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Resources for Quakers Working for Racial Justice
February 2008
In 2006 Dwight Lopes (New Haven Monthly Meeting), Donna McDaniel (Framingham Friends Meeting), and John Meyer (Pendle Hill, Friends Meeting of Washington) compiled a list of resources to support the ongoing work for racial justice and equality within the Religious Society of Friends. As a companion piece to the January 2008 issue of Spark , a NYYM publication whose theme is Conversations on Racism, NYYM staffers Walter Naegle and Helen Garay Toppins updated and expanded the list which is below and will be posted on the NYYM website. If anyone would like to suggest additions to this resource listing, please e-mail Walter or Helen at www.office@nyym.org.
I. YEARLY MEETINGS
BALTIMORE YEARLY MEETING
Working Group on Racism among Friends
http://www.bym-rsf.org/quakers/committees/racism.shtml contains articles by members on work that is being done at the Yearly and Monthly Meeting levels.
Report on the Listening Project on Diversity and Outreach, July 2003 at http://www.bym-rsf.org/quakers/committees/listening_project_on_dive...
NEW ENGLAND YEARLY MEETING
NEYM MINISTRY & COUNSEL WORKING PARTY ON RACISM
Working Party’s Mission Statement
Letter to Friends 2002 (Letter regarding racism to all NEYM Monthly Meetings)
Outline of comments on Quakers and race by Andrea Ayvazian at New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, August 2002. Notes by Donna McDaniel.
“Fit for Freedom”–quotations, resources, and historical material, compiled by Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye from their research
http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/freedom_not_friendship.html
Monthly postcards on “Countering Racism and White Privilege.” The NEYM Working Party and Framingham Friends Meeting mail monthly postcards to a contact in each monthly meeting. The cards, mailed now for two years, make suggestions for countering racism, websites, articles, books, videos and other resources for the meeting to use to further discussion. These are available by writing music1@charter.net.
A poster kit with queries on white privilege. Find a way to post or display these queries for your own meeting. Request from music1@charter.net.
New England Yearly Meeting Working Party on Racism. Includes bibliography and selected readings. http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/index.html
Bibliographies:
“Where Do I Start?” (short bibliography): http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/where_do_i_start.html
Annotated Bibliography by the Working Party on Racism, NEYM
http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/bibliography.html
NEYM RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE COMMITTEE
This committee publishes the newsletter, the Freedom and Justice Crier, twice a year. It is available online at http://neym.org/prejudiceandpoverty/index.html. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
This committee has funds they are making available for African-American scholarships.
Contact JamesFloVarner@aol.com or dlopes@snet.net.
NEW YORK YEARLY MEETING
TASK GROUP ON RACISM IN NYYM
Contact person: Bowen Alpern, c/o NYYM, 15 Rutherford Place, New York, NY 10003
This newly created subcommittee of Ministry and Counsel is in the process of formulating its mission and plans.
BLACK CONCERNS COMMITTEE
See article on: http://www.fgcquaker.org/connect/spring02/10.html
WHITE FRIENDS WORKING to END RACISM
Contact person: Elizabeth Gordon, RR1 Box 348, Kingsley, PA 18826
Tel: 570-289-0876
elizag@epix.net
Mission statement and goals:
Out of our concern for human love and justice, we join in the mission of putting a stop to racism. As prime beneficiaries of a system that has oppressed people of color for over half a millennium we take it as our central and core responsibility to stop racism. As members of the Religious Society of Friends, we must be faithful to our two testimonies of Peace and Equality
that demand we discern where racism exists in ourselves and our society, and that we bring it to an end.
Goals:
To offer those in the group emotional and practical support as we work on our racism.
To be a catalyst for change in NYYM.
To act as allies both to people of color and to white people outside of this group.
We have named ourselves “White Friends Working to End Racism.” Not everyone understands that white people need, at times, to gather amongst themselves to carry forward the work against racism. This strikes some Friends as a racist practice in itself. There are many good reasons for this occasional separation, a few of which are listed below. The crucial difference between our actions and racist segregation is our commitment to building connections with all people, not building walls of separation.
Some of the reasons for working together as white people are:
People of color, at times, have asked or told us to.
To the extent that racism is a white creation, whites must come up with solutions.
Currently, society most commonly hears people of color speaking against racism. We need a clearly identified white anti-racist voice.
An apology from white people to people of color would obviously have to be written and delivered by white people.
White people need to learn, recognize and undo racism without always depending on the input of people of color. This requires us to mature spiritually, to see our flaws, and to put ourselves in the place of others.
As members of the oppressor group, white people are deeply hurt emotionally by racism. Working on this issue from our perspective moves all of our lives forward.
We need to share our own stories with each other so that we will be ready to listen to stories about racism from people of color without interrupting them with our own.
We have considered at length how to structure our group, and how to position it within the NYYM community. We are arranging for a committee of Friends of color to provide clearness and accountability. As an informal spirit-led group, we do not seek, at this time, to be recognized as a committee or task group.
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN YEARLY MEETING AND ASSOCIATION
Atlanta Monthly Meeting
“Atlanta Meeting Looks at Racism” by Bert Skellie and Adelaide Solomon-Jordan: http://www.fgcquaker.org/connect/winter99/sayma.html
II. QUAKER ORGANIZATIONS
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
Go to www.afsc.org/issues/issuesindex.htm for a veritable treasure house of articles on race, economic injustice, the criminal system, immigration, and more. Find the topics and start clicking. The articles are in current and past issues of AFSC’s Peacework. Just a few titles to entice: “Whites Swim in Racial Prejudice,” “Seeing the Color Line in the Quest for Peace,” “Some Thoughts for White Activists,” and dozens more.
Find out about AFSC New England’s Urban Youth Program at www.afsc.org/newengland/urbanyouth.htm.
FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS OF AFRICAN DESCENT
Website: http://www.fellowshipoffriendsofafricandescent.org/
FRIENDS GENERAL CONFERENCE
Committee for Ministry on Racism
http://www.fgcquaker.org/cmr/
This website describes the work of CMR and offers many resources.
See especially articles on racism on:
http://www.fgcquaker.org/connect/winter99/index.html
“The Role of White Quakers in Ending Racism.” Friends Journal. Oct. 2003
http://www.friendsjournal.org/role-white-quakers-ending-racism
“Friends, Race and Racism.” FGC Connections. Autumn 2007
http://www.fgcquaker.org/fgconnections
For books: http://www.quakerbooks.org.
FRIENDS UNITED MEETING
Quaker Life archives include several articles on issues of race, including a special May 2002 issue on the topic. See www.fum.org/QL/issues. For May 2002 add /0205/index/htm after the word “issues.”
