International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) is an international treaty adopted by the →United Nations in 1965, which aims to achieve equal treatment for all racial and ethnic groups. The Convention defines racial discrimination as „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”. Although the definition does not expressly refer to minorities, ICERD is undoubtedly an important element of the →international protection of minorities. This is the case even though in practice many States that deny the existence of minorities on their territories within the meaning of Article 27 of the → International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also do so in their reports to the Committee monitoring the implementation of ICERD. There are significant differences of opinion among States on the objectives of ICERD in relation to minorities, but the general approach is to favour integration over the granting of special minority rights. The application of ICERD is monitored by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a body of 18 independent experts, which examines periodic reports submitted by States, considers individual and inter-State complaints, adopts general recommendations to interpret certain provisions of ICERD and early warning measures, and initiates urgent action procedures.