Geneva, The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is set to conduct a series of reviews assessing the racial discrimination policies and practices of Mexico, San Marino, Albania, Qatar, and the Republic of Moldova. These countries, all signatories to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, will be scrutinized by the Committee’s 18 independent experts during its upcoming session.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the session, which takes place from 8 to 26 April, will involve public dialogues between the Committee and delegations from the five countries. These interactions aim to evaluate the progress and adherence to the Convention’s mandates. The reviews are scheduled with specific times allocated for each country, facilitating in-depth discussions on their respective racial discrimination statuses.

The process includes examining reports from the State parties, contributions from non-governmental organizations, and national human rights institutions, providing a comprehensive view of the efforts and challenges in combating racial discrimination. This engagement is part of the regular review cycle that signatory states undergo to ensure compliance with international standards.

The meetings, held at Palais Wilson in Geneva, are accessible to accredited journalists and will be broadcast live on UN Web TV, offering transparency and global access to the proceedings. The outcome of these reviews is anticipated to guide future actions and reforms in the involved countries to better align with the principles of racial equality and non-discrimination.