PENDLE HILL
A Quaker Studies center in Wallingford, PA, Pendle Hill presented a lecture series on Racial Justice during 2002-2003. Transcripts of the lectures can be downloaded from their website. Click on “Resource Center” and then on “Lectures, Reports and Forum Archive” and scroll down to the 2002-2003 series. www.pendlehill.org
III. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDED BY QUAKERS
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WHITE AMERICAN CULTURE
Founded by Quaker Jeff Hitchcock, author of Lifting the White Veil.
Webiste: www.euroamerican.org lists many resources.
The Center for the Study of White American Culture (the Center) supports cultural exploration and self-discovery among white Americans. It encourages a dialogue among all racial and cultural groups concerning the role of white American culture in the larger American society. The Center operates on the premise that knowledge of one's own racial background and culture is essential when learning how to relate to people of other racial and cultural groups. We believe the task of building genuine and authentic relationships across racial and cultural lines is crucial to the future well-being of America.
Toward these ends the Center actively encourages participation by white Americans and Americans of color, women and men, alike. The Center maintains that the views of both insiders and outsiders contribute to understanding a culture. The Center also acknowledges that gender, class and ethnic differences are intertwined with racial ones, and must be explored as part of a complete study of racial and cultural difference. An on-line project of the Center is www.wacan.org , The White Anti-racist Community Action Network (WACAN), a protected space where white anti-racists and their supporters can network to work for a racially just society.
IV. VIDEOS
PBS programs. Ordering info on the websites. Some also available for viewing online.
“African American Lives“ NEW THIS YEAR. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on PBS with Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, and others who trace their lineage through family history and DNA to discover some surprises but most interestingly how “inextricably intertwined” we all are. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives. (Gates has also written a book of the same title with 800 biographies.)
African American World; History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld
“Africans in America: America's Journey through Slavery” takes on tough questions in a four-part documentary series which debuted in October, 1998.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia
“America Beyond the Color Line With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” a PBS special. Segments about experiences of African Americans from various parts of the country and of different economic classes.
http://www.pbs.org/previews/colorline_gates/
“Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise”—a PBS special. On May 17, 1954 in its decision in Brown v Board of Education the U.S, Supreme Court struck down the doctrine of “separate but equal,” ending legal segregation in American education. Fifty years later how close is America to fulfilling the promise of Brown?
http://www.pbs.org/beyondbrown/
“Race: the Power of an Illusion.” Especially powerful PBS series.
http://www.pbs.org/race/000_general/000_00-home.htm
“Wonders of the African World” with Henry Louis Gates on PBS. Join Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as he takes you on a journey to discover a wealth of African history and culture http://www.pbs.org/wonders/
V. OTHER WEBSITES
QUAKER-RELATED
Fit for Freedom --- Not for Friendship. http://www.fgcquakers.org/fit-for-freedom
A website exploring the issues discussed in a forthcoming book with the same title. Authors Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye explore the historical and complex relationship between Friends and African-Americans. The site also recommends other resources and features profiles of several African-American Quakers.
The Ministry of Vanessa Julye (NEYM Keynote Speaker 2004)
http://www.quaker.org/vanessajulye/
ON REPARATIONS
About.com: Articles, opinions and points-of-view on the issue of paying reparations to U.S. descendants of African slaves (note: no www in address)
http://racerelations.about.com/cs/reparations/
African Americans and Reparations: A Selected Bibliography. Compiled by Dorothy Ann Washington, Librarian Purdue University, Black Cultural Center. Go to the Purdue website and then search the remaining words below.
http://www.purdue.edu/bcc/library/repbib.htm
Black Voices: Interesting collection of news and commentary
http://www.blackvoices.com
Rep. John Conyers’ web site
http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_reparations.htm
National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
http://www.ncobra.org/comm.htm
Reparations Central: Clearinghouse of information relating to the issue of reparations for people of African Descent. www.reparationscentral.com
ON ENSLAVEMENT
Slavery in New Hampshire; Slavery in Connecticut: How Did American Slavery Begin? http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/history/series/hw/slavery/internet.htm; and a Yale tercentennial brochure, published in 2001, summarizes Yale's relation to slavery:
http://yaleslavery.org
Slavery in New York: The New York Historical Society’s months-long and outstanding exhibit attracted unanticipated crowds of visitors. Visit the exhibit from the comfort of your computer: www.slaveryinnewyork.org.
Slavery in Rhode Island: Six-part series on slavery in Rhode Island, Providence Journal: www.projo.com/slavery.
GENERAL
Janus Adams. Award-winning journalist, historian, producer, publisher, Janus Adams is the author of three books and creator of the milestone BackPax children's book-and-audio series. http://www.janusadams.com
The African American Registry®—an encyclopedia of African American History. Easy access to important dates, events, people.
http://www.aaregistry.com/
Africana: Gateway to the Black World
http://www.africana.com/
American Library Association: A bibliography of children’s books that celebrate the diversity found in communities in the United States. Of particular interest will be the recipients of the Coretta Scott King Award, which can be found by going to the Awards page of the website.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/booklists/booklists.htm
Anti-Racist Alliance. Dedicated to organizing for action. Interesting and useful online web-based curriculum on whiteness.
http://www.antiracistalliance.com/newwhitenesspage.htm
Black Facts Online: An online searchable database of Black History Facts. Sign up to receive a fact a day!
http://www.blackfacts.com/about.asp
Color Lines: magazine from the Applied Research Center. Race, culture, action: the latest on Katrina, for example.
http://www.colorlines.com
Creative Reponse to Conflict. Innovators in the field of Conflict Resolution.
http://www.crc-global.org
Crossroads - Anti-Racism Organizing & Training. http://www.crossroadsantiracism.org
Erase Racism identifies institutional racism and promotes strategies to eliminate it in housing, education, healthcare, and economic development policies and practices.
http://www.eraseracismny.org/
Free the Slaves is a non-profit organization working to end slavery worldwide.
http://www.freetheslaves.net
Institute on Race and Ethnicity: A great wealth of links about race
http://www.uwm.edu/dept/ire/resource/
Dr. Joy DeGruy-Leary, African American psychologist and lecturer. Excellent tapes on the effects of enslavement to the present day. CDs and audiotapes available. http://www.posttraumaticslavesyndrome.com/h_index.html
The Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition, a part of the Yale Center for International and Area Studies, is dedicated to the investigation and dissemination of information concerning all aspects of the Atlantic slave system and its destruction. Continuing research. Lectures. Publications.
http://www.yale.edu/glc
Dr. Manning Marable is a leading African American academic and lecturer. Click on “works” to see his books and especially on “columns,” his frequent writings. “http://www.manningmarable.net/
Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights at Simmons College includes archives of newsletters on multidiversity and the books the center names each year as “outstanding.” www.myerscenter.org.
