Sierra Leone today ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Dicrimination. Under the Convention adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965, States which become parties to "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 the establishement of machinery to oversee the implementation of its provisions.
Ambassador Christopher O.E. Cole (right), depositing the instrument of ratification with Mr. F. Blaine Sloan, Director of the General Legal Division, UN Office of Legal Affairs.

Sierra Leone has become the forty-first signatory of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Ambassador B.C. Collier, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, is seen (left) signing the Convention as C. A. Stavropoulos, UN Legal Counsel looks on.

Somalia today ratified the Convention the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Dicrimination. The Convention, adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965, came into force on 4 January 1969. Under the Convention, States 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 Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination oversees its implementation.
Ambassador Abdirizak Haji Hussein (left) is seen depositing the instrument of ratification with Mr. F. Blaine Sloan, Director of the UN General Legal Division. At right is Mr. Abdinur Yusuf, Counsellor, Mission of Somalia.

Somalia today became the 49th State signatory of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Adopted by the General Assembly on 21 December 1965, the Convention 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 Abdulrahim Abby Farah, Permanent representative of Somalia to the UN, signing the Convention.Looking on is Mr. C.A. Stavropoulos, Under-Secretary and the Legal Counsel.

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which met in Geneva form 17 February to 21 March 1969, concluded its 25th Session today. In observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March, the Commission met in Special Session in the Assembly Hall at the Palais. A message from UN Secretary-General U Thant, was read by Marc Schreiber, Director Division of Human Rights, and statements were made by Mrs. Qamar Ahmed (India), P.E. Nedbailo (Ukraine), Rita Hauser (USA), Hernen Santa Cruz (Chile) and Joseph Yinza (United Republic of Tanzania).
Seen here at the presiding table at the meeting in the Assembly Hall, from left to right, are: Mr. Vittorio Winspeare-Guicciardi, Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva; Mr. R.Q. Quentin-Baxter, Chairman; Mr. Marc Schreiber, Director, UN Division of Human Rights.