BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Commission on Human Rights Rapporteurs

CERD A/47/18 (1992)

I. ORGANIZATIONAL AND RELATED MATTERS

...

H. Letter to the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights

13. At its 945th meeting, in view of the special session of the Commission on Human Rights, which was being convened to consider developments in the former Yugoslavia, the Committee approved a letter to the Chairman of the Commission (see annex VII).

Annex VII

Letter dated 7 August 1992 from the Chairman of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has followed with grave concern the developments taking place in former Yugoslavia. It would welcome the convening of the exceptional session of the Commission on Human Rights to examine the situation arising from the massive human rights violations taking place, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a result of the policy of "ethnic cleansing" being carried out by Serb militias.

The Committee notes the deep concern expressed by the Security Council at the continuing reports of widespread violations of international humanitarian law and, in particular, reports of the imprisonment and abuse of civilians in camps, prisons and detention centres within the territory of former Yugoslavia and especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These aspects of the tragic situation are of particular concern to the Committee. The Committee would like to join in expressing alarm at the situation and trusts that the Commission on Human Rights would take expeditious and effective measures at its forthcoming exceptional session with a view to putting an end to the violations of human rights and human suffering and providing protection for the civilian population. The Committee expresses its readiness to cooperate in this endeavour within the framework of the mandate entrusted to it by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

(Signed) Luis VALENCIA RODRIGUEZ

Chairman

Committee on the Elimination of

Racial Discrimination

Mr. Pál Solt

Chairman

Commission on Human Rights