NAACP. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) works for political, educational, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens, to remove racial discrimination; to enact and enforce federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights; to educate people on their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to further those principles.
http://www.naacp.org
National Congress of Black Women (NCBW), formerly The National Political Congress of Black Women, was founded August 2, 1984 in Washington, D.C. when the Honorable C. DeLores Tucker called a group of 35 African American women leaders of diverse groups to organize for greater involvement in the political process.
http://www.npcbw.org/
National Council of Negro Women. Advocacy organization for women of African descent. NCNW addresses issues of human welfare and rights through public education, community service and advocacy. http://www.ncnw.org
National Women’s History Project. Founded in 1980 with a mission to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs. http://www.nwhp.org
People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. http://www.pisab.org Offers training, workshops, and resources for anti-racism work.
Recovering Racists Network: Support for people working against racism. Information about ongoing projects.
http://www.sumnermckenzie.com/rrnet/
Tolerance.org is a principal online destination for people interested in dismantling bigotry and creating, in hate's stead, communities that value diversity. One of the program’s of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Publishers of free materials for schools.
http://www.tolerance.org/about/index.html
University of Florida African Studies Quarterly. Articles, book reviews, emphasis on Africa.
http://web.africa.ufl.edu/
University of Dayton—Race, Racism and the Law Speaking Truth to Power!!
http://academic.udayton.edu/race
Tim Wise. A nationally known writer, educator and trainer on anti-racism work. His website contains his essays and other resources helpful in this work. http.//www.timwise.org
UNITED
NATIONS
CERD
International Convention
On the Elimination
Of all Forms of
Racial Discrimination
Distr.
GENERAL
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
19 August 2005
Original: ENGLISH
UNEDITED VERSION
COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Sixty-seventh session
2- 19 August 2005
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER
ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION
Concluding observations of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination
TURKMENISTAN
UNEDITED VERSION
1. The Committee considered the initial to fifth periodic reports of Turkmenistan,
submitted in one document (CERD/C/441/Add.1), at its 1717th and 1718th meetings
(CERD/C/SR.1717 and 1718), held on 11 and 12 August 2005. At its 1725th and 1727th
meetings (CERD/C/SR.1725 and 1727), held on 17 and 18 August 2005, it adopted the
following concluding observations.
A. Introduction
2. The Committee welcomes the report submitted by Turkmenistan and the
opportunity thus offered to open a dialogue with the State party. It regrets, however, that
the report, which lacks detailed information on the practical implementation of the
Convention, does not fully comply with the reporting guidelines.
3. The Committee notes with deep concern the major contradictions between, on the
one hand, consistent information from both intergovernmental and non governmental
sources relating to the existence of grave violations of the Convention in Turkmenistan,
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 2
and, on the other hand, the sometimes categorical denials by the State party. The
Committee stresses that the consideration of reports is designed to institute a constructive
and sincere dialogue, and encourages the State party to increase its efforts to that end.
4. Noting that the report was about nine years overdue when submitted, the
Committee invites the State party to respect the deadlines set for the submission of its
future reports.
B. Positive aspects
5. The Committee appreciates the attendance of a high level delegation and the efforts
it made to respond to the numerous questions posed by Committee members. It notes the
delegation's assurances relating to the willingness of the State party to pursue the dialogue
with the Committee.
6. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State party has ratified most of the
United Nations core human rights treaties since independence.
7. The Committee appreciates the passing of a regulation in March 2005, on the
implementation of refugee status determination, as well as the generous hosting of more
than 10 000 refugees from Tajikistan on a prima facie basis.
8. The Committee welcomes the amendment of 2 November 2004 of the Criminal
Code rescinding article 223/1, which stipulated criminal penalties for unregistered
activities of public associations, including non-governmental organizations.
C. Concerns and recommendations
9. The Committee notes with concern the lack of consistent data relating to the ethnic
composition of the population. It notes that the proportion of national and ethnic minorities
in Turkmenistan seems to have significantly diminished between 1995 and 2005, but finds
it difficult to interpret these figures, which may have resulted, at the same time, from an
assimilation policy conducted by the State party, the emigration of many members of
minority groups, and the alleged distortion of statistics by the State party so as to diminish
the importance of minorities on its territory.
The Committee requests the State party to provide consistent information on
the ethnic composition of its population.
10. The Committee notes that under article 6 of the Constitution, Turkmenistan
recognizes the primacy of generally recognized norms of international law, but is
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 3
concerned that the status of the Convention in domestic law remains unclear. It is further
concerned about the existing gap between law and practice in Turkmenistan. (article 2)
The Committee recommends to the State party that it fully ensure the rule of
law, which is indispensable to the implementation of the Convention, and that
it provide more detailed information on the status of the Convention in
domestic law.
11. The Committee is deeply concerned about reported instances of hate speech against
national and ethnic minorities, including statements attributed to high-ranking government
officials and public figures supporting an approach to Turkmen ethnic purity, which is
reported to have a significant detrimental impact on the population given the severe
restrictions on freedoms of opinion and expression impeding opposition to such
discourses. The Committee is further concerned that such speech is inconsistent with the
fundamental principle of racial and ethnic equality underlying the Convention. (article 4)
The Committee urges the State party to abide by its obligation under article 4
(c) of the Convention not to permit public authorities or public institutions,
national or local, to promote or incite racial discrimination. The Committee
wishes to receive more detailed information on the practical implementation
of article 4 of the Convention in its entirety.
12. The Committee is deeply concerned by consistent information relating to the policy
of “Turkmenization” conducted by the State party, and implemented through various
measures in the field of employment, education and political life. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee recalls that policies of forced assimilation amount to racial
discrimination and constitute grave violations of the Convention. It urges the
State party to respect and protect the existence and cultural identity of all
national and ethnic minorities within its territory. The Committee wishes to
receive detailed information on the measures adopted to that end, including
those aimed at addressing the situation of the Baluchi minority, the existence
of which as a distinct cultural community is reported to be at risk.
13. The Committee is concerned that, according to some information, and in the light
of paragraph 2 (e) of General Assembly resolution 59/206 of 22 December 2004, national
and ethnic minorities face severe restrictions on their participation in the labour force, in
particular in public sector employment. It is particularly disturbed about reports relating to
the removal of many non-ethnic Turkmen from state employment and to “third generation
tests” imposed on persons wishing to access higher education and public sector
employment. (articles 2 and 5)
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 4
The Committee invites the State party to verify whether “third generation
tests” exist and to ensure the right to work without discrimination based on
national or ethnic origin. The State party is requested to provide reliable
statistical data on the effective participation of members of national minorities
in the labour force, in particular in public sector employment.
