What is the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)?

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is an international agreement that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1965. The agreement is an internationally recognized human rights treaty which aims to eliminate discrimination based on race, colour, and national or ethnic origin in all its forms. CERD is often referred to as the International Bill of Rights for non-whites. CERD is a legally binding commitment and all States that ratify it are duty-bound to implement its provisions. The United States, including Alaska, is a signatory to CERD and is obligated to abide by its principles. CERD establishes that each State must “condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms”. The provisions of CERD include the elimination of racial segregation in public and private spheres and the prohibition of discrimination in regards to access to education, medical care, trade union protection, as well as the right to own and use property and to enjoy equal civil and criminal justice. CERD has an important monitoring mechanism to ensure that States are complying with the provisions. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is an independent body made up of 18 international experts that monitors the implementation of the treaty. The Committee is charged with monitoring the implementation of CERD in the States that ratify it and reviews their reports periodically.

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What is the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)?

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