COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Sixtieth session
4-22 March 2002

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES
UNDER ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION

Concluding observations of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination*

Decision 1 (60) on Papua New Guinea

1. At its 1506th meeting, on 11 March 2002 (see CERD/C/SR.1506), the Committee reviewed again the implementation of the Convention by Papua New Guinea under the early warning procedure.

2. Despite the Committee's repeated requests, Papua New Guinea has not resumed its dialogue with the Committee. It has submitted neither its periodic report nor the additional information requested about the situation in Bougainville. In fact, the dialogue between Papua New Guinea and the Committee has been interrupted since 1984. The State party has not fulfilled its obligation under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

3. The Committee reiterates its decisions 2 (52) of 19 March 1998, 4 (51) of 21 August 1997, 3 (47) of 16 August 1995 and 8 (46) of 16 March 1995 on Papua New Guinea, in which it requested the State party to comply with its obligation under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, mainly to provide information on the situation in Bougainville.

4. The Committee urges the State party to submit its report under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, as well as to supply information specifically on the present situation in Bougainville. In particular, the report should provide information on the demographic composition of the population, as well as the economic, social and cultural situation of the various ethnic groups. In this connection, the Committee wishes again to draw the State party's attention to the possibility of availing itself of the technical assistance offered under the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

5. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to the provisions of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, according to which the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is the principal international instrument for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and States are urged to cooperate with the Committee in order to promote the effective implementation of the Convention.

6. The Committee hopes that the State party will also consider withdrawing its reservation to article 4 of the Convention.

7. The Committee decides that, in the absence of any indication on the part of the State party that it will comply with its obligation under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, it will consider the implementation of the Convention in Papua New Guinea at its sixty-second session, in March 2003.



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* Please note that the symbol CERD/C/Session No./CO/... will from now on replace the previous symbol CERD/C/304/Add...