RUSSIAN FEDERATION

General Comments - Government Responses

CERD A/8718

Annex IV

Texts of comments of states parties to general recommendations I and II, adopted by the Committee at its fifth session, received up to the end of the sixth session, in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 9 of the Convention a/

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UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

[Original: Russian]

28 July 1972

The Soviet Union considers that the recommendations adopted on 24 February 1972 by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD/C/R.41) represent an important contribution by the Committee to the effective implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The adoption of these recommendations will unquestionably further the attainment of the main objective of the Convention, namely, the speedy elimination of racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestations.

The Soviet Union strongly supports this positive step taken by the Committee in recommending that States Parties to the Convention, whose legislation lacks the provisions envisaged in article 4 (a) and (b) of the Convention, should consider the question of supplementing their legislation with appropriate additional provisions.

The legislation of the USSR fully conforms to the requirements of article 4 (a) and (b) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The Criminal Code of the RSFSR (article 74) and the criminal codes of the other Union Republics prescribe sever penalties for any propaganda or agitation aimed at inciting racial or national enmity or discord, or any direct or indirect restriction of the rights of, or, conversely, the establishment of any direct or indirect privileges for, citizens on account of their racial or national origin. The principle of equality before the law and of equal protection before the law without discrimination of any kind, which is embodied in the legislation of the USSR, and the various institutions and

procedures that exist in the Soviet Union for the purpose of ensuring the practical exercise and

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            a/ See chap. IV, para. 99; and, for the texts of general recommendations I and II, see chap. IX, section A, decisions 3 (V) and 4 (V).

protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, further the strict implementation of

the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Thus, with reference to the adoption of the recommendation in question by the Committee, the Soviet Union has no need to adopt any special additional legislation.

Since the Committee found that the legislation of a number of States Parties to the Convention lacked the provisions referred to above, whose implementation is obligatory under the Convention for all States Parties, it is essential that all States Parties should promptly and without reservations of any kind consider the question of supplementing their legislation with additional provisions conforming to the requirements of article 4 (a) and (b) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

CERD A/28/18

Annex IV

Texts of comments of States parties to general recommendation III, adopted by the Committee at its sixth session, received up to the end of the eighth session, in accordance with article 9, paragraph 2, of the Convention a/

[Original: Russian]

20 February 1973

            The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination correctly pointed out in its general recommendations the significance of General Assembly resolution 2784 (XXVI), which calls upon "all the trading partners of South Africa to abstain from any action that constitutes an encouragement to the continued violation of the principles and objectives of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by South Africa and the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia". The Committee should continue to observe closely the implementation by States of the provisions of that resolution.

            The Committee's conclusion that "measures adopted on the national level to give effect to the provisions of the Convention are interrelated with measures taken on the international level to encourage respect everywhere for the principles of the Convention" seems correct, since it is just such an approach which ensures the creation of the conditions necessary for the complete elimination of racial discrimination in all its forms and manifestations.

            With regard to the Committee's recommendation concerning the inclusion in reports submitted by States under article 9 of the Convention of information on the status of the diplomatic, economic and other relations of those States with the racist regimes in southern Africa, the Soviet Union was one of the first four States to submit such information in their reports.

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            a/ See chap. VI, paras. 317 to 322 above; for the text of general recommendation III see decision 1 (VI), chap. IX, sect. B, of the report of the Committee to the twenty-seventh session of the General Assembly, Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/8718).

CERD A/38/18

Annex VI

Additional comments of States parties on general recommendation VI adopted by the Committee at its 569th meeting, on 15 March 1982

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UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS

[Original: Russian]

[27 August 1982]

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, unwaveringly opposed to all forms of racism and racial discrimination, attaches great importance to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and affirms the need for all States parties to the Convention to comply with its provisions and, of course, with the obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic therefore supports general recommendation VI of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the purpose of which is to ensure the timely submission to the Committee of the reports of States parties on legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures giving effect to the provisions of the Convention.