UN: CERD adopted concluding observations on Belgium at 103rd session

Date : 2021.05.10

On the 30th of April, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) concluded its 103rd session. At the session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on Belgium.

In accordance with its follow-up procedure, The Committee adopted follow-up letters to Iceland, Jordan, Mexico, Poland and the State of Palestine. Read our summary of the follow-up letters.

The Committed adopted lists of issues prior to reporting (LOIPRs) on Gabon, Lesotho, Maldives and Tunisia.

On inter-state communications, the Committee adopted a decision regarding the communication submitted by the State of Palestine against the State of Israel. In its decision, the Committee rejected the exceptions raised by Israel concerning the admissibility of the communication. The Committee requested the Chair to appoint, in accordance with Article 12 (1) of the Convention, the members of an ad hoc Conciliation Commission.

The Committee issued letters to Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Peru under its Early Warning and Urgent Action procedure. It also adopted a statement on “Rise of racial discrimination against Asians and people of Asian descent”.

Under the individual communications procedure, The Committee adopted an opinion on Grigore Zapescu v. Republic of Moldova (CERD/C/103/D/60/2016). It found that the Republic of Moldova has violated the right to remedies and protection under Article 6 of the Convention in the case of discrimination in recruitment against the petitioner who is of Roma ethnicity.

Concluding observations, reports of the States parties and other stakeholders are available at the OHCHR website. Video archives of the public meetings with the delegation of Belgium can be accessed at UN Web TV.