While more and more people are aware of systemic racism and concrete steps have been taken in some countries, the Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on States to demonstrate political will. larger to speed up the action.
“There have been a number of initiatives in different countries to tackle racism, but for the most part they have been patchwork. They lack the comprehensive evidence-based approaches needed to eliminate structural, institutional and social racism that has existed for centuries and continues to cause profound harm to people. to this day,” said Nada Al-Nashif, who will present the report to the UN Dong Nhan Quyen Association in Monday.
She specifically points out the key recommendations made in OHCHR‘S The Agenda for Transformative Change for Racial Equity and Equality.
Enable change
The report describes the international, national and local initiatives that have been taken to end the scourge of racism.
These include an Executive Order from the White House on promoting effective criminal justice enforcement practices and accountability in federal law enforcement agencies; Anti-Racist Data Act in British Columbia, Canada; measures to assess the ethnicity profile of the police in Sweden; and collect census data to self-identify people of African descent in Argentina.
The European Commission has issued guidance on the collection and use of data based on racial or ethnic origin; Official apology, memorial, public space visit and study, to assess the connection with slavery and colonialism in some countries.
‘Barometer for success’
The report notes that poor outcomes continue for people of African descent in many countries, particularly in terms of access to adequate health and food, education, social protection and justice – in as poverty, forced disappearances and violence persist.
It highlights “continued allegations…of discriminatory treatment, unlawful deportation, excessive use of force and the deaths of African migrants and migrants of African descent by real officials law exam”
“The barometer for success must be a positive change in the life experience of people of African descent“Miss Al-Nashif continued.
“Countries need to listen to people of African descent, engage them meaningfully, and take genuine steps to act on their concerns.”
Higher death rate
If available, recent data still indicate disproportionately high mortality rates faced by people of African descent, at the hands of law enforcement, in different countries.
“Families of African descent continue to report the enormous challenges, barriers and lengthy process they face in their pursuit of truth and justice for the death of their loved one,” the report said. surname”.
It details seven police-related deaths of people of African descent, namely George Floyd and Breonna Taylor (USA); Adama Traoré (France); Luana Barbosa dos Reis Santos and João Pedro Matos Pinto (Brazil); Kevin Clarke (UK) and Janner [Hanner] García Palomino (Colombia).
While noting some progress towards accountability in some of these representative cases, “unfortunately, not a single case has been fully conclusive, with those families still searching seeking truth, justice and assurance of non-recidivism, as well as the prosecution and punishment of all those responsible,” the report reads.
Ms. Al-Nashif called on States to “redouble efforts to ensure accountability and remedial action wherever African and African-American deaths occur in the context of law enforcement.” , while taking measures to deal with the legacy that perpetuates and perpetuates systemic racism”.