14. The Committee notes with deep concern information that the State party has
internally forcibly displaced populations, targeting in particular ethnic Uzbeks, to
inhospitable parts of Turkmenistan. It is further concerned about reported restrictions on
freedom of movement imposed through internal travel documents and special permits to
travel to internal border regions, which have a particular impact on persons belonging to
national and ethnic minorities. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee requests the State party not to forcibly displace populations
and to re-examine its policy in this regard. The State party is requested to
provide information to the Committee about the number of individuals who
have been resettled under the terms of the 18 November 2002 Presidential
Decree and relevant provisions of the Criminal Code, their ethnic origin, the
dates and reasons for their resettlement, and their place of residence prior to
and following resettlement. The Committee further recommends to the State
party that it lift restrictions on freedom of movement having a
disproportionate impact on members of national minorities.
15. The Committee is concerned about information that persons belonging to national
and ethnic minorities are impeded from exercising their right to enjoy their own culture. In
particular, it is concerned about the reported closure of minority cultural institutions and of
numerous schools teaching in minority languages, in particular Uzbek, Russian, Kazakh
and Armenian languages, and the reduced possibilities for the use of minority languages in
the media. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee recommends that the State party fully respect the cultural
rights of persons belonging to national and ethnic minorities. In particular,
the State party should consider re-opening Uzbek, Russian, Kazakh,
Armenian and other minority language schools. The Committee suggests that
the State party reconsider the requirement that students belonging to national
or ethnic minorities wear Turkmen national dress, and to provide more
information on this issue. The State party should ensure that members of
national and ethnic minorities are not discriminated against in their access to
the media and have the possibility of creating and using their own media in
their own language.
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 5
16. The Committee notes that, in 2003, the bilateral agreement between the Russian
Federation and Turkmenistan on dual citizenship was repealed by the State party. It notes
with concern that persons who chose Russian citizenship were allegedly required to leave
the country rapidly. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee, stressing that deprivation of citizenship on the basis of
national or ethnic origin is a breach of the obligation to ensure nondiscriminatory
enjoyment of the right to nationality, urges the State party to
refrain from adopting any policy that directly or indirectly leads to such
deprivation. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its
General Recommendation 30 (2004) on non-citizens and wishes to receive
more detailed information on the number of affected persons and the practical
consequences for them.
17. The Committee, while stressing the complex relationship between ethnicity and
religion in Turkmenistan, notes with concern information that members of religious groups
do not fully enjoy their rights to freedom of religion and that some religious confessions
remain unregistered. It notes, however, the relaxation of registration rules in 2004.
The Committee recalls the State party’s obligation to ensure that all persons
enjoy their right to freedom of religion, without any discrimination based on
national or ethnic origin, in accordance with article 5 (d) of the Convention.
The State party should accordingly respect the right of members of registered
and unregistered religions to freely exercise their freedom of religion, and
register religious groups who wish to be registered. Detailed information
should be provided to the Committee on religions actually registered in
Turkmenistan.
18. The Committee appreciates the announcement made by the State party that it will
grant citizenship to about 16,000 refugees who have been residing in Turkmenistan for
some years, and permanent resident status to 3000 other refugees. (article 5)
The Committee encourages the State party to continue the naturalization
process without discrimination based on ethnic origin. It recommends, in
particular, that the same treatment be granted to refugees of Turkmen,
Uzbek, or other ethnic origin such as those coming from Afghanistan. The
Committee wishes to receive detailed data on the outcome of this process,
disaggregated by ethnic origin.
19. The Committee is deeply concerned by information that the State party has adopted
measures drastically limiting access to foreign culture and art, foreign media and the
internet. While taking note of the abolition of the exit visa in 2004, it also remains
concerned about the reported impediments imposed on Turkmen students wishing to study
abroad. (article 7)
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 6
The Committee recommends to the State party that it respect the freedom to
seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of
frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art or other
media, in order to foster common understanding and tolerance amongst
nations and ethnic groups. The Committee also recommends that the State
party allow students to study abroad and that it provide detailed information
on the actual regulations and practices relating to the recognition of foreign
degrees.
20. The Committee notes that the “Ruhnama” reportedly dominates the school
curriculum in Turkmenistan. The Committee is concerned about the content of this text,
and would appreciate receiving a copy. (article 7)
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that school curricula
foster understanding, tolerance, and friendship among nations and ethnic
groups.
21. The Committee notes that, since independence, no case of racial discrimination has
been referred to the courts. According to some information, members of national and
ethnic minorities who suffer racial discrimination do not complain to courts because they
fear reprisals and lack confidence in the police and the judicial authorities, and because of
the authorities’ lack of impartiality and of sensitivity to cases of racial discrimination.
(article 6)
The Committee recommends to the State party that it inform victims of their
rights, including remedies available to them, facilitate their access to justice,
guarantee their right to just and adequate reparation, and publicize the
relevant laws. The State party should ensure that its competent authorities
proceed to a prompt and impartial investigation on complaints of racial
discrimination, or whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that
racial discrimination has been committed on its territory. Judges and lawyers,
as well as law enforcement personnel, should be trained accordingly.
22. The Committee, while noting the delegation’s statement that in 1996, the State
party established a Human Rights Institute, notes that this institution does not seem to
qualify as an independent National Human Rights Institution under the Principles relating
to the Status of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
(the Paris Principles) (General Assembly resolution 48/134). (article 6)
The Committee invites the State party to consider establishing such an
independent national human rights institution, with the mandate, in
particular, to monitor compliance with Turkmenistan’s obligations under the
Convention.
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 7
23. The Committee recommends that the State party take into account the relevant
parts of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action when implementing the
Convention in the domestic legal order, in particular in respect of articles 2 to 7 of the
Convention, and that it include in its next periodic report information on action plans or
other measures taken to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at
the national level.
24. The Committee notes that the State party has not made the optional declaration
provided for in article 14 of the Convention, and recommends that it consider the
possibility of doing so.
25. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party ratify the amendments to
article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention, adopted on 15 January 1992 at the Fourteenth
Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and endorsed by the General Assembly in its
resolution 47/111. In this connection, the Committee refers to General Assembly
resolution 59/176 of 20 December 2004, in which the Assembly strongly urged States
parties to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures with regard to the amendment
and to notify the Secretary-General expeditiously in writing of their agreement to the
amendment.
26. The Committee recommends that the State party’s reports be made readily
available to the public from the time they are submitted and that the observations of the
Committee on these reports be similarly publicized, in Turkmen and in the main minority
languages, in particular Russian.
27. The Committee invites the State party to take advantage of the technical assistance
available under the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the purpose of reviewing its
laws and policies in a way that addresses the Committee’s concerns set out above. In view
of the situation in Turkmenistan, the Committee strongly recommends to the State party
that it extend an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance to visit its territory.
28. Pursuant to article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and article 65 of the
Committee's rules of procedure, as amended, the Committee requests the State party to
inform it of its implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 11, 13,
14, 15 and 20 above, within one year of the adoption of the present conclusions.
29. The Committee recommends to the State party that it submit its sixth and seventh
periodic reports in a single report, due on 29 October 2007.
