The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination - Patrick Thornberry

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is the centrepiece of international efforts to address racial discrimination, defined in broad terms to include discrimination based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin. Victims of discrimination within the scope of the Convention include minorities, indigenous peoples, non-citizens, and caste or descent groups. Virtually all national societies are diverse in terms ofethnicity or 'race' and none is free from discrimination, making it one of the great issues of our time.Against the background of international human rights standards and mechanisms to counter racial and ethnic discrimination, this book provides the first comprehensive legal analysis of the provisions of the Convention on an article-by article basis. The book addresses the place of the Convention within the broader framework of international action against discrimination. The different chapters analyse and discuss broad topics of race, ethnicity, and international law, the genesis and drafting ofthe Convention, the aims and objectives of the Convention in light of its preamble, and principles of non-discrimination and equality. In particular, the book includes a critical appraisal of the contribution of the Convention to the eradication of racial discrimination. It also reflects on whetherthere is scope for modification of the substance or procedures of the Convention in light of challenges arising from enhanced transnational population movements, the intersection between discrimination on the ground of race and discrimination against religious communities, and the intersection of racial and gender-based discrimination.

Patrick Thornberry CMG is Emeritus Professor of International Law at Keele University, an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Nottingham, and a former Visiting Fellow of Kellogg College, University of Oxford. Professor Thornberry was a member of CERD-the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination-from 2001 to 2014 and was rapporteur of that Committee from 2002 until 2008. He is a former Chairman of Minority Rights Group International and hasacted as consultant and adviser to a range of international organizations. Patrick Thornberry is the author of numerous works in the field of minority rights, rights of indigenous peoples, and racial discrimination.

Patrick Thornberry, Emeritus Professor at Keele University, has delivered his second masterpiece ... This Commentary is part of the prestigious Oxford Commentaries on International Law. This book differs from the other commentaries published in this series on a very important point: While most of them are team works where the editor fulfils first of all (but, of course, not exclusively) a coordinating function, Thornberry has written the whole text on his own - areally impressive achievement! Impressive is the result also as to its content.
Peter Hilpold, International Journal on Minority and Group Rights