Question : MEETING OF UN ASSEMBLY FOR ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

(a) whether a meeting of the UN Assembly for Elimination of Racial Discrimination was held in August, 2002, in Geneva;

(b) if so, whether a demand was made at the meeting for early submission of the pending reports on discrimination to the U.N. as per its directive issued earlier;

(c) if so, whether India participated in the Geneva meeting; and

(d) if so, the issues raised and discussed at the meeting and the details of the pending reports required to be submitted to the UN and the reasons for delay in submission, if any?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DIGVIJAY SINGH)

(a) The 61st Session of the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was held in Geneva from 5-23 August 2002.

(b),(c)&(d) The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) consists of 18 experts who serve in their personal capacities. There is an elected Indian expert on the Committee. The International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination calls on State Parties to report periodically on legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination examines reports submitted by State Parties, and at the 61st session, the Committee considered country reports of Armenia, Botswana, Canada, Estonia, Fiji, Hungary, Mali New Zealand, Senegal and Yemen. The Committee also held a two day thematic discussion on discrimination on the ground of descent.