A general view of the Obsevance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Pakistan today became the third Sate to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention, adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965 (Resolution 2106 (XX)), binds States which become Parties to "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.

Mr. C.A. Stavropoulos (left), Under-Secretary, the Legal Counsel, receiving the instrument of ratification from Amabassador Syed Amjad Ali, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN. At right is Mr. Nassem Mirza, Second Secretary, Pakistan Mission to the UN.

Pakistan today signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention, adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965 (Resolution 2106 (XX)), binds States which become Parties to "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 Syed Amjad Ali, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, signing the Convention. Looking on are, from left: Mr. Nasseem Mirza, First Secretary, Mission of Pakistan to the UN; Mr. Mohammad Sarfraz, Counsellor, Pakistan Mission; Mr. Blaine Sloan, Director of General Legal Division, United Nations. .

Panama today signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention, adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965 (Resolution 2106 (XX)), binds States which become Parties to "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.

Signing the Convention is Ambassador Aquilino Boyd, Permanent Representative of Panama to the UN. Looking on are: Prof. Didimo Rios, (left) Deputy Permanent Representative of Panama to the UN and Mr. Constantin Stavropoulos, Under-Secretary, UN Legal Department.

The 35 States Parties to the International Convention of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided unanimously this afternoon that the persons elected to membership in the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination would assume office as of today. Under the terms of the Convention, members of the Committee serve a four-year term. However, when the committee holds its first meeting, the Chairman to be elected at that time will choose by lot which nine of the 18 members will serve initially for two years. The Committee is expected to convene for the first time in September.
Seen here is a partial view of today's meeting. At the presiding table, form left to right are: Mr. Marc Schreiber, Director, UN Division of Human Rights; Ambassador J.A. de Araujo Castro, Permanent Representative of Brazil, presiding; and Mr. Valentin Romanov, Committee Secretary.