UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances publishes findings on Switzerland, Colombia and Mongolia
GENEVA (11 May 2021) – The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) on Tuesday issued its findings on Switzerland, Colombia and Mongolia, the State parties which it examined during its latest session.
The findings contain positive aspects of each country s implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons against Enforced Disappearance, as well as the Committee s main concerns and recommendations. Some of the key highlights include:
Switzerland
CED expressed appreciation for Switzerland s engagement in favour of the Convention and for the steps taken by the State party to implement and promote it. CED also welcomed the Federal Council s acknowledgement of Swiss authorities failure to prevent illegal adoptions of children from Sri Lanka in the 1980s and 1990s, and noted the Federal Council sexpression of regret offered to the adopted people
UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issues findings on Belgium
GENEVA (3 May 2021) The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued its findings on Belgium, which it examined during its latest session.
CERD, composed of 18 independent experts, welcomed a number of legislative and policy measures taken by Belgium, including reforms to the Social Criminal Code and the Royal Decree in recent years to prevent racial discrimination in the workplace.
The experts, however, were concerned about a number of issues, including police-related racial violence – reports of an increase of police violence during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent anti-racism demonstrations, persistent racial profiling and hate speech. It also addressed the situation of Roma communities and migrants. The Committee, accordingly, made a series of recommendations.
The Committee, however, was particularly concerned that hundreds of people, including Venezuelan nationals, had been expelled, with two recent expulsions having taken place in February. It stressed that the Convention forbade collective expulsions, and that each case of expulsion must be examined and decided on an individual basis.
The Committee made the following key recommendations to the Government of Chile:
Protect the rights of migrant workers and members of their families, in particular the right to health, and mitigate the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Develop measures to eliminate xenophobia and discriminatory stereotypes about migrant workers and their families, including through campaigns with measures targeting both public servants and the general public;
UN Disability Rights Committee issues findings on Estonia and calls for people with disabilities’ inclusion in the community
GENEVA (15 April 2021) The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has published its findings on Estonia, which it examined during its latest session.
The Committee recognised steps taken by Estonia to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which it ratified in 2012. It noted the State party’s important engagement with disability rights’ organisations, through dialogue and funding. The Committee also welcomed Estonia’s appointment of the Chancellor of Justice as the independent focal point within the government for matters relating to the implementation of the Convention.
UN Disability Rights Committee issues findings on Estonia and calls for people with disabilities’ inclusion in the community
GENEVA (15 April 2021) The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has published its findings on Estonia, which it examined during its latest session.
The Committee recognised steps taken by Estonia to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which it ratified in 2012. It noted the State party’s important engagement with disability rights’ organisations, through dialogue and funding. The Committee also welcomed Estonia’s appointment of the Chancellor of Justice as the independent focal point within the government for matters relating to the implementation of the Convention.