criterion/criteria.”'5 This understanding of discrimination, however, is what is often
referred to as direct discrimination. In cases where the discrimination is indirect,
the key indicator is not necessarily different treatment based on visible or unlawful
criteria but the disparate effect on groups or individuals as a result of specified
measures or actions.
69.While
direct discrimination
may
be more
prominent
in human
rights discourse,
international human rights law prohibits both direct and indirect discrimination. For
example,
the
Convention
on the
Elimination
of Racial
Discrimination
of 1965
(CERD) in article 1 defines racial discrimination as:
Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent,
or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing
the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field
of public life."®
70. Given that indirect discrimination is an effects-based concept,
it is clear that this
definition includes a prohibition not only of direct but also of indirect discrimination.
This has been confirmed by the Committee supervising the implementation of the
CERD, which describes indirect discrimination as relating to “measures which are
not discriminatory at face value but are discriminatory in fact and effect”.'” A similar
position
obtains
under
the
Discrimination Against Women
Convention
(CEDAW)
on
the
Elimination
of All
Forms
of
of 1979 in relation to the definition of
discrimination against women under article 1 of the said convention.'®
‘5 Actions pour la Protection des Droits de ‘Homme (APDH) v. Republic of Cote d'Ivoire (Merits) (2016) 1
AfCLR 668 §§146-147.
16
The
Respondent
State
acceded
to
the
CERD
on
27
October
1972
—see,
https:/Atbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/Countries.aspx?CountryCode=TZA&Lang=E
N.
7 European
Commission
“Limits and
potential
of the concept
of indirect discrimination”
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/aa081c13-197b-41c5-a93a-a1638e886e61.
18
The
Respondent
State
ratified
the
CEDAW
on
20
August
1985
- _ see,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.orq/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/Countries.aspx?CountryCode=TZA&Lang=E
N.
19