U.S. and the CONVENTION ON ELIMINATION OF all forms OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

Surely as there is a sunrise tomorrow, the United States has once again blow off something they swore to uphold. This time around its the United Nations CONVENTION ON ELIMINATION OF all forms OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

In 1994, the US Senate ratified this treaty, wherein they promised to “provide reports every two years on racial discrimination in the United States. The reports were to include anywhere in the world where the US military is in charge. In other words, the United States military, no matter where it was on the globe, agreed to report discrimination. That now includes Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.”

One Hundred and Seventy-three nations signed this treaty. All of them, including the US, promised to provide reports on their countries progress or lack of it in certain areas such as health care, education and prison terms. There was a two day meeting on the most recent reports submitted by the participating nations. The U.S. government submitted a 115-page report (pdf) and sent a 25 person delegation to Geneva to defend its..cough.. record. Who contributed to this report?

This report was prepared by the U.S. Department of State with extensive assistance from the White House, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other relevant departments and agencies of the federal government and of the states. Contributions were also solicited and received from interested members of the numerous non-governmental organizations and other public interest groups active in the area of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights in the United States.

As to how many outside groups actually participated it’s unknown. My guess is the bulk of the report was prepared by “Bushies” which control all areas of the federal government as we all are aware of at this point in time. Especially after numerous Congressional hearings regarding the dismissed AG’s and the politicization of all branches of our federal government.

A coalition of 250 delegates has taken issue with the US and it’s handling of discrimination at the conference, stating we, as a nation, have failed dismally to live up to our obligations. U.S. Human Rights Network Executive Director, Ajamu Baraka gives us his take on the matter:

“The persistent and systematic issues of racial discrimination have not been addressed by this government,” said Baraka. “From Katrina, the ongoing crisis of Katrina in the Gulf Coast in the south, migrant rights, the ongoing police brutality, housing issues-we find that these issues have escaped the scrutiny and the readjustment by the U.S. government in their obligation to the CERD (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) treaty.”

To continue reading, click here.

tags: Rendition, Human Rights, Racial discrimination, Guantanamo, Abu-Gharaib, racial profiling