Paragraph 14
50. Mr. DIACONU suggested that the phrase "racist practices in the mass media" should be replaced by "racist statements in the mass media". 51. Mr. BANTON said that some media used images as well as spoken or written statements. He suggested the wording "measures to prevent racism in the mass media". 52. The CHAIRMAN and Mr. YUTZIS (Country Rapporteur) said they preferred the term "practices". 53. Mr. RECHETOV suggested the wording: "measures to prevent and punish incitement to racial discrimination in the mass media". 54. After an informal show of hands, the CHAIRMAN said that most members seemed to be in favour of the original version of the paragraph. 55. Paragraph 14 was adopted.
Paragraph 15
56. The CHAIRMAN asked why the paragraph mentioned only economic, social and cultural rights, rather than human rights as a whole. 57. Mr. YUTZIS (Country Rapporteur) said that additional education and vocational training for the Roma population would help the Roma to assert their economic, social and cultural rights. It was those rights, rather than civil and political rights, which were the main problem for the Roma population. 58. Mr. DIACONU confirmed that the civil and political rights of the Roma were fairly well protected: Roma had the vote and were elected to public office, for example. 59. Mr. van BOVEN observed that the paragraph referred to affirmative action, which usually implied a need for additional resources. In that context, the issue was one of economic, social and cultural rights. 60. Paragraph 15 was adopted.
Paragraph 16
61. Paragraph 16 was adopted.
Paragraph 17
62. Mr. SHERIFIS suggested that the second sentence should be amended to read: "... the Committee draws the State party's attention to the content of its General Recommendation XIII". 63. Paragraph 17, as amended, was adopted.
Paragraph 18
64. Mr. SHERIFIS suggested the wording: "[the effective dissemination ...] of the provisions of the Convention, as well as of its periodic reports and of the Committee's concluding observations". 65. Mr. DIACONU suggested that "reports" should be replaced by "report", in order to make it clear that only the most recent periodic report and concluding observations were meant. 66. Paragraph 18, as amended, was adopted.
Paragraph 19
67. Paragraph 19 was adopted.