-----
Resources for Quakers Working for Racial Justice
February 2008
In 2006 Dwight Lopes (New Haven Monthly Meeting), Donna McDaniel (Framingham Friends Meeting), and John Meyer (Pendle Hill, Friends Meeting of Washington) compiled a list of resources to support the ongoing work for racial justice and equality within the Religious Society of Friends. As a companion piece to the January 2008 issue of Spark , a NYYM publication whose theme is Conversations on Racism, NYYM staffers Walter Naegle and Helen Garay Toppins updated and expanded the list which is below and will be posted on the NYYM website. If anyone would like to suggest additions to this resource listing, please e-mail Walter or Helen at www.office@nyym.org.
I. YEARLY MEETINGS
BALTIMORE YEARLY MEETING
Working Group on Racism among Friends
http://www.bym-rsf.org/quakers/committees/racism.shtml contains articles by members on work that is being done at the Yearly and Monthly Meeting levels.
Report on the Listening Project on Diversity and Outreach, July 2003 at http://www.bym-rsf.org/quakers/committees/listening_project_on_dive...
NEW ENGLAND YEARLY MEETING
NEYM MINISTRY & COUNSEL WORKING PARTY ON RACISM
Working Party’s Mission Statement
Letter to Friends 2002 (Letter regarding racism to all NEYM Monthly Meetings)
Outline of comments on Quakers and race by Andrea Ayvazian at New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, August 2002. Notes by Donna McDaniel.
“Fit for Freedom”–quotations, resources, and historical material, compiled by Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye from their research
http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/freedom_not_friendship.html
Monthly postcards on “Countering Racism and White Privilege.” The NEYM Working Party and Framingham Friends Meeting mail monthly postcards to a contact in each monthly meeting. The cards, mailed now for two years, make suggestions for countering racism, websites, articles, books, videos and other resources for the meeting to use to further discussion. These are available by writing music1@charter.net.
A poster kit with queries on white privilege. Find a way to post or display these queries for your own meeting. Request from music1@charter.net.
New England Yearly Meeting Working Party on Racism. Includes bibliography and selected readings. http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/index.html
Bibliographies:
“Where Do I Start?” (short bibliography): http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/where_do_i_start.html
Annotated Bibliography by the Working Party on Racism, NEYM
http://neym.org/ministryandcounsel/racism/bibliography.html
NEYM RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE COMMITTEE
This committee publishes the newsletter, the Freedom and Justice Crier, twice a year. It is available online at http://neym.org/prejudiceandpoverty/index.html. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
This committee has funds they are making available for African-American scholarships.
Contact JamesFloVarner@aol.com or dlopes@snet.net.
NEW YORK YEARLY MEETING
TASK GROUP ON RACISM IN NYYM
Contact person: Bowen Alpern, c/o NYYM, 15 Rutherford Place, New York, NY 10003
This newly created subcommittee of Ministry and Counsel is in the process of formulating its mission and plans.
BLACK CONCERNS COMMITTEE
See article on: http://www.fgcquaker.org/connect/spring02/10.html
WHITE FRIENDS WORKING to END RACISM
Contact person: Elizabeth Gordon, RR1 Box 348, Kingsley, PA 18826
Tel: 570-289-0876
elizag@epix.net
Mission statement and goals:
Out of our concern for human love and justice, we join in the mission of putting a stop to racism. As prime beneficiaries of a system that has oppressed people of color for over half a millennium we take it as our central and core responsibility to stop racism. As members of the Religious Society of Friends, we must be faithful to our two testimonies of Peace and Equality
that demand we discern where racism exists in ourselves and our society, and that we bring it to an end.
Goals:
To offer those in the group emotional and practical support as we work on our racism.
To be a catalyst for change in NYYM.
To act as allies both to people of color and to white people outside of this group.
We have named ourselves “White Friends Working to End Racism.” Not everyone understands that white people need, at times, to gather amongst themselves to carry forward the work against racism. This strikes some Friends as a racist practice in itself. There are many good reasons for this occasional separation, a few of which are listed below. The crucial difference between our actions and racist segregation is our commitment to building connections with all people, not building walls of separation.
Some of the reasons for working together as white people are:
People of color, at times, have asked or told us to.
To the extent that racism is a white creation, whites must come up with solutions.
Currently, society most commonly hears people of color speaking against racism. We need a clearly identified white anti-racist voice.
An apology from white people to people of color would obviously have to be written and delivered by white people.
White people need to learn, recognize and undo racism without always depending on the input of people of color. This requires us to mature spiritually, to see our flaws, and to put ourselves in the place of others.
As members of the oppressor group, white people are deeply hurt emotionally by racism. Working on this issue from our perspective moves all of our lives forward.
We need to share our own stories with each other so that we will be ready to listen to stories about racism from people of color without interrupting them with our own.
We have considered at length how to structure our group, and how to position it within the NYYM community. We are arranging for a committee of Friends of color to provide clearness and accountability. As an informal spirit-led group, we do not seek, at this time, to be recognized as a committee or task group.
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN YEARLY MEETING AND ASSOCIATION
Atlanta Monthly Meeting
“Atlanta Meeting Looks at Racism” by Bert Skellie and Adelaide Solomon-Jordan: http://www.fgcquaker.org/connect/winter99/sayma.html
II. QUAKER ORGANIZATIONS
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC)
Go to www.afsc.org/issues/issuesindex.htm for a veritable treasure house of articles on race, economic injustice, the criminal system, immigration, and more. Find the topics and start clicking. The articles are in current and past issues of AFSC’s Peacework. Just a few titles to entice: “Whites Swim in Racial Prejudice,” “Seeing the Color Line in the Quest for Peace,” “Some Thoughts for White Activists,” and dozens more.
Find out about AFSC New England’s Urban Youth Program at www.afsc.org/newengland/urbanyouth.htm.
FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS OF AFRICAN DESCENT
Website: http://www.fellowshipoffriendsofafricandescent.org/
FRIENDS GENERAL CONFERENCE
Committee for Ministry on Racism
http://www.fgcquaker.org/cmr/
This website describes the work of CMR and offers many resources.
See especially articles on racism on:
http://www.fgcquaker.org/connect/winter99/index.html
“The Role of White Quakers in Ending Racism.” Friends Journal. Oct. 2003
http://www.friendsjournal.org/role-white-quakers-ending-racism
“Friends, Race and Racism.” FGC Connections. Autumn 2007
http://www.fgcquaker.org/fgconnections
For books: http://www.quakerbooks.org.
FRIENDS UNITED MEETING
Quaker Life archives include several articles on issues of race, including a special May 2002 issue on the topic. See www.fum.org/QL/issues. For May 2002 add /0205/index/htm after the word “issues.”
