| Abstract: | Correspondence to Dr Kwong-leung Tang, Social Work Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada V2N 4Z9. E-mail: tangk{at}unbc.ca Summary The use of an international legal regime as an avenue of redressfor racial discrimination has a long history. The introductionof an International Convention on the Elimination of All Formsof Racial Discrimination in 1965 signalled the world's commitmentto end racial discrimination. This article reviews the individualcommunications procedure under the Convention and analyses afew successful cases of complaint against racial discrimination.It argues that this mechanism provides a potent avenue of redressfor racial discrimination. Social workers have much to offerin helping their clients to bring their cases to the internationalarena. In concert with NGOs and legal professionals, they couldwork to ensure that racial discrimination is tackled on boththe domestic and international stages. Linking the global andlocal levels of intervention against racial discrimination shouldbecome the practice of every social worker, whatever their countryor field of expertise. |
