Full Name: International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Adopted: 21 December 1965 (entered into force 4 January 1969)
Type: Binding Treaty
Articles: 25
Monitoring Body: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
India’s Status: Ratified 3 December 1968 ✓
Overview
CERD is the oldest of the core international human rights treaties. It defines and prohibits racial discrimination in all its forms and requires states to eliminate it through law, policy, and practice. The Convention has been interpreted to potentially cover descent-based discrimination, which is relevant to India’s caste system.
Relevance to India
While India maintains that “caste” is not “race” and therefore falls outside CERD’s scope, the CERD Committee has repeatedly urged India to address caste-based discrimination under the Convention. India’s constitutional framework — Articles 14, 15, 17 (abolition of untouchability) — provides robust domestic protections that parallel CERD obligations.
Indian Constitutional Parallels
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Article 14: Equality before law — mirrors CERD Article 5
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Article 15: Prohibition of discrimination — mirrors CERD Article 1
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Article 17: Abolition of untouchability — strongest anti-discrimination provision in any constitution
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Article 46: Promotion of educational and economic interests of weaker sections
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SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Domestic enforcement mechanism