PENDLE HILL
A Quaker Studies center in Wallingford, PA, Pendle Hill presented a lecture series on Racial Justice during 2002-2003. Transcripts of the lectures can be downloaded from their website. Click on “Resource Center” and then on “Lectures, Reports and Forum Archive” and scroll down to the 2002-2003 series. www.pendlehill.org
III. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDED BY QUAKERS
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WHITE AMERICAN CULTURE
Founded by Quaker Jeff Hitchcock, author of Lifting the White Veil.
Webiste: www.euroamerican.org lists many resources.
The Center for the Study of White American Culture (the Center) supports cultural exploration and self-discovery among white Americans. It encourages a dialogue among all racial and cultural groups concerning the role of white American culture in the larger American society. The Center operates on the premise that knowledge of one's own racial background and culture is essential when learning how to relate to people of other racial and cultural groups. We believe the task of building genuine and authentic relationships across racial and cultural lines is crucial to the future well-being of America.
Toward these ends the Center actively encourages participation by white Americans and Americans of color, women and men, alike. The Center maintains that the views of both insiders and outsiders contribute to understanding a culture. The Center also acknowledges that gender, class and ethnic differences are intertwined with racial ones, and must be explored as part of a complete study of racial and cultural difference. An on-line project of the Center is www.wacan.org , The White Anti-racist Community Action Network (WACAN), a protected space where white anti-racists and their supporters can network to work for a racially just society.
IV. VIDEOS
PBS programs. Ordering info on the websites. Some also available for viewing online.
“African American Lives“ NEW THIS YEAR. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on PBS with Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, and others who trace their lineage through family history and DNA to discover some surprises but most interestingly how “inextricably intertwined” we all are. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives. (Gates has also written a book of the same title with 800 biographies.)
African American World; History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld
“Africans in America: America's Journey through Slavery” takes on tough questions in a four-part documentary series which debuted in October, 1998.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia
“America Beyond the Color Line With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” a PBS special. Segments about experiences of African Americans from various parts of the country and of different economic classes.
http://www.pbs.org/previews/colorline_gates/
“Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise”—a PBS special. On May 17, 1954 in its decision in Brown v Board of Education the U.S, Supreme Court struck down the doctrine of “separate but equal,” ending legal segregation in American education. Fifty years later how close is America to fulfilling the promise of Brown?
http://www.pbs.org/beyondbrown/
“Race: the Power of an Illusion.” Especially powerful PBS series.
http://www.pbs.org/race/000_general/000_00-home.htm
“Wonders of the African World” with Henry Louis Gates on PBS. Join Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as he takes you on a journey to discover a wealth of African history and culture http://www.pbs.org/wonders/
V. OTHER WEBSITES
QUAKER-RELATED
Fit for Freedom --- Not for Friendship. http://www.fgcquakers.org/fit-for-freedom
A website exploring the issues discussed in a forthcoming book with the same title. Authors Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye explore the historical and complex relationship between Friends and African-Americans. The site also recommends other resources and features profiles of several African-American Quakers.
The Ministry of Vanessa Julye (NEYM Keynote Speaker 2004)
http://www.quaker.org/vanessajulye/
ON REPARATIONS
About.com: Articles, opinions and points-of-view on the issue of paying reparations to U.S. descendants of African slaves (note: no www in address)
http://racerelations.about.com/cs/reparations/
African Americans and Reparations: A Selected Bibliography. Compiled by Dorothy Ann Washington, Librarian Purdue University, Black Cultural Center. Go to the Purdue website and then search the remaining words below.
http://www.purdue.edu/bcc/library/repbib.htm
Black Voices: Interesting collection of news and commentary
http://www.blackvoices.com
Rep. John Conyers’ web site
http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_reparations.htm
National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America
http://www.ncobra.org/comm.htm
Reparations Central: Clearinghouse of information relating to the issue of reparations for people of African Descent. www.reparationscentral.com
ON ENSLAVEMENT
Slavery in New Hampshire; Slavery in Connecticut: How Did American Slavery Begin? http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/history/series/hw/slavery/internet.htm; and a Yale tercentennial brochure, published in 2001, summarizes Yale's relation to slavery:
http://yaleslavery.org
Slavery in New York: The New York Historical Society’s months-long and outstanding exhibit attracted unanticipated crowds of visitors. Visit the exhibit from the comfort of your computer: www.slaveryinnewyork.org.
Slavery in Rhode Island: Six-part series on slavery in Rhode Island, Providence Journal: www.projo.com/slavery.
GENERAL
Janus Adams. Award-winning journalist, historian, producer, publisher, Janus Adams is the author of three books and creator of the milestone BackPax children's book-and-audio series. http://www.janusadams.com
The African American Registry®—an encyclopedia of African American History. Easy access to important dates, events, people.
http://www.aaregistry.com/
Africana: Gateway to the Black World
http://www.africana.com/
American Library Association: A bibliography of children’s books that celebrate the diversity found in communities in the United States. Of particular interest will be the recipients of the Coretta Scott King Award, which can be found by going to the Awards page of the website.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/booklists/booklists.htm
Anti-Racist Alliance. Dedicated to organizing for action. Interesting and useful online web-based curriculum on whiteness.
http://www.antiracistalliance.com/newwhitenesspage.htm
Black Facts Online: An online searchable database of Black History Facts. Sign up to receive a fact a day!
http://www.blackfacts.com/about.asp
Color Lines: magazine from the Applied Research Center. Race, culture, action: the latest on Katrina, for example.
http://www.colorlines.com
Creative Reponse to Conflict. Innovators in the field of Conflict Resolution.
http://www.crc-global.org
Crossroads - Anti-Racism Organizing & Training. http://www.crossroadsantiracism.org
Erase Racism identifies institutional racism and promotes strategies to eliminate it in housing, education, healthcare, and economic development policies and practices.
http://www.eraseracismny.org/
Free the Slaves is a non-profit organization working to end slavery worldwide.
http://www.freetheslaves.net
Institute on Race and Ethnicity: A great wealth of links about race
http://www.uwm.edu/dept/ire/resource/
Dr. Joy DeGruy-Leary, African American psychologist and lecturer. Excellent tapes on the effects of enslavement to the present day. CDs and audiotapes available. http://www.posttraumaticslavesyndrome.com/h_index.html
The Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition, a part of the Yale Center for International and Area Studies, is dedicated to the investigation and dissemination of information concerning all aspects of the Atlantic slave system and its destruction. Continuing research. Lectures. Publications.
http://www.yale.edu/glc
Dr. Manning Marable is a leading African American academic and lecturer. Click on “works” to see his books and especially on “columns,” his frequent writings. “http://www.manningmarable.net/
Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights at Simmons College includes archives of newsletters on multidiversity and the books the center names each year as “outstanding.” www.myerscenter.org.
