ISLAMABAD: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) has commenced its session in Geneva, and started review of Pakistan on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Pakistan, Venezuela, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, UK, Iraq and Belarus are among 182 states parties to the international convention, and they are required to undergo regular reviews by a UN committee of 18 independent international experts on how states parties are implementing the Convention.

The UN committee, holding its session from August 5 to 23 in Geneva, will debate the implementation of the Convention by Pakistan for two days to complete the review on Friday.

The committee, which has received reports from non-governmental organisations and human rights institutions, will discuss and address a range of issues with the seven State delegations.

In its last report, submitted to the committee, the government said that Pakistan is fully cognizant of its international and domestic obligations related to human rights.

Regarding the protection of persons from enforced disappearances, the report said, strong domestic measures have been adopted.

The report said that a Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances is working and investigating any alleged case of enforced disappearance. Pakistan also regularly engages with United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances as well. Our constructive engagement with the Working Group has been acknowledged in its reports.

It said that Pakistan has consistently condemned all forms of discrimination and has been pursuing, through all available means, both nationally and internationally, to eliminate discrimination, and to promote understanding among all segments of its society.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2024