The twelth session of the Meeting of the States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was opened, on behalf of the Secretary-general, by the Chief of the New York Office of the Division of Human Rights. Ambassador Winston A. Tubman (Liberia) was elected Chairman of the Meeting by acclamation.
A general view of the meeting.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concluded consideration this afternoon of the report of the Bahamas and took up the report of Tunisia, submitted in accordance with those States' obligations as parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. States Parties are required to submit reports periodicaly to the Committee, outlining the measures they have taken to give effect to the Convention. The Committee is composed of 18 independant experts acting in their personal capacities.
Seated at the presiding table during the meeting are, from left, Elena M. Coroeel de Rodriguez, Minister Counsellor, Venezuela's Mission to the UN; Roy Chaderton-Matos, Venezuela's Alternate Representative to the UN; M. Houshmand, Representative of the Secretary-General; José D. Ingles, Committee Chairman; and J. Gomez del Prado, Committee Secretary.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concluded consideration this afternoon of the report of the Bahamas and took up the report of Tunisia, submitted in accordance with those States' obligations as parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. States Parties are required to submit reports periodicaly to the Committee, outlining the measures they have taken to give effect to the Convention. The Committee is composed of 18 independant experts acting in their personal capacities.
At the presiding table during the meeting are, from left, E. Houshmand, Representative of the Secretary-General; Committee Chairman José D. Ingles, ; and J. Gomez del Prado, Committee Secretary.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this mornning concluded examination of Nicaragua's report and began reviewing the report submitted by China. Last year's accession by China to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination increased by one-fourth the number of individuals covered world wide by the Convention. The present report, required within a year of accession, emphasizes the importance China attaches to protecting minority nationalities.
At the presiding table during the meeting are, from left, Lu Zongqing, First Secretary, China's Mission to the UN; Song Shuhua, Vice-President, Central Institute for Nationalities, Beijing; E. Houshmand, Representative of the UN-Secretary-General; José D. Ingles (Philippines), Committee Chairman; and J. Gomez del Prado, Committee Secretary.

Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, today declared open the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Dicrimination in Geneva. The Conference is scheduled to conclude on 25 August. In his address to the delegates the Secretary-General stated, "It is my hope that the Connferece will mark a decisive turning point in the International struggle against all forms of racial prejudice, inequality and injustice". Mr. Looki V. Molapo, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Lesotho, was elected President of the World Conference.
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim (second from left) congratulating Mooki V. Molapo upon the latter's election as President of the World Conference.