NAACP. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) works for political, educational, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens, to remove racial discrimination; to enact and enforce federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights; to educate people on their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to further those principles.
http://www.naacp.org
National Congress of Black Women (NCBW), formerly The National Political Congress of Black Women, was founded August 2, 1984 in Washington, D.C. when the Honorable C. DeLores Tucker called a group of 35 African American women leaders of diverse groups to organize for greater involvement in the political process.
http://www.npcbw.org/
National Council of Negro Women. Advocacy organization for women of African descent. NCNW addresses issues of human welfare and rights through public education, community service and advocacy. http://www.ncnw.org
National Women’s History Project. Founded in 1980 with a mission to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs. http://www.nwhp.org
People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. http://www.pisab.org Offers training, workshops, and resources for anti-racism work.
Recovering Racists Network: Support for people working against racism. Information about ongoing projects.
http://www.sumnermckenzie.com/rrnet/
Tolerance.org is a principal online destination for people interested in dismantling bigotry and creating, in hate's stead, communities that value diversity. One of the program’s of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Publishers of free materials for schools.
http://www.tolerance.org/about/index.html
University of Florida African Studies Quarterly. Articles, book reviews, emphasis on Africa.
http://web.africa.ufl.edu/
University of Dayton—Race, Racism and the Law Speaking Truth to Power!!
http://academic.udayton.edu/race
Tim Wise. A nationally known writer, educator and trainer on anti-racism work. His website contains his essays and other resources helpful in this work. http.//www.timwise.org
UNITED
NATIONS
CERD
International Convention
On the Elimination
Of all Forms of
Racial Discrimination
Distr.
GENERAL
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
19 August 2005
Original: ENGLISH
UNEDITED VERSION
COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Sixty-seventh session
2- 19 August 2005
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER
ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION
Concluding observations of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination
TURKMENISTAN
UNEDITED VERSION
1. The Committee considered the initial to fifth periodic reports of Turkmenistan,
submitted in one document (CERD/C/441/Add.1), at its 1717th and 1718th meetings
(CERD/C/SR.1717 and 1718), held on 11 and 12 August 2005. At its 1725th and 1727th
meetings (CERD/C/SR.1725 and 1727), held on 17 and 18 August 2005, it adopted the
following concluding observations.
A. Introduction
2. The Committee welcomes the report submitted by Turkmenistan and the
opportunity thus offered to open a dialogue with the State party. It regrets, however, that
the report, which lacks detailed information on the practical implementation of the
Convention, does not fully comply with the reporting guidelines.
3. The Committee notes with deep concern the major contradictions between, on the
one hand, consistent information from both intergovernmental and non governmental
sources relating to the existence of grave violations of the Convention in Turkmenistan,
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 2
and, on the other hand, the sometimes categorical denials by the State party. The
Committee stresses that the consideration of reports is designed to institute a constructive
and sincere dialogue, and encourages the State party to increase its efforts to that end.
4. Noting that the report was about nine years overdue when submitted, the
Committee invites the State party to respect the deadlines set for the submission of its
future reports.
B. Positive aspects
5. The Committee appreciates the attendance of a high level delegation and the efforts
it made to respond to the numerous questions posed by Committee members. It notes the
delegation's assurances relating to the willingness of the State party to pursue the dialogue
with the Committee.
6. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State party has ratified most of the
United Nations core human rights treaties since independence.
7. The Committee appreciates the passing of a regulation in March 2005, on the
implementation of refugee status determination, as well as the generous hosting of more
than 10 000 refugees from Tajikistan on a prima facie basis.
8. The Committee welcomes the amendment of 2 November 2004 of the Criminal
Code rescinding article 223/1, which stipulated criminal penalties for unregistered
activities of public associations, including non-governmental organizations.
C. Concerns and recommendations
9. The Committee notes with concern the lack of consistent data relating to the ethnic
composition of the population. It notes that the proportion of national and ethnic minorities
in Turkmenistan seems to have significantly diminished between 1995 and 2005, but finds
it difficult to interpret these figures, which may have resulted, at the same time, from an
assimilation policy conducted by the State party, the emigration of many members of
minority groups, and the alleged distortion of statistics by the State party so as to diminish
the importance of minorities on its territory.
The Committee requests the State party to provide consistent information on
the ethnic composition of its population.
10. The Committee notes that under article 6 of the Constitution, Turkmenistan
recognizes the primacy of generally recognized norms of international law, but is
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 3
concerned that the status of the Convention in domestic law remains unclear. It is further
concerned about the existing gap between law and practice in Turkmenistan. (article 2)
The Committee recommends to the State party that it fully ensure the rule of
law, which is indispensable to the implementation of the Convention, and that
it provide more detailed information on the status of the Convention in
domestic law.
11. The Committee is deeply concerned about reported instances of hate speech against
national and ethnic minorities, including statements attributed to high-ranking government
officials and public figures supporting an approach to Turkmen ethnic purity, which is
reported to have a significant detrimental impact on the population given the severe
restrictions on freedoms of opinion and expression impeding opposition to such
discourses. The Committee is further concerned that such speech is inconsistent with the
fundamental principle of racial and ethnic equality underlying the Convention. (article 4)
The Committee urges the State party to abide by its obligation under article 4
(c) of the Convention not to permit public authorities or public institutions,
national or local, to promote or incite racial discrimination. The Committee
wishes to receive more detailed information on the practical implementation
of article 4 of the Convention in its entirety.
12. The Committee is deeply concerned by consistent information relating to the policy
of “Turkmenization” conducted by the State party, and implemented through various
measures in the field of employment, education and political life. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee recalls that policies of forced assimilation amount to racial
discrimination and constitute grave violations of the Convention. It urges the
State party to respect and protect the existence and cultural identity of all
national and ethnic minorities within its territory. The Committee wishes to
receive detailed information on the measures adopted to that end, including
those aimed at addressing the situation of the Baluchi minority, the existence
of which as a distinct cultural community is reported to be at risk.
13. The Committee is concerned that, according to some information, and in the light
of paragraph 2 (e) of General Assembly resolution 59/206 of 22 December 2004, national
and ethnic minorities face severe restrictions on their participation in the labour force, in
particular in public sector employment. It is particularly disturbed about reports relating to
the removal of many non-ethnic Turkmen from state employment and to “third generation
tests” imposed on persons wishing to access higher education and public sector
employment. (articles 2 and 5)
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 4
The Committee invites the State party to verify whether “third generation
tests” exist and to ensure the right to work without discrimination based on
national or ethnic origin. The State party is requested to provide reliable
statistical data on the effective participation of members of national minorities
in the labour force, in particular in public sector employment.
