Global/Africa: Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination holds discussion on genocide

Among points of interest raised during the discussion were the importance of examining the situation of minorities and vulnerable groups in terms of genocide; the promotion and dissemination of a culture of tolerance worldwide; the role of education campaigns against racial hatred; the strengthening and promoting of national norms and encouraging specific laws on eliminating racial discrimination; and the role of the media in order to promote peace building. A speaker noted that often the lack of political will resulted in too little too late and therefore the focus must lie on preventing human rights violations before they occurred.