Background Information
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(ICERD) was opened for signature by the UN General Assembly on December 21, 1965.
It entered into force on January 4, 1969. As of June 3, 2005, it had been ratified by 170 countries.
Canada signed the ICERD on August 24, 1966, and ratified it on October 14,
1970. The ICERD requires reports covering two-year periods. Canada submitted
its first report in September 1971, and has since submitted 14 reports. Canada's
combined Thirteenth and Fourteenth Reports were submitted on March 16, 2001,
and reviewed by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
in August 2002. Canada's submitted its Fifteenth and Sixteenth Reports in September 2003.
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