COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS STATEMENT ON LEBANON

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this afternoon adopted a statement on the situation in Lebanon in which it said that having held a debate on the situation in Lebanon on 3 August 2006, the Committee was deeply concerned that the continuation of the conflict may intensify racial discrimination and hatred in the region and the wider world. The Committee expressed fully its support for the statement made by the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights in this regard.

The statement was adopted by a roll call vote of 9 votes in favour, with 0 votes against, and 6 abstentions.

While all Experts expressed a desire to address the situation in Lebanon, several Experts who had abstained in the voting regretted that the Committee had not issued a statement earlier, following the debate on 3 August.

When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Monday, 14 August, it will conclude its consideration of the periodic reports of Ukraine on the fulfilment of its treaty obligations, which it started this afternoon after adopting the statement.

For use of the information media; not an official record

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