MALI

Follow-up - State Reporting

Action by State Party

CERD A/57/18 (2002)

ANNEX VI: COMMENTS OF STATES PARTIES ON THE CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE

The seventh to fourteenth periodic reports of Mali*

The following letter dated 6 September 2002 was addressed to the Chairman of the Committee by the Permanent Representative of Mali to the United Nations Office at Geneva:

"Dear Mr. Chairman,

"We have taken note of the concluding observations adopted by your Committee following the consideration of the [seventh to] fourteenth periodic reports submitted by Mali.

"We welcome the general content of your concluding observations, in particular the positive aspects noted by the Committee.

"However, we believe it would be useful to draw your attention to certain important elements which were examined in depth during the consideration of the report, namely:

"1. The situation in the north of Mali:

The current situation in Mali is fully described in paragraphs 39-41 of the report and was confirmed in our presentation to the Committee on 20 and 21 August 2002.

In order to avoid any ambiguity concerning this important matter, we suggest that paragraph 4 of the concluding observations [para. 394 above] adopted by the Committee be modified so that it better reflects the reality and the discussions which took place on this issue: instead of '… and gives reassurances concerning solutions to the situation in the north of the country' read ' … and welcomes the definitive resolution of the question of the north of the country'.

"2. The situation of particularly vulnerable persons, in particular child victims of exploitation talibé or garibou children and rural women.

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* See paragraphs 391-411 of the present report.

The very detailed description of this situation in paragraphs 42-51 of the report was sufficiently supplemented during our presentations of 20 and 21 August 2002.

Unfortunately, paragraph 15 [para. 405 above] of your concluding observations does not seem to take into account the explanations provided, in particular the efforts made by Mali for vulnerable populations at the institutional as well as international level.

"We would be grateful if you could include the present letter in the final report of the Committee.

"Please find attached to the present letter* the notes of our presentation of the report and the replies provided on 20 and 21 August 2002 by the delegation of Mali.

"Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

(Signed) Sinaly COULIBALY

Chevalier de l'Ordre National

Ambassador

Permanent Representative"

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* Attachments available in the files of the secretariat.