organization;

(e) Each State Party undertakes to encourage, where

appropriate, integrationist multi-racial organizations and

movements and other means of eliminating barriers

© Compiled by RGL

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