CERD early warning measures could be utilized when the following indicators
are present:
(a) P resence of a significant and persistent pattern of racial discrimination, as evidenced in social
and economic indicators;
(b) Presence of a pattern of escalating racial hatred and violence, or racist propaganda or appeals
to racial intolerance by persons, groups or organizations, notably by elected or other State
officials;
(c) Adoption of new discriminatory legislation;
(d) Segregation policies or de facto exclusion of members of a group from political, economic,
social and cultural life;
(e) Lack of an adequate legislative framework defining and criminalizing all forms of racial
discrimination or lack of effective mechanisms, including lack of recourse procedures;
(f) Policies or practice of impunity regarding: (i) Violence targeting members of a group identified
on the basis of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin by State officials or private
actors; (ii) Grave statements by political leaders/prominent people that condone or justify
violence against a group identified on the ground of race, colour, descent, national or ethnic
origin; and (iii) Development and organization of militia groups and/or extreme political groups
based on a racist platform;
(g) Significant flows of refugees or displaced persons, especially when those concerned belong to
specific ethnic groups;
(h) Encroachment on the traditional lands of indigenous peoples or forced removal of these
peoples from their lands, in particular for the purpose of exploitation of natural resources;
(i) Polluting or hazardous activities that reflect a pattern of racial discrimination with substantial
harm to specific groups.
Third, the post of the UN Special Advisor on the
Prevention of Genocide was created in 2004 with
the mandate, inter alia, to act as an early warning
mechanism to the UN Secretary-General and the
Security Council by bringing to their attention
potential situations that could result in genocide. To this end, the Special Advisor collects
information on massive and serious violations
of human rights and international humanitarian
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law of ethnic and racial origin that might lead
to genocide, makes recommendations to the
Security Council (through the UN SecretaryGeneral) on actions to prevent or halt genocide,
and liaises with the UN system on activities for the
prevention of genocide, including enhancement
of UN capacity to analyze and manage information relating to genocide and related crimes.
M A R G I N A L I S E D M I N O R I T I E S I N D E V E LO P M E N T P R O G R A M M I N g