CERD/C/GC/33
page 2
Welcoming the acknowledgment by the Durban Review Conference of the interpretation
given by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (“the Committee”) to the
definition of the concept of racial discrimination as contained in the Convention, so as to address
multiple or aggravated forms of racial discrimination,
Welcoming the expression of appreciation by the Durban Review Conference with regard to
the early-warning and urgent-action procedure and the follow-up procedure established by the
Committee,
Concerned by the consequences which the world financial and economic crisis could have
on the situation of persons belonging to the most vulnerable groups, mainly racial and ethnic groups,
leading to an aggravation of the discrimination they may suffer,
Concerned by situations of serious, massive and multiple racial and ethnic discrimination
which may result in genocide and recalling in this connection the Decision, adopted at its sixtyseventh session, in 2005, on “follow-up to the Declaration on the Prevention of Genocide: indicators
of patterns of systematic and massive racial discrimination” 2 with a view to preventing such
developments,
Expressing its satisfaction at the recognition by the Durban Review Conference of the role
and contribution of the Committee in promoting the implementation of the Convention,
Conscious of its own responsibilities in the follow-up to the World Conference Against
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the 2009 Review
Conference and of the need to strengthen its capacity to fully discharge these responsibilities,
Stressing the vital role of non-governmental organizations in the struggle against racial
discrimination and encouraging them to continue to provide the Committee with pertinent
information for the fulfilment of its mandate,
Taking note of the emphasis placed by the Durban Review Conference on the importance of
effective national monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in order to ensure that all appropriate steps
are taken to follow up on the concluding observations and general recommendations of the
Committee,
1. Recommends that the States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination:
(a) If they have not yet done so, consider making the declaration under article 14 of the
Convention, in order to enable individuals to resort to the envisaged remedy if they consider
themselves to be victims of violations of the rights enshrined in the Convention;
2
Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/60/18), chap. II.