April 26, 2023
Cited article by Maya Yang, The Guardian
HRRC supports the United Nations panel in their investigative tour into issues of racial justice in the United States. Black people in the U.S. have faced beyond devastating loss due to racism and use of excessive force by law enforcement. The government needs to work harder to fight systemic racism and protect minorities.
Article Summary
Following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, the UN created a panel of human rights experts, known as the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement, which will focus on racial justice, law enforcement, and policing in the United States. The panel arrived on April 24th and will visit Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Washington DC over a the next two weeks.
According to the UN, the trip is being made to “further transformative change for racial justice and equality in the context of law enforcement for Africans and people of African descent”. The panel intends to examine existing U.S. laws and practices around law enforcement and the use of force, determining whether they follow international human rights standards. To gain the required information, the UN experts will visit federal, state, and local officials, law enforcement authorities, civil society organizations, and detention centers.
“We look forward to gaining first-hand insight about the lived experiences of people of African descent in the United States, and to offer recommendations to the government at all levels, to support efforts in combating systemic racism and excessive use of force, and ensure accountability and justice,” stated Juan Méndez, member of the UN panel.