ICERD: International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965 (entered into force 1969)

This Convention requires countries to condemn all forms of racial discrimination, whether based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin, and to pursue a policy of eliminating racial discrimination. Countries must guarantee everyone's right to equality before the law, and to various political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights. The ICERD recognizes that affirmative action measures may be necessary to achieve these ends. Unfortunately, the Convention does not make any specific reference to discrimination against women in the context of race discrimination. The Convention establishes the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is empowered to consider complaints from other countries about violations of the ICERD and, in certain circumstances, individual or group complaints. Its role is also to monitor progress towards full implementation of the Convention in the countries that have ratified the Convention.