CERD concluding observations 2016, paragraph 35
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Take further action to end all racist bullying and harassment in schools. Make schools collect data on bullying and exclusions on race grounds, and use this data to develop new strategies. (b) Ensure schools fulfil their public sector equality duty (under the Equality Act 2010 and section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998) to challenge racist bullying and promote respect for diversity, including through staff training. (c) Ensure pupils are taught a balanced account of the history of the British Empire and colonialism, including slavery.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Strengthen efforts to eliminate all racist bullying and harassment in the State party’s schools, including by requiring schools to collect qualitative and quantitative data on bullying and exclusions from school on the grounds of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin, and to use the data to develop concrete strategies. (b) Ensure that schools comply with their public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 and section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to challenge racist bullying and to promote respect for diversity, including through the training of educational personnel. (c) Ensure that the school curricula across its jurisdiction contain a balanced account of the history of the British Empire and colonialism, including of slavery and other grave human rights violations.
Date of UN examination
02/10/2016
UN article number
2 (general obligations), 5 (prohibition of racial discrimination; equal enjoyment of rights)
Original UN document
Download the CERD concluding observations 2016 on the UN website