14. The Committee notes with deep concern information that the State party has
internally forcibly displaced populations, targeting in particular ethnic Uzbeks, to
inhospitable parts of Turkmenistan. It is further concerned about reported restrictions on
freedom of movement imposed through internal travel documents and special permits to
travel to internal border regions, which have a particular impact on persons belonging to
national and ethnic minorities. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee requests the State party not to forcibly displace populations
and to re-examine its policy in this regard. The State party is requested to
provide information to the Committee about the number of individuals who
have been resettled under the terms of the 18 November 2002 Presidential
Decree and relevant provisions of the Criminal Code, their ethnic origin, the
dates and reasons for their resettlement, and their place of residence prior to
and following resettlement. The Committee further recommends to the State
party that it lift restrictions on freedom of movement having a
disproportionate impact on members of national minorities.
15. The Committee is concerned about information that persons belonging to national
and ethnic minorities are impeded from exercising their right to enjoy their own culture. In
particular, it is concerned about the reported closure of minority cultural institutions and of
numerous schools teaching in minority languages, in particular Uzbek, Russian, Kazakh
and Armenian languages, and the reduced possibilities for the use of minority languages in
the media. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee recommends that the State party fully respect the cultural
rights of persons belonging to national and ethnic minorities. In particular,
the State party should consider re-opening Uzbek, Russian, Kazakh,
Armenian and other minority language schools. The Committee suggests that
the State party reconsider the requirement that students belonging to national
or ethnic minorities wear Turkmen national dress, and to provide more
information on this issue. The State party should ensure that members of
national and ethnic minorities are not discriminated against in their access to
the media and have the possibility of creating and using their own media in
their own language.
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 5
16. The Committee notes that, in 2003, the bilateral agreement between the Russian
Federation and Turkmenistan on dual citizenship was repealed by the State party. It notes
with concern that persons who chose Russian citizenship were allegedly required to leave
the country rapidly. (articles 2 and 5)
The Committee, stressing that deprivation of citizenship on the basis of
national or ethnic origin is a breach of the obligation to ensure nondiscriminatory
enjoyment of the right to nationality, urges the State party to
refrain from adopting any policy that directly or indirectly leads to such
deprivation. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its
General Recommendation 30 (2004) on non-citizens and wishes to receive
more detailed information on the number of affected persons and the practical
consequences for them.
17. The Committee, while stressing the complex relationship between ethnicity and
religion in Turkmenistan, notes with concern information that members of religious groups
do not fully enjoy their rights to freedom of religion and that some religious confessions
remain unregistered. It notes, however, the relaxation of registration rules in 2004.
The Committee recalls the State party’s obligation to ensure that all persons
enjoy their right to freedom of religion, without any discrimination based on
national or ethnic origin, in accordance with article 5 (d) of the Convention.
The State party should accordingly respect the right of members of registered
and unregistered religions to freely exercise their freedom of religion, and
register religious groups who wish to be registered. Detailed information
should be provided to the Committee on religions actually registered in
Turkmenistan.
18. The Committee appreciates the announcement made by the State party that it will
grant citizenship to about 16,000 refugees who have been residing in Turkmenistan for
some years, and permanent resident status to 3000 other refugees. (article 5)
The Committee encourages the State party to continue the naturalization
process without discrimination based on ethnic origin. It recommends, in
particular, that the same treatment be granted to refugees of Turkmen,
Uzbek, or other ethnic origin such as those coming from Afghanistan. The
Committee wishes to receive detailed data on the outcome of this process,
disaggregated by ethnic origin.
19. The Committee is deeply concerned by information that the State party has adopted
measures drastically limiting access to foreign culture and art, foreign media and the
internet. While taking note of the abolition of the exit visa in 2004, it also remains
concerned about the reported impediments imposed on Turkmen students wishing to study
abroad. (article 7)
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 6
The Committee recommends to the State party that it respect the freedom to
seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of
frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art or other
media, in order to foster common understanding and tolerance amongst
nations and ethnic groups. The Committee also recommends that the State
party allow students to study abroad and that it provide detailed information
on the actual regulations and practices relating to the recognition of foreign
degrees.
20. The Committee notes that the “Ruhnama” reportedly dominates the school
curriculum in Turkmenistan. The Committee is concerned about the content of this text,
and would appreciate receiving a copy. (article 7)
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that school curricula
foster understanding, tolerance, and friendship among nations and ethnic
groups.
21. The Committee notes that, since independence, no case of racial discrimination has
been referred to the courts. According to some information, members of national and
ethnic minorities who suffer racial discrimination do not complain to courts because they
fear reprisals and lack confidence in the police and the judicial authorities, and because of
the authorities’ lack of impartiality and of sensitivity to cases of racial discrimination.
(article 6)
The Committee recommends to the State party that it inform victims of their
rights, including remedies available to them, facilitate their access to justice,
guarantee their right to just and adequate reparation, and publicize the
relevant laws. The State party should ensure that its competent authorities
proceed to a prompt and impartial investigation on complaints of racial
discrimination, or whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that
racial discrimination has been committed on its territory. Judges and lawyers,
as well as law enforcement personnel, should be trained accordingly.
22. The Committee, while noting the delegation’s statement that in 1996, the State
party established a Human Rights Institute, notes that this institution does not seem to
qualify as an independent National Human Rights Institution under the Principles relating
to the Status of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
(the Paris Principles) (General Assembly resolution 48/134). (article 6)
The Committee invites the State party to consider establishing such an
independent national human rights institution, with the mandate, in
particular, to monitor compliance with Turkmenistan’s obligations under the
Convention.
CERD/C/TKM/CO/5
page 7
23. The Committee recommends that the State party take into account the relevant
parts of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action when implementing the
Convention in the domestic legal order, in particular in respect of articles 2 to 7 of the
Convention, and that it include in its next periodic report information on action plans or
other measures taken to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at
the national level.
24. The Committee notes that the State party has not made the optional declaration
provided for in article 14 of the Convention, and recommends that it consider the
possibility of doing so.
25. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party ratify the amendments to
article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention, adopted on 15 January 1992 at the Fourteenth
Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and endorsed by the General Assembly in its
resolution 47/111. In this connection, the Committee refers to General Assembly
resolution 59/176 of 20 December 2004, in which the Assembly strongly urged States
parties to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures with regard to the amendment
and to notify the Secretary-General expeditiously in writing of their agreement to the
amendment.
26. The Committee recommends that the State party’s reports be made readily
available to the public from the time they are submitted and that the observations of the
Committee on these reports be similarly publicized, in Turkmen and in the main minority
languages, in particular Russian.
27. The Committee invites the State party to take advantage of the technical assistance
available under the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the purpose of reviewing its
laws and policies in a way that addresses the Committee’s concerns set out above. In view
of the situation in Turkmenistan, the Committee strongly recommends to the State party
that it extend an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance to visit its territory.
28. Pursuant to article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and article 65 of the
Committee's rules of procedure, as amended, the Committee requests the State party to
inform it of its implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 11, 13,
14, 15 and 20 above, within one year of the adoption of the present conclusions.
29. The Committee recommends to the State party that it submit its sixth and seventh
periodic reports in a single report, due on 29 October 2007.
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