A/HRC/16/39
E.
Durban follow-up
25.
In accordance with the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of
Action and the Outcome Document of the Durban Review Conference urging States
Members of the United Nations to develop and implement national plans of action against
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, OHCHR has supported a
number of initiatives in this regard at the regional and national levels. In accordance with
the victims-oriented approach enshrined in both documents, regional workshops on national
plans of action were organized in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Togo. The workshops were an
opportunity to highlight the need for such policy tools to reflect the needs of victims and
vulnerable groups, including national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. OHCHR
has also been supporting efforts in several countries to launch preparations for the
development of national plans of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance.
III.
A.
Treaty bodies
Concluding observations
26.
The treaty body system operates through relevant committees that monitor
compliance by States of their treaty obligations. Treaty bodies have regularly raised issues
relating to minority rights. While they have, in a number of instances, acknowledged the
achievements made by States, they have also issued a range of observations and
recommendations for additional measures that States need to take in relation to minority
rights in order to comply with their treaty obligations.
1.
Human Rights Committee
Ninety-ninth session (12 – 30 July 2010)
27.
The Human Rights Committee, in relation to the report submitted by Estonia
(CCPR/C/EST/CO/3), concluded that the State party should strengthen measures to
integrate Russian-speaking minorities into the labour market, including with regard to
professional and language training. The Committee also recommended that it should take
measures to increase the confidence and trust of the Russian-speaking population in the
State and its public institutions.
One-hundredth session (11 – 29 October 2010)
28.
In relation to the report submitted by Poland (CCPR/C/POL/CO/6), the Committee
observed that the State party should continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the
practical enjoyment by the Roma of their rights under the Covenant by implementing and
reinforcing effective measures to prevent and address discrimination and the serious social
and economic situation of the Roma.
29.
With regard to the report submitted by Hungary (CCPR/C//HUN/CO/5), the
Committee concluded that the State party should take measures to address the shortcomings
of the minority election register and the minority self-government system in general, in
order to ensure that it does not deter and disenfranchise minorities from participating in
minority self-government elections. According to the Committee, the State party should
also consider repealing the condition that a minority group should be able to demonstrate
that it has lived in the territory of the State party for at least a century in order to be
recognized as a national or ethnic minority group.
8