1965 convention on racial discrimination

The 1965 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is a legally binding international treaty. It obliges signatory states to prohibit racial discrimination and to take measures to combat it. Recently, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued guidance stating that countries are legally obliged under this convention to consider reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. This guidance highlights the convention's enduring relevance in addressing the ongoing legacy of racial discrimination. The committee's pronouncement makes the 1965 convention newsworthy as it clarifies and emphasizes existing legal obligations for states to confront historical injustices and their present-day consequences, including the persistent effects of slavery.