Switzerland to present a report on anti-discrimination measures to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Bern, 17.02.2014 - On 14 and 17 February 2014, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reviewed Switzerland's current report on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. A delegation from the Confederation and the cantons presented the report in Geneva and answered the committee members' questions.
The report, which was approved by the Federal Council in November 2012, delineates general legal and political developments in Switzerland since the last state report was presented in August 2008. The handling of the criminal offence of racial discrimination (Art. 261bis Swiss Criminal Code) is now firmly established in practice, and numerous measures have been taken at every government level to counter all forms of racial discrimination.
The state report lists the legislative, judicial andadministrative measures that have been taken to implement the convention. Each state report is reviewed in an atmosphere of dialogue between the committee of experts and the states parties to the convention. The presentation of the report is open to the public and interested private individuals and NGOs are welcome to attend. Following this procedure, the committee of experts sends its objections and recommendations in writing to the state concerned.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) codifies the prohibition against racial discrimination and provides for obligations to combat and prevent such discrimination. As at 1 February 2014, 176 states were party to the convention; Switzerland acceded to it in November 1994.
Further information on Switzerland's state reports can be found on the FDFA website and the Service for Combating Racism of the Federal Department of Home Affairs.
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