GENEVA (4 May 2026) - The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) today issued its findings on Burkina Faso, Cuba, Cyprus, Serbia, Slovenia and Uzbekistan after reviewing the six States Parties in its latest session.

The findings contain the Committee’s main concerns and recommendations on the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as well as positive aspects. Key highlights include:

Burkina Faso
The Committee expressed grave concern about serious human rights violations against members of the Fulani ethnic group, including extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detention, abductions, enforced disappearances and property destruction, during clashes and military and security operations. It underscored that such violations are reportedly committed by State armed forces and their auxiliaries, including the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland, and by non-State armed groups. The Committee also noted with concern that ethnic profiling of the Fulani by security actors persists and is often based on alleged links to terrorist groups. The Committee urged the State Party to conduct prompt, effective, and impartial investigations into all allegations, prosecute and punish perpetrators, and explicitly prohibit racial or ethnic profiling in law. It also called for effective, human rights-based measures to protect Fulani communities from discrimination.

The Committee remained concerned that, despite measures taken by the State Party, discrimination based on descent remains widespread against persons of slave descent within certain ethnic groups. It highlighted that these individuals continue to face stigmatisation, segregation and social exclusion, which prevent them from fully enjoying the rights protected under the Convention. It called upon Burkina Faso to address the structural and systemic causes of such discrimination, ensure that persons of slave descent fully enjoy their Convention rights, and prohibit all forms of discrimination, stigmatisation and segregation against them.

Cuba
While noting the provisions on non-discrimination introduced in the 2019 Constitution and the 2022 Penal Code, the Committee reiterated its concern that the national legal framework does not fully comply with the meaning of racial discrimination under the Convention. The Committee recommended that Cuba adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation defining racial discrimination clearly and covering its direct, indirect, multiple and intersectional forms, across public and private law, on all prohibited grounds, including race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.

While acknowledging the legislative, institutional and policy measures adopted by the State Party, the Committee remained concerned that people of African descent continue to face racism and structural discrimination, reflected in persistent poverty, vulnerability and marginalisation, overrepresentation in the prison population, and unequal enjoyment of rights. It called for affirmative action at the national, provincial and municipal levels to address structural discrimination, reduce inequalities, improve living conditions and ensure the effective enjoyment of human rights. It also recommended broad and inclusive participation of people of African descent and their organisations in policies affecting them, and an open civic space in which civil society actors can work safely and free from threats and reprisals.

Cyprus
The Committee took note of protections against racial discrimination provided under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, and Cyprus’ Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on several grounds. However, it remained concerned that the absence of a unified anti-discrimination law may leave gaps in addressing racial discrimination. It called on Cyprus to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation with an explicit definition of racial discrimination covering all grounds and expressly prohibiting structural, direct, indirect and intersecting forms of discrimination in both public and private spheres.

While noting the State Party’s measures to expand the teaching and use of Turkish, one of Cyprus’ official languages, the Committee, however, expressed concern that language requirements for certain jobs, including Greek proficiency tests, may have a discriminatory effect on Turkish speakers in practice. It also highlighted that the practical use of Turkish remains limited in public administration and education, including insufficient availability of Turkish-language education in some areas. The Committee recommended that Cyprus eliminate discriminatory language barriers and ensure the effective use of Turkish in public administration and education.

Serbia
The Committee was concerned that incidents of racial discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech are underreported because victims lack trust in law enforcement agencies. It also noted gaps in the State Party’s anti-discrimination framework, while racist hate speech and negative stereotypes of ethnic minority groups continue to spread in the media, on the Internet and on social media. The Committee asked Serbia to strengthen its measures to combat racial discrimination, hate crimes and hate speech. These measures include effectively implementing the legal framework, publicly condemning racist hate speech, distancing itself from hate speech by politicians, and ensuring safe and accessible reporting channels for those who are vulnerable to racial discrimination.

The Committee raised concern over the decline in investigations and prosecutions of serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. It underlined cases in which convicted war criminals are glorified and judicially established facts are denied, including by officials and politicians. The Committee was also concerned that Serbia’s legal framework, particularly the Criminal Code, does not adequately prohibit public denial of or attempts to justify genocide and crimes against humanity. It recommended that Serbia accelerate the prosecution of those still responsible for serious violations. It also called on Serbia to review its legal framework, especially the Criminal Code, and explicitly criminalise the glorification of convicted war criminals, as well as public denial of or attempts to justify genocide and crimes against humanity.

Slovenia
The Committee voiced concern over the discriminatory impact that Slovenia’s 2025 Emergency Measures to Ensure Public Safety Act, known as the Šutar Act, may have on Roma communities, particularly the risk of over-policing through expanded police powers and designated “security risk areas”. It also noted that deductions from social assistance benefits for unpaid minor fines, together with intensified law enforcement measures, may disproportionately affect Roma communities and contribute to their criminalisation, stigmatisation and social exclusion. The Committee recommended that Slovenia review the Šutar Act for compliance with equality and non-discrimination principles, establish safeguards against ethnic profiling and over-policing, and repeal or amend provisions that reduce social assistance benefits to ensure no one is deprived of a minimum standard of living.

The Committee acknowledged progress under Slovenia’s National Programme of Measures for Roma (2021–2030) but expressed concern that Roma still face structural discrimination. It highlighted health disparities and lower life expectancy linked to poverty and precarious housing, including informal settlements without secure tenure or basic services. It also noted unequal access to education and persistently low employment. The Committee recommended tackling the root causes of health inequalities and ensuring equal access to quality healthcare. It also called for improved housing, equal access to education, and vocational training to support Roma access to the formal labour market.

Uzbekistan
The Committee was concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability for human rights violations linked to the July 2022 protests in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. It noted that the parliamentary commission’s report, submitted to Parliament in December 2024, remains unpublished. It also raised concern over the low prosecution rates for violations by law enforcement officials. The Committee asked Uzbekistan to investigate allegations of violations and abuses targeting members of the Karakalpak ethnic group during and after the protests, including unlawful killings, racially motivated excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment. It also called for prosecuting perpetrators, providing adequate remedies to victims and their families, and making public the parliamentary commission’s report.

The Committee highlighted concern that development projects have reportedly led to forced evictions of ethnic minority groups, particularly Luli/Roma communities. It was further alarmed by the fact that compensation is inadequate or absent, and access to judicial and administrative remedies remains limited. The Committee called upon the State Party to halt forced evictions and house demolitions affecting ethnic minority groups, especially Luli/Roma communities. Where eviction or demolition cannot be avoided, affected families and individuals should receive adequate alternative housing and compensation, and have access to effective remedies.

The above findings, officially named Concluding Observations, are now available online on the session page.

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