This year is the 50^th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention is the centerpiece of the UN’s efforts to rid the world of the blight of racial discrimination. It was born in the era of apartheid,
“Jim Crow” racial segregation in the United States and colonialism in other parts of the world.

Today, 177 countries have become States Parties to the Convention and for the past 45 years the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has worked to ensure that the Convention is a living document that has relevance and resonance in the lived experiences of communities across the globe.

Since the Convention has come into force, the UN has added other procedures and institutional mechanisms to enhance its ability to address racial discrimination.  Most prominent has been the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, a position that was created by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1993/1994. This post is currently held by Kenyan lawyer, Mutuma Ruteere. One might refer to his position as that of a roving ambassador of the UN on racial discrimination, with a mandate to visit countries around the world, investigate claims of racial discrimination, to make recommendations to national and international leaders about policies to prevent and remedy violations and to make reports of his activities and findings to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The event will seek to inform the audience about the work of the UN on combating racism and particularly that of the Special Rapporteur and the CERD.  The event will also try to evaluate the progress of that work over 50 years and the prospects for impacting the most urgent issues in the years to come.

Presenters:

Mr. Mutuma Ruteere (Kenya), United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

Ms. Gay McDougall, Member, Member, United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, Center on Race, Law & Justice; Leitner Center for International Law and Justice
Fordham University School of Law

Professor Tanya Hernandez, Associate Director and Head of Global & Comparative Law Programs and Initiatives; Center on Race, Law & Justice
Fordham University School of Law

Professor Robin A. Lenhardt, Director of the Center on Race, Law & Justice
Fordham University School of Law

Mr. Jamil Dakwar, Director of Human Rights Program at the American Civil Liberties Union

This event is sponsored by the Center on Race, Law & Justice and the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice.

Please RSVP to celdabh@law.fordham.edu.

Lectures and Panels