Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
Background | 80th Session, 2012 | 70th Session, 2007 | 65th and 63rd Sessions: Special Decision to Condemn | 52nd Session, 1998
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Signed by Israel: 7 March 1966
Ratified by Israel: 3 January 1979
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (ICERD) was adopted at the General Assembly of the UN in 1963. The Convention was adopted in response to occurrences of antisemetism around the world, after a motivation from a coalition of African nations to take concrete action to end racism worldwide.
ICERD is based on UN Charter principle “of the dignity and equality inherent in all human beings,” which make “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin,” and the “necessity of speedily eliminating racial discrimination throughout the world in all its forms and manifestation.” The Convention calls on State Parties to “not to sponsor, defend or support racial discrimination by any persons or organizations,” to end government policies or legislation that create or perpetuate racial distinctions, and to "encourage, where appropriate, integrationist multiracial organizations and movements.” (Article 2).
The Convention expressly demands that State Parties “condemn racial segregation and apartheid and undertake to prevent, prohibit and eradicate all practices of this nature in territories under their jurisdiction.” (Article 3).
Israel signed ICERD in 1966, while placing a reservation on Article 22 of the Convention that allows disputes between State Bodies to be referred to the International Court of Justice.
Israel's compliance with ICERD is reviewed regularly by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination.
The 80th Session of CERD, 13 February – 9 March 2012
Concluding Observations of CERD on Israel – 9 March 2012
Press Release: “UN Calls on Israel to End Racial Discrimination” – 15 March 2012
From 14-16 February 2012, Adalah Attorney Orna Kohn participated in the review sessions in Geneva (interview; text of remarks), raising Adalah's key concerns in briefings before the Committee (Press Release). Many of the issues Adalah included in our report and oral submissions were incorporated directly into UN CERD's concluding observations (CO).
Adalah NGO Report to the Committee – 8 December 2011
The 70th Session of CERD, 19 February - 9 March 2007
Press Release: UN Committee Urges Israel to Revoke the Citizenship Law, Dismantle the Wall, Bind the Jewish National Fund to Anti-Discrimination Principles, and Recognize the Unrecognized Villages - 10 March 2007
Concluding Observations of CERD on Israel - 9 March 2007
Israeli Human Rights Organizations: "Racial Discrimination Concerns Must be Taken Seriously by Israel" - 26 February 2007
Press Release: UN Committee asks Israel about the Status of the Jewish National Fund, the Citizenship Law and the Arab Holy Sites - 9 February 2007
NGO Report: Additional Information to UN CERD in Response to the List of Issues Presented to Israel - 1 February 2007 - Press Release
Press Release: CERD to Review Israel's Compliance with Human Rights Treaty on 2-3 August 2006: Committee Poses Tough Questions to Israel on Racial Discrimination against Palestinian Citizens of Israel - 11 July 2006
List of Issues: Questions Put by the Rapporteur in Connection with the Consideration of the 10th to 13th Periodic Reports of Israel (Cerd/C/471/Add.2) August 2006
NGO Report: Suggested Issues for Consideration Regarding Israel's Combined 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Periodic Report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) - 15 December 2005
Israel's Report: The combined tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth periodic reports of Israel, (CERD/C/471/Add.2) - 23 June 2005
The 65th and 63rd Sessions of the CERD Committee, 2-20 August 2004, 4-22 August 2003: Special Decision to Condemn Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Citizenship/Family Unification Law)
CERD Decision on the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) - 2003 (CERD/C/65Dec.2) - 20 August 2004
NGO Press Release: The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Adalah and B'Tselem Welcome CERD decision to condemn the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) - 2003 - 3 August 2004
CERD Decision - CERD Condemns Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) - 2003 Following FIDH and Partners' Petition (CERD/C/63/Misc.11/Rev.1) - 14 August 2003
FIDH Communique - CERD Says Revoke New Family Unification Law Following Petition by FIDH and Partners - 14 August 2003
Urgent Action to CERD: FIDH, ACRI, Adalah, B'Tselem, HaMoked, and the Mossawa Center Request Urgent Action from CERD on the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) - 5 August 2003
The 52nd Session of the CERD Committee, 2-20 March 1998
Concluding Observations of CERD on Israel - 30 March 1998
Major Findings of Adalah's Report to CERD
Israel's Report: The combined seventh, eighth and ninth periodic reports periodic reports of Israel(CERD/C/294/Add.1) - 17 October 1997
