UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

General Comments - Government Responses

CERD A/8718 (1972)

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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UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

[Original: English]

25 July 1972

The United Kingdom Government welcome the opportunity to comment on these recommendations and applaud the manner in which the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has discharged its obligations in this area.

The United Kingdom Government have examined the recommendation (recommendation I) that States Parties should consider the question of supplementing their legislation with additional provisions conforming to the requirements of article 4 of the Convention. They consider, however, that the Race Relations Acts 1965 to 1968 discharge their obligations to the maximum extent compatible with the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention.

The United Kingdom Government have reservations about the assertion in recommendation II that there are States Parties on whose territories racial discrimination does not exist and doubt whether this is the case. It is their view that all States Parties to the Convention are bound by article 9 to report on the legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures which they have adopted and which give effect to the provisions of the Convention. They consider, therefore, that the information requested in the Committee's communication of 28 January 1970 should be provided by all States Parties to the Convention.

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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).

CERD A/9618 (1974)

Annex V

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

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UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

14 February 1974

The United Kingdom authorities consider that this recommendation is a constructive proposal and intend to comply with it to the maximum extent feasible when submitting future reports under article 9 of the Convention.

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a/ For the text of general recommendation IV, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/9018), chap. X, sect. B, decision 1 (VIII).