26. The CHAIRMAN said that the sponsors of the draft decision on Australia (CERD/C/55/Misc.31/Rev.1) had agreed on a revised text, which he read out. That text had been circulated as document CERD/C/55/Misc.31/Rev.2. In paragraph 3, the reference to paragraph 9 (2) of the Convention should be amended editorially to read article 9, paragraph 2. He invited the Committee to comment on the revised draft decision. 27. The CHAIRMAN said that, if there was no objection, he would take it that the Committee adopted the draft decision on Australia, contained in document CERD/C/55/Misc.31/Rev.2, as it stood without a vote. 28. It was so decided. 29. Mr. Sherifis took the Chair. ORGANIZATIONAL AND OTHER MATTERS (agenda item 2) (continued)
30. The CHAIRMAN invited the Committee to resume consideration of the proposed revision of its reporting guidelines. The Committee had before it the text drafted by the sponsors, Mr. Banton, Mr. Garvalov, Mrs. Sadiq Ali and Mr. Valencia Rodriguez (CERD/C/55/Misc.3). On a procedural point raised by Ms. McDOUGALL, he said that the text was being considered before her proposal (CERD/C/55/Misc.11) solely because of the numerical order of document symbols, pursuant to the Committee's Rules of Procedure. 31. With reference to the proposed amendments to article 5, paragraph 10, the Committee had already approved subparagraph (a) in document CERD/C/55/Misc.3. He invited the Committee to consider the remaining subparagraphs. Subparagraph (b) 32. Subparagraph (b) was adopted. Subparagraph (c) 33. Ms. McDOUGALL proposed that the words "other vulnerable groups" should be replaced by "groups covered by article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention", and that the words "the rest of the population" should be followed by a comma and "both women and men". 34. Mr. DIACONU proposed that the words "other vulnerable groups" should be retained, with the addition of "of different ethnic or national origins, including male and female". 35. Mr. ABOUL-NASR said that to include a reference to women and men would render the text cumbersome, since similar references would implicitly be required elsewhere, as well as further possible distinctions - the mention of children, for example. In any case, the Committee's work pursuant to the Convention had to focus on matters of race, not gender. But he had no proposal to make or any strong objection to those put forward. 36. Ms. McDOUGALL said it was important, nevertheless, to ensure that the situation of women was not overlooked. The latest periodic report of Uruguay (CERD/C/338/Add.7) had been a positive example in that regard, having drawn attention, inter alia, to the situation of women in respect of the provisions of article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention. 37. Mr. AGA SHAHI said he thought the term "other vulnerable groups" too restrictive. 38. Mr. BANTON pointed out that the sentence in question was not restrictive since it began with the words "For example"; it was intended to assist the reporting officer in drafting the report. The original guidelines merely called for the report to cover "political rights", without providing any examples at all to indicate the interests of the Committee under that heading. A reference merely to "groups covered by article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention" would probably prove less helpful. He would accept Mr. Diaconu's proposal. It was important to be consistent and use the same wording as in the first new paragraph adopted the previous day, to be inserted after paragraph 8, which referred to "migrant workers (both male and female)". The second sentence of subparagraph (c) would thus read: "For example, do members of indigenous peoples and other vulnerable groups of different ethnic or national origin, male and female, exercise such rights to the same extent as the rest of the population?" 39. Ms. McDOUGALL said she regretted that she had not been present for consideration of that new paragraph, where mention had first been made of "male and female". That usage had been superseded and she proposed that the term should be replaced by "women and men". Like Mr. Shahi, she had some doubt as to whether the term "vulnerable groups" was sufficiently inclusive. 40. Mr. YUTZIS, expressing support for the amendment proposed by Ms. McDougall, agreed that the phrase "other vulnerable groups" was indeed restrictive and somewhat ambiguous. 41. Mr. BANTON proposed that the phrase "other vulnerable groups" should be replaced by "persons of different ethnic or national origin", and that, in the interests of consistency, references to "male and female" should be replaced by "women and men" in both subparagraph (c) and the previously adopted paragraph. 42. It was so agreed. 43. Subparagraph (c), as amended, was adopted. Subparagraph (d) 44. Subparagraph (d) was adopted. Subparagraph (e) Subparagraphs (e) (i) and (e) (ii) 45. The CHAIRMAN said that "rights to work" should read "right to work" in subparagraph (e) (i) and in the body of the descriptive subparagraph following subparagraph (e) (ii). 46. Mr. DIACONU, supported by Ms. McDOUGALL, said that "vulnerable groups" should be replaced by "persons of different national or ethnic origin, women and men". 47. Subparagraphs (e) (i) and (e) (ii), as amended, were adopted. Subparagraph (e) (iii) 48. Ms. McDOUGALL suggested adding the words "by both women and men" at the end of subparagraph (e) (iii). 49. Mr. ABOUL-NASR said that the repeated use of that formulation was problematic, and suggested including a general instruction somewhere in the document calling for the information requested therein to reflect the situation of women and men. 50. The CHAIRMAN suggested that Mr. Banton, Ms. McDougall and other interested members of the Committee should find a general formula which would make it amply clear that the Committee wished to receive information on the respective situations of women and men, and at the same time avoid repetition throughout the document. On that understanding, he took it that the Committee wished to adopt subparagraph (e) (iii). 51. It was so agreed. 52. Subparagraph (e) (iii) was adopted on that understanding.