A/HRC/31/74
Discrimination, enacted in 2011, which establishes mechanisms to prevent, address and
sanction racial discrimination in all its manifestations, as an offence. The law, developed
with research experts, professionals and scholars in social sciences and law, and in close
consultation with the Venezuelan people, includes in its article 10 definitions of racial
discrimination, ethnicity, national origin, phenotype, vulnerable groups, cultural diversity,
racism and xenophobia and “endorracismo”, the text of which the representative offered to
provide to those interested.
57.
The representative of Pakistan, on behalf of OIC, made a specific proposal for a
discussion on possible elements to an additional protocol to the Convention in accordance
with Human Rights Council resolutions 6/21 and 10/30 and Council decision 3/103.
58.
The representative of Japan requested a copy of the Chair-Rapporteur’s remarks and
supported work on guidelines on racism and sport. She noted the importance of avoiding
duplication with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and of
complementing its work.
59.
The representative of the United States stated that his Government was not prepared
to discuss a legally binding instrument and that the reference to an optional protocol as the
complementary standard to be developed by the Ad Hoc Committee came from an early
Council resolution but had not been referred to in more recent resolutions. He added that
updating the guidance of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination would
not be the best use of the Ad Hoc Committee’s resources. With respect to the proposal to
consider the topic of “racial, ethnic, national and religious hatred”, his delegation could not
support this proposal since the topic was contentious. He noted that the topic was addressed
elsewhere, including in the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance, Discrimination and
Incitement to Hatred and/or Violence on the Basis of Religion or Belief, and in the Rabat
Plan of Action on the prohibition of advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that
constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and it was exceedingly
difficult to find consensus on the issue. His delegation would also oppose inclusion of the
topic of racial and xenophobic acts committed through information and communications
technologies in the agenda of the next session. The United States could support a discussion
on racism and sport, and on multiple forms of discrimination.
60.
The representative of South Africa stated that it would support the Ad Hoc
Committee’s work on the topic of racial and xenophobic acts committed through
information and communications technologies and that it was interested in taking the topic
forward. Following the presentation made by the experts from the European Commission,
in which they highlighted that the European Union had carried out a lot of work in this area,
it would be interesting for the Committee to discuss. The delegate also proposed the topics
of the protection of migrants against racist, discriminatory and xenophobic practices, and
racial, ethnic and religious profiling, and stated that South Africa would support Pakistan,
on behalf of OIC, on the topics of advocacy and incitement to racial, ethnic, national and
religious hatred, and hate crimes.
61.
The representative of Algeria, on behalf of the African Group, insisted on the respect
for the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee as set out in Human Rights Council decision
3/103 and recalled in its resolutions 6/21 and 10/30. The representative urged the
Committee to arrive at a concrete outcome by the end of the seventh session.
62.
The representative of the European Union reiterated that the Union was not in favour
of new standards but rather the more effective use and optimization of the existing
Convention procedure.
63.
The representative of Pakistan, on behalf of OIC, proposed the following topics
from the previous list of topics of the Ad Hoc Committee: racial, ethnic and religious
profiling and measures to combat terrorism; and racism in modern information and
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