The Convention specifies the measures that States parties agree to undertake to eliminate racial discrimination. It reinforces the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which in Article 1 states “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and in Article 2 states “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
The International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1965. It entered into force in 1969 after 27 States had ratified or acceded to it. The Convention established the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). This Committee was the first body created by the UN to monitor and review actions by States to fulfil their obligations under a specific human rights agreement.