Namibia Reviewed by UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Namibia is one of 177 States that ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and is therefore reviewed regularly by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). United Nations (UN) CERD member Mr. Alexei Avtonomov said they discuss a wide range of issues not only racial discrimination but discrimination against race, colour, ethnicity, nationality and decent. The review took place in Geneva, Switzerland and was webcast live. Meanwhile Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) Director Mr. Philippe Talavera says OYO works mostly with the San community youth, and stressed that the youth face quite a few challenges. “You know from Grade 1 to Grade 4 children are thought in their own language most of the time but, for San children when they go from Grade 1 to Grade 4 they are not taught in their own language because there’s no teachers, they are taught in Oshivambo,” said Talavera.

Spotlight news speaks to United Nations (UN) CERD member Mr. Alexei Avtonomov in an exclusive interview on issues that were discussed between CERD members and a Namibian Government delegation as well as Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) Director Mr. Philippe Talavera on issues faced by the San community youth in Namibia.

https://soundcloud.com/99fm/spotlight-news-un-committee-member-on-the-cerd-mr-alexei-avtonomov

https://soundcloud.com/99fm/spotlight-news-ombetja-yehinga-organisationoyo-director-mr-philippe-talavera

-Interview by Maggie Forcelledo