UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Commission publishes report on Ireland and the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The United Nations examined Ireland’s record in eliminating racial discrimination on 2-3 December 2019. The Commission, as Ireland’s independent national human rights and equality institution, submitted an independent “shadow” report to the UN.
The report sets out that the State is failing to sufficiently tackle racism and discrimination and to live up to its international human rights obligations in combatting racial discrimination.
Ireland and the convention on the elimination of racial discrimination Full report
Ireland and the convention on the elimination of racial discrimination Easy to Read
Ireland and the convention on the elimination of racial discrimination Press release
Scroll down to find out more about the Commission’s CERD consultations and links to factsheets and other resources.
Follow all the latest on Twitter and Instagram @_IHREC with the hashtag #CERD19.
Ireland & UN CERD 2019 – Curated tweets by _IHREC
Watch the CERD Committee review of Ireland
Watch back the live-stream as the UN independent experts question senior state officials on Ireland’s compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
CERD report factsheets
UN reviews racial discrimination in Ireland
On 2-3 December 2019 in Geneva, representatives of the Irish government appeared before the UN Committee tasked with examining the State’s record in ending racial discrimination and maderecommendations for action under the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
The UN CERD Committee is made up of experts from countries around the world. Every few years, different countries that have ratified the CERD Convention are called to report to the Committee, which then issues recommendations in the form of Concluding Observations. Ireland ratified the CERD Convention in 2000 and last appeared before the Committee in 2011.
In parallel to the Irish government’s official CERD submission, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has a mandate to provide a separate independent report on how Ireland is meeting its international legal obligations to combat racial discrimination under CERD.
The Commission will also attended the examination and engaged with the UN CERD Committee during the 2-3 December 2019 examination session in Geneva.
Throughout 2019, the Commission has held consultations with young people, civil society and others to inform our report to the UN Committee overseeing compliance with the CERD treaty.
In July 2019, the Commission submitted a List of Themes to assist the UN CERD Committee plan its examination of Ireland on its Combined 5th to 9th Report to UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On 9 October 2019, the UN Country Rapporteur published a Note on the List of Themes in relation to the combined fifth to ninth reports of Ireland.
Youth consultation to inform IHREC independent report
We know that racial discrimination affects young people in particular ways. That’s why we have made youth perspectives, insights and recommendations a key part of our consultations for our independent report to the UN Committee.
On 30 March 2019, in association with the National Youth Council of Ireland, we held a youth consultation inviting young people – aged 16-24 – to tell us how the Irish government could create a more just and equal society that is free from racial discrimination.
Watch the video summary above of the day-long event held in Dublin.
#BeHeardonCERD – Curated tweets by _IHREC
Civil society consultation at Green Street
On 27 May 2019, the Commission held a further consultation with civil society organisations, former chair of the UN CERD Committee Anastasia Crickley and other stakeholders.
See below for a collection of Tweets from the consultations, held at the Commission’s offices at Green Street, Dublin.
CERD Civil Society – Curated tweets by _IHREC
The road to Geneva
Supporting resources
Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (April 2011)
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination