The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was formally adopted in 1965 and entered into force in 1969 as the UN's first human rights treaty. The Convention focusses on the prevention and elimination of racial discrimination and covers a number of challenges that exist in this area. The Convention requires its signatories to eliminate racial discrimination, which includes the "distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference" related to a person's race, colour, or ethnic or national origin. Signatories are obliged to submit an initial report one year after their accession to the Convention and from then on every two years. The monitoring body (CERD) assesses the submissions and provides feedback and recommendations to the country in their "concluding observations".

CERD / UN