A ceremony commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was held here today under the Chairmanship of Luigi Cottafavi, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The ceremony honoured the 22nd anniversary of the brutal massacre at Sharpeville of unarmed Africans demonstrating against the oppressive South African pass laws.
A general view of the ceremony today.

At a special meeting held at the Palais des Nations , Geneva, under the Chairmanship of Luigi Cottafavi, Under-Secretary-General, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, on 21 March, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a programme of International Mobillization Against Apartheid was launched. The ceremony also commemorated the 19th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre.
Luigi Cottafavi addressing the meeting. At the presiding table (left to right), F. Meli, African National Congress of South Africa; Omar Muntasser, Organization of African Unity; Serge E. Charles, Vice-Chairman of the Special Committee Against Apartheid; Luigi Cottafavi; Amara Essy, Vice-Chairman of UN Commission on Human Rights ; Niall Mac Dermot, representative of Non-Governmental Organizations; and Philipp Mokgadi, Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania.

Iran today became the twenty-first party to ratify or accede to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Dicrimination. Under the Convention, adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965 (Resolution 2106 (XX)), States which become parties "condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pursue, by all means appropriate and without delay, a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting understanding among races." The Convention provides for establishment of machinery to oversee the implementation of its provisions.

Mr. Mostafa Dabiri (right), Attaché, Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations, depositing the instrument of ratification with Mr. C.A. Stavropoulos, UN Legal Counsel.

Iran today became the fifty-fifth signatory of the International Convention of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Under the Convention, adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965 , States which become Parties "condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pursue, by all appropriate means and without delay, a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting understanding among races." The Parties also commit themselves to taking "special and concrete measures to ensure the adequate development and protection of certain racial groups or individuals belonging to them". The Convention provides for the establishment of machinery to oversee the implementation of its provisions.

Ambassador Mehdi Vakil, Permanent Representative of Iran to the UN, signing the Convention in a brief ceremony in the Office of Legal Affairs. Looking on are Mr. Manoutcher Fartash (left), Deputy Permanent Representative of Iran to the UN, and Mr. C.A. Stavropoulos, Under-Secretary, the Legal Counsel.

Iraq has signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 21 December 1965. Under the Convention, States which become Parties "condemn racial discrimination and undertake to pursue, by all appropriate means and without delay, a policy of eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and promoting understanding among races." The Convention provides for establishment of machinery to oversee the implementation of its provisions.
Dr. Adnan Pachachi, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the UN, is seen here signing the Convention today in the UN Office ol Legal Affairs. Looking on is Mr. A. Movchan, Director, Codification Division, UN Office of Legal Affairs.